Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-09
PSYCHICAL RESEARCH.
G. reat Things II May Accomplish
In the Eulure.

Z, reat ThtnGs IL May Accomplish
In the Future.
1t is only within few years that
public attention has been drawn in a
practical and systematic way to
psychical phenomena. Formerly
mankind was content to drift along in
careless, unconscious way; observ-
ing strange things, to be sure, in the
mental arena, but not attempting to
explain them, except tentatively or
upon empirical premises. Latterly
thinking men have emancipated them
selves from this childish manner of
looking at things, and although it
does not appear at this writing that
they are any nearer the light than
their cropping predecessors yet it
must be admitted that mans pro-
cesses of thought have at last
reached the scientific stage, and this
Of itself is an incalculable gain.
In order that something tangible
may result from this awakened inter-
est in the phenomena of the mind. it
has occurred to us that chair Of
psychical research should immedi-
ately be established in each of our
great universities, that the matter
may be studied intelligently.and upon
approved lines. 1t is not our purpose,
however, at this time to enter upon
an elaborate argument as to the prob
able cost of such a new departure in
the realm of education, or to specu
late upon the probable presence in
our midst Of men who, for consider
alton, might be induced to prefix
Professor" to their patronymics and
take up their residence in academic
halls. The matter of cost is minor
consideration in view of the magni-
tude of the main question, and we
feel sure that when the men are
called for they will not be tardy in
coming forward. Our present pur-
pose is merely to point out some Of
the advantages which must come
with a thorough training in psychic
science, and, therefore, we shall pro-
ceed without further Waste OF words.
If, then, psychcal research were adj
ded to our college course, either as a
part of the regular curriculum or as an
elective, it would not be long before
we would have a race OF young men
thoroughly equipted for dealing with
this abtruse subject in an intelligent
and practical manner, and, by conse-
quence, wherever anything prefer
natural occurred, we should not want
for men who could come forward and
explain the matter perfectly to our
own satisfaction. Furthermore, we
should learn not only all the inirici-
eeacies of mental vagaries, but we
should soon come to understand how
to utilize them in practical way.
We have faith to believe, if our
suggestions are carried out, that the
day is not far distant when it will be
possible, at least for the college-bred
men, to read another's mind with
greater ease even than he now reads
Greek or Latin, and that when an
acquaintance says he is glad to meet
him, he will know instantly whether
the other is really and truly glad for
disinterested reasons, Or is only utter
ing an nnmeaning and pe1flnctory
co. ~amonplace, or has designs upon his
n,,roa and consequently he will be
prenare,' to govern himself accord
ingly. -,
In that foru. oaie Gay IL VIII pe use
less for the man who ia in our debt to
instruct his seryaNt TO tell us he is
out when we call upoio dunning ex,,
petition. for we shall Know beyond
peradventure that our debLnr is peer
ing at us through the blinds, ana we
shall know, also, whether or uot 1t
will pay to brush aside the servitor
and break in upon the seclusion of his
master.
The minds of all men, and women,
too, shall be to us as open books, in
which we shall read whether any
man (or women) is endeavoring to
deceive us, and thus be prepared to
circumvent him. 1t is true that our
minds will be laid bare to others, thus
preventing us from honeyfugling our
neighbor or the stranger that is with
in our gates but this is minor con-
sideration, and one which may be
gemedied after the psychic question
lis thoroughly understood in all its
bearings.
However that may be, all must ad-
init that when we shall be able to
look into the minds OF our fellows, the
liar and the thief will be forced to re-
tire from business, and every man
will be valued at his intrinsic worth
rather than at the fictitious estimate
he has heretofore put upon himself.
See, for instance, the great gain
which would follow, to use vulgar
illustration, in the insidious game of
poker. When we sat down at the
card-teble we should be harassed by
no doubts or misgivings as to what
kind of hand our adversary pos
sessed. If he were bluffing on hand
Aeuce-high we should be aware Of the
fact; and if he held straight flush,
or a middle flush, or four bullets, or
q full, or two pairs, or a
royal flush, we should not be
so lost to self-inteiest as to buck
against him with one poor pair or
queen high. This knowledge alone
were sufficient return for long and
arduous collegiate course; and when
one reflects, in addition. upon the ad-
vantage one would possess in betting
upon horse races and baseball match
es and all other games Of chance, So
called, he must admit that there is a
crying demand for the general dif'u-
sion of psychic intelligence among the
masses.
The subject is SO comprehensive,
and its ramifications are so numerous
and far-reaching, that we cannot be-
gin to treat it with the elaboration it
deserves; but we believe we have
said enough to convince the most
skeptical that our project is one that
deserves thoughtful consideration and
to insure the aid Of the most conserv-
;ative in carrying it forward to an early
alS gnocessful position,--[ Boston
Transcript.
SHILOHS CURE will Immediately re-
Wnoonjpp