The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-05-08
A NOTABLE VISITOR.
Mr.. Washington Irving Bishop,
the Mind Reader, in Honolulu.

in the passenger list of the steamei
Australia indicated to all habitua
newspaper readers the presence in tht
midst of us of the world-renowneC
"mind reader
Before reasonable time had beer
allowed the distinguished gentleman
to rest himself or regain his land legs
his private secretary appeared in the
GAZETTE Office and announced that
Mr.. Bishop was at the street door
desiring to interview the editor This
was rather turning the tables on the
generally acknowledged alertness of
the press in introducing "lionsn to
the public. The preceding of the
mind reader by herald, as mentioned
above, was explained by the fact that
the visitor was suffering from lame
ness, as well as a cold that made him
all but voiceiess, thus necessitatius an
economy of physical exertion..
Mr.. Bishop is q medium-sized man
about middle age, but preserving a
bright and even youthful appearance,
with red beard and mustache, an in
tellectual brow and keen, analysing
glance.
Mr.. Bishop, upon being assured of
the pleasure his visit was bound,to af-
ford the community, stated that his
object was not the giving of exhibit
tions but the recruiting of his health
He had come here toget out of the way
of kilograms and " far from the mad
ding crowd"
Yes. he should. see the Volcano, and
revel in the landscapes of the "garden
isle,n and see the "difiusion process
and everything that was to be viewed
or explored would be accomplished.
Above all he should have the change
of air and scene and the rest and re-
creation that he SO much needed, after
the most successful of seasons, and
therefore one of the most eXhausting,
he had ever experienced in his travels
throughout the habitable globe.
Accounts of q series of ovations met
by the mind reader in San Francisco
had preceded him in the newspapers.
The above epitome of Mr.. Bishops
intentions here is gathered from q
quiet conversation, which is stated to
prevent readers from forming the im-
preston that a gushing parsonage is
being presented to them, uttering q.
volume at a breath.
Mr.. Bishop signified that it would
give him pleasure to make his initial
appearance before the Honolulu public
with an exhibition for the benefit of.
the Queen3s Hospital.
A reference to Mr..StewaFt Cumber-
land, professed mind reader, whom
the interloeutor had seen give an eX-
hibition in the East, led Mr.. Bishop
easily intoa discussion of 5he wonder
ful faculty.
Mr.. Cumberland, he said, had been
his secretary, and. having attained
some proficiency in muscle reading,
left his employ to, take up "mind
readingn tour for himself.
''Well," it was Queried,, A'there is q
popular impression that muscle or
nerve reading is the secret of the
whele business 2"
"That is where people have jumped
at conclusions" replied Mr.. Bishop
"They read that explanation in
newspaper, then go away and repeat it
as something original. [ do not deny
that the transmission of muscular
sensations is part of it,, but it is only
on the threshold of the phenomena.
That cannot explain theoperator being,
guided by his subject without personal
contact-for instance, if my hand is
so far from yours" (placing his ex--
tended palm three or four inches from
that of his sappositious medium ),
land l go the way you are thinking,
there is.no room for the theory of mus
cular sensations
"And you can do that, blindfolded?H
cover and over again. The muscu-
lar theory will not hold in the case of
furnishing information in a language
of which | haze no knowledge what
ever.7
81 have book here that will post
you in the Hawaiian language re-
marked the scribe with an air of indi-
genous naivete.
The great mind reader laughed
heartily in reply to his tempter.
Resuming the hard lineaments of an
irrepressible interviewer, our represen-
tative asked with categorical emphasis:
" Is mind reading an individual gift,
OF a science that may be acquired by
an ordinary intelligence ?"
" Like music or any of the fine arts,
| regard this as a talent latent, to a
greater or less degree, in every mind,
only requiring to be developed into
strength. by study and practice"
Full many flower as it were ?"
"That is it exactly; but there are
many who have advanced to the stage
of muscle-reading, ard imagine that
with them the whole mystery is
solved.n
The interview closed with mutual
expressions of a desire for future quiet
intercourse, Mr.. Bishop leaving a
printed circular in which are related
almost incredible feats of psychical
insight, performed by him before, and
in many cases upon, crowned and
coroneted personages, the most emf
nent men of science and distinguished
scholastic faculties, in Europe Asia
and America. Some of these Instances
of the rare faculty undoubtedly pos
sessed by Mr.. Bishop may be left for
future citation previous to his appear
ance on the stage.
1t is proper to state that the inter-
view with Mr.. Bishop was wholly in
formal and not held with the thought
of publication. Upon further consid-
Grafton, however, it is deemed as good
form as any for introducing our WIS.,
itor to the community.
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