The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-12-03
FREAKS OF The MIND.
Curious Franks Played by the
Imagination.

Some years ago number of students
in Europe were concerned in the charge
which demonstrated the powerful ef-
fects of Imagination. In frolic they
donned DISCUSSES and arrested another
student, whom they tried in theat-
rieally-arranged and dimly-lighted
chamber, and condemned to death.
For several hours they kept their hor-
victim in darkened room,
and, having informed him that he was
to be beheaded. bandaged his eyes and
led him to another apartment.
A crowd was assembled, but re
strained their mirth, as the victim of
the practical joke was forced to kneeI
down, and placed his neck across the
spindle of three-legged stool. They
prepared for a great outburst of laugh
ter as the neck of the poor young fel
low was touched with slender cane;
but, instead, had 10 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
food and stimulants they provided. He
was fast sinking when they hit upon a
plan, and, hiring coffin, they placed
him inside, and with due formality pro-
ceeded TO inter HMM the dark coal
cellar.
Shortly afterward one of his friends
was carried into the cellar also
in a coffin, which, in addition
to his body, contained liberal supply
of wine and food. The man who be-
lieved 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 well as in
the world in 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 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 adapting
herself to the supposed change in her
circumstances. She disposed of her
jewelry, discharged her servants and
rented a small cottage and in its window
displayed a card bearing the intimation
that she was prepared to undertake
plain sewing.
Various devices were adopted by her
anxious family to convince her of the
actual state of her affairs, and ultimate
ly 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 condition, though
she always believed afterwards that she
had been in straitened circumstances.
The effect of pernicious literature
upon. the young lads has often beer
illustrated by disclosures in police
courts, but it would scarcely be believed
that the sensational stories published
by some boys journals" could have
serious effect upon the Imagination o!
a man of over 60 years. Yet such act
ually occurred in the north of England
He had spent a large portion of his
time in reading such literature" anC
eventually came TO the conclusion thai
he was fitted for life of frolic and adj
venture, like many another hero Ii
the first stage of his vagaries he played
tricks, such as were described in the
stories, upon his neighbors, banging
their knockers and ringing their bells
etc, and afterward he became an anna
teur highwayman, having as the nipple
ments of his adopted profession asmal
Grape mask and large horse pistol
When he adopted his knickerbockers
cutaway coat, slouched hat, with tn,
mask over his eyes and pistol under Hi
arm, he walked through crowded
thoroughfare in midday searching TO
some one to hold up" He attracted
crowd, and was taken in charge by
friendly constable. He was cured o
his powerful Imagination by ridicul
alone.
Another man came to the conclusion
that he had lost his head and was onl,
convinced that such was not the cas-
by having heavy lead hat, which ha,
been expressly made, placed upon il
and the pressure after time made hin
understand that he had conceived al
erroneous ression.-Cincinnati E1
quirer
tAl