Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-11-08
MIND READING.
AN EXPLANATION OF HOW II IS
ACCOMPLISHED.
Ii Does Not Effect he Nervous System
Capacity Tor Strong Mental Con-
ccntrttiOn Necessary - Ladies'
Make Excellent Operators.

"Thc pursuit of mind reading rs :,
profession" says writer i'll the Chicago
IeJuH, ''docs not effect the nervous
system more than other intellectual call
ing. Although the claims made in cir
cnlars Of prominent mind readers are. in
very large part, exaggcrations OF the pos
Slbiilties oil their performances, and rs
such, are probably beyond tie power of
any man TO accomplish, nevertheless, the
work may be varied in form MS indefinite
| ly us the performers brain is fertile of in
vcnti0n.
| "Bcforc attempting the performance,
the essential condition should be uninis-
takably impressed upon the minds of
those who are to take part that the per
son to he led to the sccrcted article must
, concentrate the mind upon the place
where the article is hidden until that
| place has been reached by the mind
reader and himself, and then
upon the article itself This
mental concentration sh0uld be required
us constantly rs possible 10 the end. If
the mind-rcadcr fails, from the very
| nature of the work, the fault lies with
the subject, for he must succeed if the
subject fairly complies with this single
condition. However, there occasionally
may he found an individual incapable OF
| prolonged or even brief mental conccn-
tration, because Of great troubles, loss of
fortune, or i'll health and other causes.
| Such subjects should always be avoided,
| if possible, us the accomplishment of the
trick with them is exceeding improbable,
if not altogether impossible. 1t follows,
then. that the best minds available should
always he chosen. The mind-rcat!er has
then nothing to do bla to establish phys
| zeal contact between himself and his sub
jcct, and after starting Il motion of his
body in any direction quietly surrender
himself to the involuntary muscular
leading OF his subject, when he will find
himself led unconsciously TO the proper
place. Almost any physical contact will
he sufficient, although Browns method
of placing the back Of the subjects hand
to his forehead is probable the best, be-
cause the most impressive
"Whcn you have the back Of tie sub
jccts hand 10 your forehead, start IL
swayinS motion around, and go in the
direction you find il easiest for the sub
jcc; and yourself to move 20 and YOU
will he lcd TO the place. If you lead him
III different direction than the one he is
thinking of, YOU will find more resistance
to moving him or his hand. To be
bhndfoldcd is not essential, although
helpful, because it presents the appear.
nce of rendering the work of the mind
: reader more difficult while it really as
LISTS him i'll being passive to the lcadngs
of his subject, rs it shuts out from his
mind all exterior directions. Tic body
of any and every person has always an
inclination, more or less strong, in the tli-
rection of the thoughts OF the mind.
more especially so if the body is in mo-
ton. For instance, if you think of an
object on your right, accompanying tina;
thought will bc slight motion OF the
body in the same direction. Then place
your mind upon some other object in
the opposite or any other direction and
over will so the body accordingly. The
natural law of mutual dependence be-
tween mind and matter-or habit of har-
nony of action between the brain and
body, or man or beasts the secret
of The whole undertaking. 1t
follows that all the mind-rc reader h:,s
action Of the muscles of his subjects
hand against his forehead and follow in
the direction indicated by the subjects
muscles; and he will find himself led I'M
mistakably toward the place upon which
the subjects mind is concentrated. Hay
ing reached the place, the mind reader
will feel around with one hand until the
secretcd article is found, and as soon rs
his hand touches it-although he has 10
! previous knowledge of lis naturc--hc will
recognize ii instinctivcly, for his subject
has unconsciously impaired such informa-
| ton by the relaxation of his muscles. As
mind, unlike matter, is indivisiblc, or in
ether words, as it is impossible for
persons mind to be in two places nj the
same time, it is plainly TO be seen hat If
the subject honestly concentrates his
mind upon the article hidden he cannot
discover the fact that lie is leading the
so-called mind-readcr, instead of being
led himself. 1t is quite obvious, from
the foregoing" explanation, that instead of
the mind-rcader being the operator and
leading the subject, as is generally sup
posed, he is himself led by the subject
hence the mind-rcader is the subject and
the subject the operator To sum it up
in very few words, the mind-readcr must
follow the least resistance
Ladies', owing 10 their dclicacy o!
touch, make excellent operators. None
of them have become prominent in the
profession in this country, but number
abroad have. In conclusion will give
an instance Of how lady betrayed her
affection in mind-reading. AT picnic,
attended by a number of good friends,
where all the amuscments had been cx-
haustcd, was asked to give test in
mind reading. Selecting lady who,
thought, possessed great powers of con
centratins her mind, l requested her to
think OF the one she loved best, and |,
blindfoldcd, would lead her TO him.
She laughingly agreed, and being blind
folded, l commenced my search. She
led me around the circle several times.
leading me each time TO person WHOM,
she should have loved the best, but each
| tlu1p thprl IL,