Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-28
A PUZZLED REPORTER.
Karl Won r. Hamong Astonishes and Mys!iGes
a Journal Man.

simply an account of very interesting
half hour passed by Journal man
yesterday afternoon, with Karl Won r.
Hamong, the palmist, at Hotel North.
During pleasant call from the prof
fessor at the Journal office. Thursday
evening, he said: Come over and see
me and I'll entertain you at least III
tell you things you may be surprised
at. I'll tell you the number of youI
watch, or anything you may ask "
Now that was Il broad statement and
the Journal man decided to call and
see what the professor would do to
back it up.
Accordingly. Friday afternoon, the
journal man stepped into Lowell
jewelry store. told Harry what he
wanted and snapped watches for a
few hours. No living person could pick
up the watch he then had and tell its
number. for no one knew it.
The professor was in and we went to
his room. No. a. where. after being
seated the professor said: Let me
take your hands Well. the hands
We're not easily concealed. so they were
passed over, while the owner snickered
to himself and wondered what TOM
foolery he was going to witness
Nothing alarming happened. for
after holding them a few minutes in
peculiar way. the professor dropped
them and said
I'm going out of the room | want
you to write your name. your mothers
maiden name. date of your birth and
two questions on any two subjects you
wish to have informa ton on"
He then went out and the Journal
man was left alone in the room. He
was no way of watching or peeking,
but he was back to q brick wall. beside
a window and the whole room in plain
sight. and the professors footsteps
heard outside. He yanked off sheet
from the pad for fear of manifold paper
beneath and wrote the required SEN
fences, using a copy of Munseys for a
table.
Back came the professor and in
structed the visitor to tightly hold the
paper, which had been carefully fold
ed, between his left forefnger and
thumb. The professor then lightly
grasped one end with his right fore
finger and thumb and asked the Jour-
nal to lay his right hand over the pro-
fessor's
Then for perhaps five minutes the
professor sat there. somewhat restless
and apparently trying by mighty eff
fort to concentrate his thoughts upon
J. 4 4
in his chair and once or twice placed
magnet to his temples and often
pressed them with his left hand. There
was no attempt at a trance or anything
of the kind In fact, a knock at the
door disturbed him. seeming to inter
rupt his concentration efforts. The
knock being repeated he told the party
that he was busy, to come again. and
renewed his attention to the matter in
hand Finally he broke away and
rapidly jotted down a few words on
paper.
Then came an examination of the
lines of the hands and some very plain
statements We're made. some of them
known to be true, others not so plain.
and still others which time alone will
test. That part We're true the writer
knows and they would be of no inter-
est to our readers, but it was an inter-
esting story TO the visitor.
Then the Journal man sprung the
watch business Taking his borrowed
timekeeper from his pocket he said
he guessed he would be going and
added:
by the way, what is the number of
my watch?"
The professor laughed. remembering
the conversation of the night before.
and answered.: Il don't know, do
you?"
NO. Can you tell me?''
Il don't know. but I'll try. I'll leave
the room. Look at the number, write
it on paper, fold it and keep it,
1t was done, and when the professor
returned, the same old position Of
hands was resumed. and the professor
went into another brown study. In less
than two minutes he said:
her-fve-cypher.'
Pretty near it. professor. but one
figure is a little off. 1t may be an i'm
perfectly made" and the Journal man
started to unfold the paper.
Wait I'll get it. Five-cypher-five
six" said Hamong.
You're right" and he was
The paper had not left the Journal
mans hand nor had other eyes than
his own seen the figures. and no one
else knew the number of the watch
How was it done?
Than an attempt of thought trans
ferance or suggestion. in which the
professor frankly admitted he often
failed. He did in this case.
We We're quietly chatting when Ha-
mong suddenly said: by the bye, you