The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-27
MUSCLE READING.

/ dis is called undertaking in the
/ sense ia which it is generally under
stood-the term ''mind-reading" is a
misnomer and is. in consequence, mis-
leading.
It's History.
So-called 'mlnd-reading' had It's iu!-
tiatiye in Chicago in 1873 and was first
demonstrated by one }. Randall Brown.
"a newspaper reporter.
Ia 1877. while Brown was giving ex-
hibltians ia Chiezering Hall, New York
city. a young man whose fame after
ward ecIipsed tsat of Brown and every
other so-caHed ''mind-Teader," made
himself known to Brown. and desired
Co be his assistant. claiming he had
Ike powers.
This was none other than The great
Washington Irving Bishop. who saw
the opportunity of gathering In the
sheckels froIa g. guIiible public
In conversation with Mr.. Bishop ia
Chicago dgS0 after he had made an
International reputation, he admitted 10
rae the trickeTy whereby all mind %
readers" performed their various feais,
and strongly Endorsed the memorable
words Of T. r. Rarnum. The American
people like 10 ne humbUgged.'
I especially remember his remark m
regard 10 the use OF the wire which he
touched 90 his forehead in order 10
read the mind Of the one at the other
end Of the wire. lie said. The more
mysterious YOU make the affair, the less
likely are they tthe public 20 unravcl
H.
When ia England. Bishop secured the
services Of one Charles Garner as an as
sitant. AS Bishop left Brown, 50 Garner
Ieft Bishop ac soon as the trick was
discovered. As Bishop had invaded Brit
ish territory, Garner sailed forth TO
do" the Americans, but unlike Bishop
he did not care 20 put his label upon
his work. He came 20 this country as
stuart Cumberland, the Great Mind
reader of London, England.
was an invited guest at private
seanca Cais initial performance held IN
the parlors of the Russell House. De
trcit. Mich. / give herewith as nflenS
as possible, not only what was done u
"a general way, but the how
4 dozen or more prominent citizens
including ministers. lawyers, reporters
actors, ere. were present 10y special re-
quest
when Cumberland" arrived lac an
uounced that his tests OF mind read
ing would consist of finding hidden
objects: givin. names. dates OF birth
ul3rfs of birth. etc, etc, of those pres
eut. He did all that lie agreed 10 DO
and did Il well-under the guise OF
mind reading" He failed In one IN
stance only (of this ! win hereinafter
sueak). and that failure was undeniaole
Uroof that results depend more largely
UNION the subject than upon tho nina
reader aud wholly, in Inis case. upon
The physical contact
Before Leaving the room and being
b.indrolded he took each u us los tne
hand. for an instant only. Why The
more expert the mind reader ,musei~ |
reader the more sensitive 10 tha Jguca.i
even 10 SO me ana delicate IA sense as
NAV be rientIy termed supersenz-tiye- |
Be said. 81 do this 20 ascertain the best /
subject for the seterest or most GIN
ruIt TEST. viz, the nndinE ~ three OBJ 1
jects in quick succes-.rE
Not only lis iourh a"t ais sis't
Guided him In hfs choice lie would no. 1
choose one Of pH.sgmatc temperament /
,r one OF "a eIUgE. sa circulation !, De
ne Of a nervous. =auEuiuc temperament
sensitive Go ID marked degree, was l
chosen Jon ta- test
How Il Was Done.
r,irsr .fr. l,IirdfoId. This is an as 1
sistaucr rather than a hindrance. In
lsmuch Us it shuts out all exterior dis
fractions from the operators mind II
makes him more passive Co the lnvol-
lntary muscular action of his subject:
besides. il appears To render the work
Jf the mind reader" more difficult
In rearlz-. every case the operator pro-
luces a black 'Eerchief (to add TO the
Ieception) which ne places over the
eyes and asks You TO draw il lightly.
Yes. the tighter the better. Why Be
.aues he contracts the br0Ws and even
L you put on an additional 'kerchief
ma fold kid gloves over the eyes Css
lid Paul Alexander Johnstone) the
strain of the 'kcrchief falls upon the
part Of the gloves resting against the
contracted brows When he desires 10
lee he raises his brow "a very simple
hing, indeed.
This is a very great aid and is espe-
tally deceptive when describing a
.oung lady ia the audience To whom a
,ook or bouquet is to be given. She
vas plainly visible 10 the operator from
tie fold when he muscular
elton OF the subject
This blindf0ld is also used To prove
p that his experiments are not due
o physical contact when he does not
ouch the sab icct. but instead extends
is hands, one above the other, about
foot or more apart, and directs the
ubject TO pat one of his hands between
nd equldistant from his own
Were they placed on the level of his
yes he could not do the trick Why?
because he coaId not see the action or
movement OF the subjects hand. This ,
3 essential TO success because when the ]
perator moves his hands in the wrong ,
ERECTION the subjects hand follows tard- ,
81, thereby indicating. unconseiously
nd unintenuOnaily. 10 the operator ]
hat he is moving IN the wrong direc-
on. But when the operator is On the ,
ght track. the hand OF the subject re-
ponds readily and retains its relative {
osiJion.
This sidehold trick is also resOrted To ]
! the driving test" through the crowd I