The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-06-15
CORRESPONDENCE.
we do not hold ourselves responsible for the
S'@'einehts made or opinions expressed by our
correspondents

Prof. Scott Regarding the Mind-Reader.
MIR. EDITOR :-Having heard the
mlnd-reader," Mr.. Bishop, gave the
audience the impression at his enter
talnment, Tuesday evening, that [ had
| challenged him to read number on a
oank note, beg leave to correct what
might lead to an erroneous impression
dislike exceedingly any notoriety in
this connection, and had not Mr. Bishop,
! unauthorized, Transcribed the proprieties
OF gentlemanly conduct in calling my
name, L should not have been called
upon to write this communication.
My disbelief in mind-reading'' is
based upon wider postulate than that
pertaining to anything which Mr. Bishop
has here, or elsewhere, done or not done.
My conviction has been formed upon
the hypothesis, not seriously disputed by
any large number of people in any age,
or anywhere, that ones consciousness
is known to himself and Omniscience
only. know but one sect OF people, at
present, who pretend to have attained to
NiiSNO OOilblllOII vi CAlSI0ilCG anu SIdJC OI
mind which enable them to have inf
mite vision and occult power''-a small
number OF Buddhist priests.
Upon a common sense view | distrust
those pretending to have exclusive know
ledge or power, not susceptible of being
communicated, be they pretended phil
OSopherS, scientists, priests or harle-
quins.
Now, as to what l did say:
In casually talking with one or two
gentlemen, and not knowing that they
knew MI. Bishop, l said that if Mr.
Bishop would read anything in my con-
seriousness, upon my conditions, | would,
poor as [ am, donate a small sum to
charity, or give it to Mr.. Bishop, forget
which. [ distinctly stated that l would
not go to Music Hall to do this. [ am
also not conscious that [ said the reading
should be confined to a number written
in figures only. | said g anything in my
consciousness" | said this with no
thought of banter to Mr.. Bishop, but
simply to get evidence that such power
were possible.
| still hold myself in readiness to be |
convinced in a way which Mr.. Bishop |
can ascertain by communicating private |
ly with me. l assure Mr.. Bishop that | |
will act as an honest man with him, and |
pay q Ol1AClAI GIillOuIlb W w COIlN1llCSu vi |
something about which [ am at present |
an uncomprOmising sceptic.
Mr.. Bishop did not send hack to my
residence on Tuesday evening. After |
had gone to bed some one, whose voice
[ think [ know, telephoned me to take
hack and 60 to the hall and try Mr.
Bishop. | answered that | had gone to
bed, and should not appear.
[ certainly have no prejudice for or
against Mr.. Bishop. [ do not know him.
He was, soon after his arrival, pointed
out to me-this is my only knowledge of
him.
From private reports Of his proceed
ings on Tuesday evening, | am given to
believe that, in addition to his powers of
90 mind-reading'', Mr.. Bishop also com
munes with the poets. However, his
quotations seem apropOs of nothing. I
did not fight; and, as [ did not go,
could not have run away. 1t is true, in
deed too true, that there is more in
heaven and earth than philosophy
dreams of. Honest, earnest, and pains
taking men always have been, and they
are still patiently investigating nature,
in order to add little here and there to
the solid body of things known.
To their credit be it said that their
are direct and open carefully
excluding all the possible conditions of
error. They do not dream of coming
into possession of knowledge by any of
the tricks of the juggler.
NJ. NJ. SCOTT