The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-08
Uvpnotism or What?

Is the time approaching when we shall be
able to transmit our thoughts without such
mechanical appliances as the telegraph and
telephone? May we yet see the day when
ideas will be projected from one person to
another many miles distant. as freely as
sound, light and electricity now travek If
such questions had been propounded half a
century ago their author would have been re-
garded as a fit subject for lunatic asylum,
and even now they look SO prepOsterOus rs
hardly TO deserve serious consideration.
Nevertheless there are scientists and other
reputable Investigators that believe that the
browning wonder of modern discovery may be
the transmission of thought without mechani-
cal aid.
Even the Investigators into this subject do
not pretend to offer any logical ground for
their hope. at least so far as the public knows.
The whole matter Is 50 obscure, III fact. that
il is hardly worth thinking about at present,
except as "a remote possibility OF a wonderful
stage of human development
There are some things, however, possibly
bearing upon the subject that may stimulate
the hopes of the Investigators. We know. for
instance, that II you strike bar of iron with
"a hammer the news of that stroke Is carried
70 a great distance. We know that If YOU
send up rocket from mountain top the
light from that rocket actually has 10 travel
t. the eyes that see 1t miles away, and that
time Is consumed IN the Journey.
We know, too. that telegraph messages nav
he sent from rapidly moving train of cars.
and there are other strange things. and all
within the domain of physics, that tend 10
make Us hesitate about denOunclng anything
on the ground of impossibility
But, again, there are things outside tho do
main of physics that are pulling us good
deal IN these days of wonders. There Is no
longer question. for example. that It is pos
sible for two persons 10 be en- rapport as the
French say, through the instrumentality of
hypnotism. 1t Is only within very few years
that physicians and scientists have admitted
the existence of this occult force. but wide
practical demonstration has removed all doubt
about H. IL Is more than probable, too. that
we are only on the threshold of developments
In tins direction.
The experiments thus far made in our
country have been confined chiefly to eNhi-
biuons Of hypnotic powers when the persons
en- rapport were within seeing aud hearing
distance Of each other But we learn from
recent investigations in Europe. where the
subject has received greatest attention. that
hypnotic manifestations have been obtained
when the operator and the subject were not
near each other. Well. if one mind can exert
an influence upon another when the two per
sons are 100 feet apart why may not like re-
suits be obtained when the persons are 100
miles apart
IL Is fact, well known 10 the British Gov
eminent. that the natives of India have some
means of rapid communication with one
Hholhcr, AT great distances. which outsiders
nave have thus far been utterly unable to fathom.
"hen the great uprising OF the Indian sepoys
occurred, generation ago, the news of the
spread OF the rebellion reached the natives nj
distant points long before the British officers
could get such information with their best
systems OF rapid courier service No known
count for ii. and. in TACT. the matter WINS ~
teTly lnexplicable 10 the British authorities
-, All that the Hindoos themselves will saw ON
.he SUBJECT is that they possess "a system of
thought transmission. which is as familiar 10
them as Is the electric telegraph TO the West
eln wo.lu; whether some phase of hypnotism
accounts Tor tins marvel. or whether il is only
Hindoo "humbug," we cannot now onsras
We can only say with Hamlet. in view of The
wonders constantly unfolding in these io,ter
days, that there be stranger thinrs in bcsver
and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt OF In your
philosophy" - '0u'