Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-03-23

Dr. Il. II. Root, in the ID edioai Reporter.
Late In August last, while taking q
vacation In country town, l heard OF
case that Was considerable discussion
and wonderment among the people
Lovers Of the mysterious, who are al
ways ready TO attribute any manifesto.
tion Mt all peculiar 10 supernatural
agencies, were INDUCING in various
W Use epeculationB 10 Co tho true nature
Of the case. The child 10 termed O "hu.
man magnet" by the believers In and
practlcers OF magnetic rubbings, while
the 5plritualists declare the child o
chosen medium.
My curiosity became aroused and
ash cd permission TO see this wonderful
prodigy. Permission was granted, and
saw the child ut two different times.
Masking my visits some days apart. I
fouod pretty, delicate child, Dolly O.,
aeed az years, an only child; blonde,
with pale and rather waxy COMPLEX
len Her manner of speech aud con-
duct were characterized by o womanly
grace much In advance OF her tender
years.
Last February the phenomenon de
scribed was frat noticed. While play
ing with some spoons the mother Was
surprised to see her arranging them on
her finger trips, where they hung with
perfect eAse. She will place the palmar
surface OF the finger tips In the oon-
cavity OF the spoon bowl near the end,
and lift from the holder, one by one.
without otherwise touching them, until
. spoon lie suspended from each finger
tip. II the spoons do not strike too vio-
leutly against each other she will carry
them about tho room without dropping
them. TIE spoons will adhere to the
nose and chin rs they do on the fingers,
examined the case In various ways.
First tried four Teaspoons with the
magnet; one pure silver, one pewter,
one triple plated and one single plated
or washed. The pure silver or pewter
spoons were not influenced by the mag.
net; the heavier plated was only par
TALLY raised, while the washed spoon
was raised entirely clear of the table. I
carried these four spoons with me, for
the child TO exercise her anomalous
power OF prehension upon. Each one
was suspended with equal ease except
the one Of pare silver. This one wss
liRhtest In weight, and the bowl was
considerably fstter than any Of the
other three. But after arranging 10
upon Der fpger few times she suo.
decided In making 1t "stick." Asking
her 10 put two finaers under the spoon
bowls, found u ver7 appreolAble re-
sistance 10 taking II of. The spoons
would hang from the tip OF the nose
and ohm with as much security as
from the fingers. Thinking the adher.
ence might be due TO an excessive
clRmmlness Of the skin tested It's sur.
face with my own finger tips. Not dis.
covering any, and TO make sure / was
not deceived by my own sense Of touch,
l had the hAnde, nose and chin care.
fully washed with soap and water AMI
dried with o warmed towel. l found
no perosivable difference In the adhs-
siveness The skin was soft and vel.
vety to the touch aud could be cure of
clamminess nowhere except on the
pima. The hands and feet were warm
to the touch when saw her, aud her
mother states that she IL not often
troubled with cold feet or hands.
The little patients mother also told
me that her sisters daughter, o young
lady of nineteen years OF age and
'alwnys tiok," as she Expressed 1t,
mAnifssts the came singular power.
This case / did not see. but have no
reason to doubt the lady's abatement, as
che and her whole family are known to
be truthful md honest.
have been thus particular in giving
all the available points In the family
history OF the case. hoping thereby
some light might be thrown upon the
Al inc n ar phAnouanon