The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-23
FREAKS OF THE MIND.
CURIOUS FRANKS PLAYED BY THE
IMAGINATION.
A Student Who Fell Dead From the
Mere Touch of Cane Under Ex-
citing Circumstances-Som Queer
Cases.

Some years ago number of students
in Europe were concerned in the charge
which demonstrated the powerful eff
fects Of Imagination. In frolic they
donned DISCUSSES and arrested another
student, whom they tried in theatre
cally-arranged and dimly-lighted
chamber. and condemned to DEATH
For several hours they kept their hor-
ror-stricken victim in darkened room
and. having informed him that he was
to be beheaded, bandaged his eyes and
led him to another apartment.
y crowd was assembled but re-
strained their mirth, as the victim of
the practical joke was forced to kneel
down, and place his neck across the
spindle of a three-legged stool. They
prepared for great outburst of laugh
ter as the neck of the poor young fel-
low was touched with slender cane;
but, instead, had to shed tears of regret
for the action, as Immediately upon be-
ing touched With the cane the young
man fell dead.
A man had been cured of a somewhat
serious Illness, but had the misfortune
to consider himself dead, and refused
to converse with his friends or take the
was fast sinking when they hit upon a
plan, and hiring coffin, they placed
him inside, and with due formality pro-
ceeded 10 inter HMM the dark coal
cellar;
Shortly afterwards one of his friends
was carried into the cellar also
in coffin. which, in addition
to his body, contained a liberal supply
of wine and food. The man who be-
:ieved himself dead was surprised when
he saw his companion corpse" sit up
and feast upon the good things placed
in the coffin. He demonstrated with
him, but being informed that it was
customary to indulge in food in the
world in which they were as we'll as in
the world which they had left, he
Joined in the feast. Shortly afterward
he held rational conversation with his
friend, and was soon recovered.
A lady holding a high position in So
ciety suddenly imagined that her hus-
band had sustained a serious financial
reverse, and notwithstanding the pro-
tests of her husband set about adapt
ing herself to the supposed change in
her circumstances. She disposed of her
jewelry. discharged her servants and
rented a small cottage and in its win
dow displayed card bearing the init
take plain sewing.
Various devices were adopted by her
anxious family TO convince her of the
actual state of her affairs, and eventu-
ally a. friend presented her with
check for many thousand pounds This
broke down her craving, and induced
her to undertake a, prolonged journey
on the continent. Her overstrained
brain was restored to its normal con-
dition though she always believed
afterwards that she had been in
straitend circumstances.
The effect of pernicious literature
upon the young lads has often been
Illustrated by disclosures in police
courts, but it would scarcely be believ-
ed that the sensational stories publish
ed by some boys journals could have
serious effect upon the imaginat ton of
a man over so years. Yet such act
ual1v occurred in the north of Eng
land
He had spent large portion of his
time in reading such f7iter9ture." and
eventually came to the conclusion that
he was fitted for life of frolic and adj
venture, like many another hero" In
the first stage of his vagary he played
tricks, such as were described in the
stories. upon his neighbo7s, banging
their knockers and ringing their bells.
etc, and afterward he became an ANA
teur highwayman, having as the imple-
ments of his adopted profession small
Grape mask and large horse pistol.
When he adopted his knickerbockers.
cutaway coat. slouched hat, with the
mask over his eyes and pistol under his
arm, he walked through crowded
thorouShfare in midday searching for
some one to ''hold up" He attracted
crowd. and was soon taken in charge
by friendly constable. He was cured
OF his powerful imagination by ridi-
cule alone.
Another man came to the conclusion
that he had lost his head. and was only
convinced that such was not the case
by having a heavy lead hat which had
been expressly made. placed upon it,
and the pressure after time made him
understand that he had conceived an
erroneous impression