The record-union., 1894-03-17

else your reason," said the physician.
DOUBTLESS YOU have rsad of the wonder
fnl feats in thaumaturgy performed by
the conjurorS of India. 1ou perhaps
have heard of the tree which grows from
seed. blossoms and bears fruit before
your eyes. 1t may be that you will re-
call the story of the ball Of string thrown
into the air which the boy climbs until he
disappears from sight. Everybody has
read of these wonderful things, and many
more like them."
'But it was no conjuror's trick that
Witnessed | insisted.
The doctor continues: "The expert
ment has been tried of photographing
these alleged miracles when in progress,
but strange TO relate, when the plates are
taken from the camera no trace OF these
things is found on them"
''Strange, indeed" l murmured.
The explanation is that the wonderful
sights are nothing more than hallucina-
tions. They exist in the witness brain
the conjuror has power to hypnotic the
spectators. and it is merely through 'sug-
gestion' that they see the wonders he tells
them of"
land you think was the victim Of
hypnotic suggestion ?'' | asked.
Undoubtedly" was the reply.
"And DIR. Sulzberg-what object"
began.
LAS to that,' interrupted the physi-
clan, 81 do not doubt that Sulzberg be-
lieved in his discovery and thought his
apparatus would accomplish all he
claimed for it. Of course, you are not
aware that among us doctors he has been
considered a crank for years, and l
think it probable that he has been a mo-
nomaniac on the subject Of his vital bat
terry longer than anyone dreams"
Needless to say that it did not take me
long TO become convinced that DR.. Har-
lows views were correct
Il can readily understand how the
noise was created. which attracted the
Roses attention." ! said.
Certainly" said the doctor. ''it is easy
of explanation. When Inconsistencies
was brought on by the intense mental
strain to which you were subjected You
fell forward from your chair, dragging
the machine to the floor with you"
1t was doubtless the sight of his be-
loved instrument in ruins which brought
on SulZberg's attack of acute dementia.
At length | said: 'Doctor, | should
like to go to the laboratory. | think it
would more thoroughly disabuse my
mind of the delusion which has possessed
it to visit by daylight the scene of that
terrible adventure"
After moments thought the physician
said: ''Your idea is ii good one. Doubt
less the whole thing seems like night
mare TO you now, and to see that room,
not as your imagination pictures it, but
as it is in reality, will perhaps be of bene-
tit TO you."
On attempting to rise found myself so
weak that Doctor Harlow remarked,
with smile: 81 am tempted to believe
in SulZberg's discovery after all, and that
his diabolical apparatus actually has
taken the best part of your vitality"
Propelled in a large armchair, and in
company with the doctor, l shortly after
entered the laboratory.
| could not repress a shudder as |
looked about me. The objects in the
room appeared as they had at my prev
vious visit, save that the delicately con-
structed machine now lay upon the floor,
a hopeless wreck of shattered glass and
tangled wires
At length my eyes wandered to the
f1owerstand in the window recess.
l grasped DR.. Harlow's arm and
pointed to the plants. "Lookr' l cried.
did | not tell you when l entered here
rose? Look now and say whether it was
all q delusionp
Before us were the two plants-the rose,
covered with bright leaves and aglow
with crimson blossoms, and the camellia
brown and lifeless.
DR.. Harlow tried to convince me that L
had made some mIstake-that it was i'm
possible that the plant which on my first
visit had been alive could now be dead,
and the plant then dead could now be
living. He has tried to convince ME of
this many times since.
Others are privileged to explain the
thing as they may choose but as for me
know what the world has lost.
BRADFORD WOODBRIDGE,