Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-10-28

valuable than diamonds. The stock
jobbers who dealt in tulips fount
themselves suddenly rich. Lands wer,
sacrificed for small considerations il
order to purchase tulips. Mobiles
citizens, farmers. chimney. sweeps
footmen, maid servants and washer
women speculated in tulips. For
elgners became infected with the
mania and money poured into Hol
land from all points Of the compass:
for investment. When this specula
tive mania ran its course, tulips sanl
to their normal value. Thousand
OF merchants found themselves ruined
financially. and the cry of distress wa:
heard in the land. England ant
France in the Eighteenth centur,
suffered severely from speculative
manias.
Turning now our attention to Amer
ica, we find that she too has been in
fected from time to time with religious
financial and other crazes. Only few
instances can be given within the
compass of this paper. A religion.
mania passed over this country in tn,
year $500, and reached its high-tde o
excitement in the Kentucky revivals
The first camp-meeting was held al
Cabin Creek, in that State, beginning
May 22i of that year. The singing
crying, praying, shouting aud falling
into commissions made tho days ant
nights hideous. Some persons who
tried to escape the excitement seemed
to have been held by a mysteriou.
force incapable Of explanation. Others
again, were seized on the way. Their.
was n general revival held at Indiar
Creek, in Harrison county, Kentucky
1t lasted five days. The meeting wa!
at first quiet. but did not SO remain
very long. A boy of twelve took hi.
position upon log, began to rave
violently, which attracted the atten
ton OF the crowd. In tears and pers
piration the youngster cried out
d" Thus. o sinner, shall you drop into
he'll, unless you fOrsake your sins and
turn to the Lord" Just at that time
many fell to the ground writhing and
jerking in frenzy. Indifferent on
lockers, even skeptics and Knockers
caught the infection and fell to the
earth in convulsions. In many place:
this religious mania took the form ol
laughing, dancing and barking like
dogs. Such proceedings were not con
fined to the vulgar minded. Cultivst.
ed men and women were affected alike
with this frenzy. These religious re-
vivals have swept over the country
from time to time, which have im.
pressed participants therein that they
were incapable of sin. Clcrgymen
who reasoned logically were terme d
emissaries OF Satan by many of these
religious enthusiasts.
In 1895, there appeared man by
the name of Schlatter, who held forth
in camp.meeting style on the out.
skirts of Denver, Colorado, who by
reason OF his enthusiasm attracted
great crows OF people. Many claimed
and believed that he possessed the
divine power of curing and healing
the sick by the laying on of his hands
or by simply touching the garments O
those afflicted. The newspapers o.
that city ridiculed his prstensions aud
the claims of his adherents. One o
the leading dsilies sent Q representa-
tive to report the proceedings OF one o
his Sunday meetings. Tue reporter
though skeptic and unbeliever, was
seized with commissions while the ex
citement was on. We have in recent
years heard about the great following
OF people, who have been infected with
the teachings of Alexander Dowie
This individual seems to have tn,
faculty OF leading and controlling larg'
crowds of people to his way of thinking
The whole country in spots seems t
be tainted with his views. As strange
as it may seem there are persons il
this town, who believe that Dowis
possesses healing powers. The green.
back, Coke, silver and gold crazes art
familiar to the general public. We
are, therefore, led to believe that thi
occult force of suggestion is Away
present; it is recognized by scholar
and by scientists, but thus far it i,
little understood. From the vasI
amount of literature pertaining tc
this subject, it goes without saying
that the thoughtful men and womer
of earth are now giving the matter
earnest and serious consideration, en-
deavoring to discover the underlying
principles governing such phenomena
that they may be able to meet manis'
and crises whenever they may appea
with counter suggestions thereby turn
ing the direction of thought int
healthful channels and placing the
same upon higher moral planes.