The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-29
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF KEELE.
An Analysis of the Character and Methods
of a Great Charlatan.

of n Great Charlatan.
To H EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: Now that
the humbuggery OF Keely's career is ended by
death ne interests us chiefly from a psyche
logical point OF view. How is 1t that this man.
who was ignorant of the elementary concepts
OF science and who murdered English, could
entrap wealthy and cultured victims, 30 that
they listened with respect to his hybrid scien-
tifc jargon2 The answer is that he was a pro-
lessor of experimental psychology. and he
based his hope OF success on the inexhausti-
bleness Of human credulity.
Starting with the threadbare theory Of the
destruction OF bridges by vibration, he felt his
way cautiously. at first. and Stimulating ear
nestness. a virtue which he did not possess,
he announced wonderful discoveries of "ethe-
re e forces and rtriuRs currents Of a polar
condensed nonsense. He was an actor. and a
good one: and was SO earnest; SO enthusiastic
conviction carried to their minds. and then
came successful "sympathctic outreaches"
btssT SeS tarn EDS SSy W psyeb %lnds Seemed sorrss to to haze Ee
spiritualism. Indeed, 1t is a question. II the
whole subject Is not rather a study for the
curious habit Of mailing startling statemNnts
and f]nrtiyely watching to SEQ their effect.
to the .Gullibillty Of the auditor. This Is very
much IN the line OF procedure OF the spiritual
Keeiy had the instinct of the Snowman.
which, combined with never falling sang froid,,
f fd hin through innnmerable tight places,
tempt to unmask the adventurer there was
s11s,s to be s a stormy =, scene rrsE,so in Witch a
aid,, Of the concealed traps and tubes
and down. wheels reyolved. and enor-
nous pressures We're developed. and the select
were struck by the mystery and tho uncanni-
ness or forces which were set free and mas
organ. =" was KeefIy's soT nSolicy' 10 to t Az a m grdat
deal o ana make a 6ig poIse all the time with
all these things tend to dull the mental perceSvV
ton OF otherthings, His tactics were exactly
tateurs OF our acquaintance, o true scientific
man T "3 IA ever descend nd e ~ such tricks which
Ali readers oi KseIy iiteratur~e' must Have
been deenly interested TO know that I'm moor
f fteT po a aITfsrr narietni 1oS St the Sr6 %i hSos hi thirds snm o,
condition between the rctractors and extnnsors
OF me leg and f32t" Prot Gooispesd cites an
cries" in which a, definition is given Of
ihsanity' There Is good reason for he
ton Of dinerentiattoonT Of The mnass.chords
OF the convoluti9ns which, create an
the, v%entral or attractive centres Of such convo-
l%utions,n Prof. Witmer says. after, noting tho
striking the. fundamental, tones Of deinsion
that yi,hrate in III balanced mental systems-
mat little more Is needed To bring R~eelyism !
In ne proner place in a museum OF pathological
Prof. Car! Herring, u man Of excellent judg-
ment and scientific training. says: 81 have
knavc! bv which ! mean whether he was igno-
rant ~ the well-estahiiahe laws of nature and
was. therefore, rroping In the dark. or whether
he prncticed deception in order 10 get money
from his supporters, am now salts
fed that he was both a fool and a knave. Il
would indeed be interesting to know whether
Keely ever took himself seriously. / am In
cllned to helieye that he did not.
NEW YORK, Jan. rs. PSYCHOLOGIST.