The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-29
HyI,NotfsIil.
A CITIZEN.
Norfolk. Va. Feb.

Editor Of The Virginian:
Is the phenomenon of hypnotism a
reality or an imposition on the intel
Iligence of Il cultivated community? The
word cultivated is used In it's extreme
sense through observing the quality OF
the audiences who nightly throng the
Academy OF Music during the present
week
Hypnotism, mesmerism. odic force or
animal galvanicism. latent In most hui
man beings and manifested in Il few,
has at various periods In the worlds
history astounded and led captive the
human mind. Dr. Mcsmer. who is re-
sponsible for the creation of the word
mesmersnl, by his occult power. held
c1thralled the best intellects of tho
French capital. No less distinguished
was Joseph Bolsamo, who openly claim
ed the possession of u sixth sense and
who made himself name in the history
of France In that period. preceding the
awful reign of terror. Whether he was
cheat and a liar is still an open uues-
ton, In spite of the euradite pen of
Thomas Carlyle who proclaimed him
the greatest charatan OF his age OF
less fame, but probably possessing us
much skill In mystifyins the minds OF
his genera ton. WAS DR.. Atwood of Lon
don. Eng. He is said to have healed
the sick, restored the sight OF the blind,
and caused the lame to walk without
support by the aid of mesmerism, which
appears but another name for hypno-
tlsm. The achievements of this remark
able man will be remembered by many
thousands. as he was In the zenith Of
his power less than forty years ago.
AZ the present day there are too many
claimants of this occult power to emu
me1ate, and none of them seem more
worthy of consideration than the re-
markable lady whose wonderful power
is nightly demonstrated at one of our
local theatres. There are many who do
not believe in the truth of her somno-
mistic power, and others who consider
her work an evidence OF an occult force
that only few possess. but has almost
universal Judgment in the brains of
the major portion of humanity
Are not the phenomenon OF imagi-
nation, prcsentimcnt and intrication an
evidence of u latent or undevcloped
power that has manifested itself ut
rare intervals during the worlds his
tory? Why not? Who can. with CON
sistancy, assert the contrary, in the
face of the work that is being done at
the present time by the various hypno-
lists all over the world?
There are thousands Of people horn in
the world without the sense Of taste, or
touch, or of sight. Does their unfortu-
nate deficiency i'll these respects make
the eXistance Of those faculties n myth
and an absurdity? No: decidedly not
Then by the same reasoning can we
not conclude that there is n power. q
faculty. or a sense that is only possessed
by very small portion OF humanity
Because man cannot distinguish the
difference between Il green and a blnc
light signal on q railroad does II fol-
low that roses have no color? lust
think how many human beings there
are who never hear the harmony. the
cadences OF sound that all nature makes.
Does it follow, then. that there is no
music in the spheres? That the winds
are voceless? That brooks and running
streams are mute and soundless travel
10 a silent sea? The thought is absurd
There are many who have sight We; see
not, and many who have ears. vet hear
not. They are the unfortunate ones
whose senses arc stuntcd In their
growth. whose faculties are undeyel-
opcd; who do not understand the SUI
premc enjoyment, the keen pleasure Of
those whose minds are more devcIoned
or cultivated than their own. VINO can
mark the limi: of the souls intcIljgencc2
Who can say that there are not forces
powers. senses. that are only evidenced
i'm the highest order OF intellccts? Thai
such Individual development exists is
beyond doubt. There is evidence of II
in every sphere of life. II is a crown
uf glory; a ninbus around the heads of
saints; a gift of God!
GEO. a. REHSPIL