The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-01-28
PsYcHlcAL RESEARCH.
Raston rrAnsertnt.

i public attention has been drawn in a practical and systematic way to psych. icsl phenomena. Formerly mankind was content to drin along in a car . 1 less, unconscious way; observing strange things, to he sure, in the men. tai arena, but not attempting to cN- plain them, except tentatively or upon empirical premises. l.atterly think. ing men have emancipated thcmSeivvs from this childish manner of looking at things. and although 1t does nut appear at this writing that they arr any nearer the light than their grop. ing predecessors, yet it must he ad- mitted that mans processes ot thought have 3, las. reached the scientific stagc and this in itself Is an incalculahl, gain.
 In order that something tangible may result from tho awakened interest in the phenomena of the mind, 1t ha> occurred to us to suggest that n chair of psychical research should immci ately be established in each of ou, great universities, that the matte, may he studied intelligently and upon approved lines. IL Is not our pun. pose, however, at this time to enter upon an elaborate argument as to the probable cost of such q new depart. ure in the realm of education, or to speculate upon tho probable presence in our midst of men who, for con. sideration, might be induced to prefix "professor" to their patrony and | s..la Al \ l.. | halls. The matter ot cost Is minor consideration in view of the magni- i tudo ot the main question, and we feel sure that when the mon aro called for they will not bc tardy In coming for ward. Our present purpose is merely to point out some of the ndvaniagcs which must come with thorough training in psychic science, aud. there fore, we shall proceed without further waste ot words.
 lf, then, psychical research were added to our college course, either as Il part of the regular curriculum or as an elective. il would not be long before we would have race oi young men thoroughly equipped for dealing with | and practical manner, and, by consc- quence, whenever any thing preter- natural occurred, we should not want for men who could come forward and explain the matter perfectly Ia their own satisfaction. Furthermore, we should learn not only all the intrica- cics of mental Vagarics, but We should soon come to understand how to utilize them in n practical way.
 We have faith to believe. II our smR gcstions are carried out, that the day k not far distant when it will be pos. siblc, at least for the college bred men, to read ano.hcr'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 k really and truly glad for dlsintercstcd reasons, or k only uttering an un- meaning and periunctory common. place, or has designs upon his purse and consequently he will bc prepared to govern himself accord ingly.
 In that fortunate day it will bc use less for the man who is in our debt to instruct his servant to tell us ho lr out when we call upon dunning ex- petition, for we shall know beyond peradventure that our debtor k peer ing at us through the blinds, and we shall know, also, whether or not it will pay to brush aside the scrvitor 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 Cor woman) k eDdcavoriug to deceive us, and thus be prepared to circum- vent him. It is true that our minds will be laid bare to others, thus pre- venting us from honeyfugglinR our neighbOr or the stranger that is within our gates but this is a minor consid crntioD, and one which may be reuhe- died after the psychic question is thoroughly understood in all it's bear iDgs.
 However that may he, 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 retire from business and every man will be valued al his intrinsic worth rather than at the fictitious estimate he iias heretofore put upon himself.
 See, for instance, the great gain which would follow, to use A vulgar illustration, in the insldious game of poker. When we sat down at the card table we should be haraxscd by no doubts or misgivings as 10 what kind of hand our adversary pos scssed. If he were blufiiDg ob hand deuce high we should be aware of the fact; and if he held straight flush, or a middle flush, or four bullets, or q