Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-12
MIND READING.
An Entertainment b,
Mr.. Irving Bishop
WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES.
He Fully Maintains the Reputa'
tion He Has Achieved in
Other Cities.


Other Cities.
When it was announced that Wash
ington Irving Bishop, noted in liter
sry circles for his feats of mind-read
ing, was about to visit Los Angeles
considerable interest was created
among those who had heard Of hi
remarkable achievements, but hac
never seen him perform. Friday
evenings train from San Francisco
had the gentlemen in question among
its passengers, and on his arrival hert
he Immediately took up his abode Al
the Nadeau House. In the meantime
. number of cards had been issued tc
members Of the press, promi
nent citizens and number
Of the medical profession, in
viting them to a private entertain
ment in the drawing-room OF the
Nadeau ON Saturday afternoon at 2
O'Clock, and in response to these invi-
tations the capacious chamber was
literally packed when at the hour
appointed Mr.. Bishop entered the
room accompanied by his assistant.
Those present saw an intellectual
looking man of about 45 years of age
with pleasant, smiling countenance
ornamented by a well-irimmed brown
beard, rather understood in stature
and limping painfully as he walked
slowly up the room. 1t was after
wards ascertained that this lameness
is only temporary atfliction, Mr..
Bishop having while blindfolded fall
len, resulting in the breaking of his
foot.
In the course Of a few preliminary
remarks Mr.. Bishop announced that
the performances which he gave, had
given rise to a great deal of contro-
yersy as to the modus operand', and
that a great many theories had been
advocated, each Of which tried to ex-
plain the power with which he was
endowed. For his own part, he could
give it no better name than "mental
telegraphy," as he induced in his own
mind the thoughts pouring through
the brain OF the person with whom
he was operating. He had been at
tackled severely by the press, many OF
the papers saying that it was simply
trick performed with the aid OF con-
federate, and giving other absurd
impressions to the public. To show
that he was not associated in this
narrer with any person in the
70 III. BE requested that committ.e e
be appoi,s'cd of prominent residents of
the city, regarding whose integrity
there could be no doubt. In response
to this,
COMMITTEE
Was appointed, consisting of Messrs.
Glassell, Dunlap, Furrey, Dobinson,
and Mrs. DIR. Lummis. The speaker
then stated that he would open his
performance by requesting some men,
ber of the audience to hide any article
in any part of the room, and he,
Dlindfolded, would then md it.
A pocket-knife was procured, Mr..
Bishops eyes covered with a thick
silk handkerchief and then the article
in question was handed to one OF the
audience, who placed it in his pocket.
All being in readiness Mr.. Bishop
now placed his right hand immedi-
ately over and at distance of about
two inches from the hand of the per-
son who had hidden the knife and
after a making a few passes in the air
after the manner Of a professor Of
legerdemain proceeded in the direc-
tion where the knife was located, dis
covered it and it was shown to the
audience amid a murmur of applause
1T the success of this preliminary
effort.
Mr.. Bishop then stated that
he would enlarge the scope
Of his operations and requested
any gentleman to take to one of the
rooms Of the hotel any article that he
might desire, and there secrete it.
Major Furrey undertook the task, and
left the room, returning in the course
Of five or ten minutes. The mind
reader was then blindfolded, and,
pursuing his former tactics, he went
upstairs to the next corridor, stopped
1t the door of one of the rooms, took
the key from Mr.. Furrey's pocket
and, entering, in few moments had
secured gold watch, the object Of the
search, from beneath large bureau
where it had been hidden.
"Now," said Mr.. Bishop, on return
ing to the drawing-room, "I will in.
troduce
Which FIRST performed in England,
and as the circumstances connected
with it are rather interesting l will
narrate them. l was was having a
Discussion with Mr.. Labouchere,
editor of the London Truth regarding
my performances-Mr. Labouchere |
may as well mention is strong dis
believer in me and thinks that what
/ do is mere trickery.
''I'll tell you what I'll do said Mr..
Labouchere in the course of the argu-
ment IT will bet you 5000 that you
cannot tell me the number of a Bank
of tngland note that l have in my
pocket. Now, you Americans are al
ways 30 ready to back your argu-
ments with certain number of dol
lars and here is chance for you."
"Done," / replied. "The note was
procured and I, blindfolded. 1 told
the number of it correctly, but did
mot get my $4,000 for doing 30. Oh! /!
no, that was English you know" said
Mr.. Bishop, amid q roar of merri-
ment. "Thc only reason Mr.. Labou-
chere would give for not paying was
because, as he thought, I had con.
federate in the room in the shape OF
An officer in the guards who happened
70 be Mason, and, as Mr.. Labou-
chere argued, Masons always stand
ia with each other. Well, l told the
editor of Truth that l would repeat
my performance, and did so success
fully before committee of fifty mem
bers Of the Houses of Lords and
Commons, but, as before, Mr..
T~l><s1nl, apn 1oclsnoJ - v>axv >,