Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-06-27
MENTAL TELEaRApr;

- 49, @.-41s
mset esasss1s NS,%. y esnsa Commence.
June 9, 1857 College, Great Bend, Kss,
In.laur
AZ r. ..ching forth ia such theme
LIS, one would naturally expect to
find a vast field of scientific research
spread out before him. But tho SO
purely a scientific subject, it need not
be what science too-often is-'A valley
of dry bones.',
In treatment of this topic we do
not wish to display any erudition, but
merely give few sheaves cleaned from
the golden harvest of more learned
reapers in the field of science.
Among the many phenomena of this
age of wonders, and not the least in
point of significance and interest, is a
mysterious, silent force, an invisible
network, binding man to man. The
mind, which makes him conscious OF
the true, the beautiful, and the good,
is phenomenal in itself, and the wisest
psychologist finds himself at an utter
loss to comprehend its power. He may,
it is true, hold it up to the light shed
upon it by science and, by its semi
transparency divine portion of its
mechanism; but still the opacity re-
mains to remind him of the edict ''thus
far shalt thou go and no farther" and
he sees, as through a glass darkly, the
coveted goal recede in the dim mist OF
prospective philosophy. Thus, barred
on the very threshold of success he
must pause, leaving the phenomenon
of 'ssperitual communication" unbound,
unsoIved.
But, tho seemingly so discouraging,
regarding this force. The mind is
said to be spiritual rather than material.
It is similar tOmatter in many respects,
but in the main is widely different.
Mind is self-active, matter is not.
Matter is known by the mind through
the senses; mind is self-knoWlng. L
know that I am, and this is sufficient
to establish the minds seperate ex-
istence. With this hypothesis we shall
endeavor to show the dependency-no
of mind upon matter nor Uice Uersd,
but-mind upon mind. This COM
munication-fOr such does undoubtedly
exist-on account of the lightning-like
rapidity and external imperceptibility
we shall term Mental Telegraphy.''
Who has not witnessed the phenom-
enon? We are enjoying the balmy air
of bright May morning. The brook
dances joyously along over it's pebbly
bed, and the petals that float so silently
on it's ripping bosom are fairy-boats
fringed from the flower lined banks.
The sun is sending his golden beams
athwart the landscape, rOusing the
birds in the treetops. All around is
life. The little feathered songsters
are warbling their carols in the chOisest
tones of their tiny thrOats, making the
wildwood ring with their harmonious
chorus, proclaiming their freedom and
their life of joy. The grass is touched
by gentle zephyrs, and bows joyful
acquiescence, waving to and fro in the
sunlight-earth's banner of green.
Above, the sky is clOudless, except here
and there white fleece, floating lazily
aloft, now concealing the sun from
sight, and now vanishing in the ethereal
blue. We are happy. Suddenly we
feel Il sense of depression-a weight of
woe. An icy fingure has touched our
heart and our joy vanishes as the dew
Of the morning. We are thinking of
an absent loved one-sOme premOnitiOn
and in a moment, all is changed. We
stand dismayed, disheartened, un-
decided. For us nature has lost her
charms. Obvious alike to brook, earth.
sky and golden sunshine, for US there
is no beauty; for a black and threaten
ing cloud hangs over US, hiding the
splendor of the Italian sky, shilling the
songs of the birds, and throwing chill
over our shattered spirit like funeral
pail. The utmost turbulency would be
preferable to the almost eXcruciating
agony of suspense-the dread fear OF
something--We know not what. We
hardly know how it happens but are
conscious of having arrived at home.
There we find no relief, and despair
ingly we cast our care upon Him with
out whose knowledge not even a spar
row falls"
Who has not observed the look of
pain on a companions face, and with
out a word, OWNED the cause? Or,
sitting beside loving friend, noticed
the feeling Of joy at your presence
which no words need utter? These
are instances with which everyone is
familiar-the most ignorant wOodsman
as we'll as the learned psychologist. We
have all undoubtedly felt desire to
visit friend and acting upon the i'm
pulse found him anXiously and even
expectantly awaiting us. These are
not efforts of the imagination as many
can vouch for in their own experience,
but plain word-pictures of phenomena
in real life. Why? The student asks
the scholar and the scholar the student;
but the only reply is born back from
the dim vista Of past ages and future
years-Why?
The thought reader, the phrenologist
the learned doctor and the school boy,
all unite in their search for some faint
clue, but all in vain. The only answer
brought back to their waiting ears. is
the echo of their own deSpairing CRY.
But the search is not hopeless. Slowly,
but with increasing brightness the light
of science is breaking on this perplex-
ing question. AS the study of the loco
motive is better understood by a
knowledge of the nature of steam. so
the mind and its many phenomena are
better comprehended by knowledge of
it's Maker. We are all workers in the
Oroot fold of diSooyorv vTIo 49,,