Los Angeles herald., 1891-02-27
Are There Things Not Dreamt of in
Philosophy?

Are There Things Not Dreamt of in
Philosophy?
A large and distinguishedly intelligent
audience assembled at the Los Angeles
last night to see Mrs. Annie Abbott give
her astonishing exhibition of peculiar
power in lifting weights, and resisting
great force, without any apparent devel-
opment of force on her own part. The
iady's husband appeared at the rise Of
the curtain, and gave some brief account
Of the explanations or guesses of physi-
clans and other scientific people regard
ing the hidden power in Mrs. Abbott.
A committee consisting of DIR. X. H.
Wise, DR.. Ainsworth, f. J. Gilmore,
John Bryson, ST., A. T. Patton, Col. H.
G. Otis, w. A. Spalding, F.
E. Browne, Geo. H. Pike, DR.. Fl. N.
Morrison and others, was then called
upon the stage to see Mrs. Abbott per-
form. This being done, little lady of
attractive appearance, with blonde hair,
bright eyes that look black, but are prob
ably steel gray, OF about five feet two
inches in height, and weighing los
pounds, dressed in a light colored dress
with wide flowing sleeves. and made of
some rich material, stepped onto the
stage. She began with the test of throw
ing men all over the stage while they
held chairs hugged closely in their arms,
she merely touching the chairs with the
open palms of her hands. Not one could
resist her iorce. The test OF one to
four men trying to push her over
by force eXerted on a billiard cue she
held between her thumbs and fore
fingers followed. She then lifted sew
eral men loaded on chair. She merely
touched rocking chair behind and detied
strong men to rock it. A billiard cue
was placed on the floor and hall dozen
men made chair Of their arms by rest
ing hands on the head of the cue. +. E.
Browne, man of perhaps 230 pounds,
was loaded on the arms of the men, and
she lifted the cue clear off the floor. One
floor by force applied to her elbows,
right angles to the upper arms which
were held close to her side. but the effort
failed in every case. She capped. the
climax and closed the show by lifting
two chairs on which were loaded eight
or ten men in a mass of dead weight of
neal ly ton in all. She submitted to
other tests rs wonderful. AS the great
audience surged out into the street, ex-
pressions of surprise and wonder were
heard on all sides. The newspaper peo-
pie were as loud as the others. But
party of these met Mr.. Doyle, of
the Dime Museum, who said, Go
with me and 1 will show you
little woman who will do all
those tricks. for that is all they are. He !
then went on to recall bit OF history
familiar to all newspaper men in San
Francisco, when Lulu Hurst gave her
there. She had traversed
the country, causing wonder every
where. She got to San Francisco and
Doyle took young woman named Hat
tie Woods, and duplicated all she did.
That was the last heard of the Hurst
woman and her tricks. The party of re-
porters went with Doyle, and sure
enough his wife did remarkably well
half dozen of the Abbott tests. She did
the first trick described above. She
tilted the chair with two men
on it. She resisted all efforts
to push her over with the billiard cue,
or to force the cue to the floor, as it
rested in her open hands. 1t is all, Mr..
Doyle claims, a mere trick, depending
on leverage or shifting the center of
gravity. He is willing to back his
opinion to the extent of $500, that he
will do any thing Mrs. Abbott can do
with young woman he has in this city.
He says he will do all these things with
any young woman of intelligence whom
an impartial committee may select, if
they will give him day to teach her
the tricks. 1t would create good deal
of excitement if Mr.. Abbott should ac-
cept this challenge for Saturday night
next.
THE LITTLE TYCOON.
The popular comic opera. The Little
Tycoon, will be presented at the Grand
opera house Monday and Tuesday
nights, March I'd and 3rd, by Mr.. Will
lard Spenser's superb company of fifty
two selected artists. the entire stage