River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-01-23
MUSCLE READING.

muscle but reading the mind by means
Of unconscious muscular action. When
this is called "mind-readlng" the
sense in which it is generally under
stood-the term "mind-reading" is a
misnomer and is, in consequence, mis-
leading.
Its History.
So-caIled "mind-reading" had its mi
tiative in Chicago in 1873, and was
first demonstrated by one j. Randall
Brown, newspaper reporter.
In 1877, while Brown was giving ex-
hbitions in Chickering hall, New York
city, a young man whose fame after
ward eclipsed that Of Brown and every
other sO-called "mlnd-reader," made
himself known to Brown, and desired
to be his assistant, claiming he had
like powers.
This was none other than the great
Washington Irving Bishop, who saw
the opportunity of gathering in the
sheckels from a gullible public.
In conversation with Mr.. Bishop in
Chicago (1887), after he had made an
international reputation, he admitted
to me the trickery whereby all mind
CD readers" performed their various
feats, and strongly Endorsed the
memorable words of P T. Barnum,
1.-THE American people like to be hum
plugged"
l especially remember his remark in
regard to the use Of the wire which he
touched to his forehead in order to
read the mind of the one at the other
end of the wire. He said: "The more
mysterious you make the affair, the
less likely are they (the public to un-
ravel it,"
When in England, Bishop secured
the services of one Charles Garner as
an assistant. AS Bishop left Brown,
so Garner left Bishop as soon as the
trick was discovered. AS Bishop had
invaded British territory, Garner sal
lied forth Ito do" the Americans, but
unlike Bishop, he did not care to put
his label upon his work. He came to
this country as Stuart Cumberland,
the Great. Mind-reader of London, Eng
land"
| was an invited guest at private
seance (his initial performance held
in the parlors of the Russell house,
Detroit Mich. l give herewith, as
briefly as possible, not only what was
done, in a general way, but the HOW.
A dozen or more prominent citizens,
including minister's lawyers, reporters,
actors, ETC., were present by special re-
quest.
When Cumberland" arrived he an
nounced that his tests of "mind-read-
ing" would consist of finding hidden
objects; giving names, dates of birth,
places of birth, ETC., ETC., of those pres
ent. He did all that he agreed to do
and did it well-under the guise of
'mind-reading" He failed in one in
stance only (of this / will hereinafter
speak,, and that failure was undenia-
bic proof that results depend more
largely upon the subject than upon the
''mind-reader" and wholly, in this case,
upon the physical contact.
Before leaving the room and being
blindfolded he took each of us by the
hand, for an instant only. Why? The
more expert the "mind-reader" muscle
reader) the more sensitive to the
touch, even to so fine and delicate a
sense as may be rightly termed super
sensitive. He said: Il do this to as
certain the best subject for the Sc
verest, or most difficult test, viz, the
finding of three objects in quick sue
ceSSion."
Not only his touch but his sight
; guided him in his choice. He would
not choose one of a phlegmatic temper
., II, -s-I1 LA
/, being of a nervous, sanguine tenn
permanent, sensitive to a marked de-
gree, was chosen for the test.
How 1t Was Done.
First, the blindfold. This is an as
sistance rather than hindrance. In
asmuch as it shuts out all exterior dis
fractions from the operators mind it
makes him more passive to the invol-
untary muscular action of his subject;
besides, it appears to render the work
of the "mind-reader" more difficult
In nearly every case the operator
produces black kerchief Ito add to
the deception which he places over
the eyes and asks you 10 draw it tight
ly. Yes, the tighter the better. Why?
Because he contracts the brows and
even If you put on an additional 'ker-
chief and fold kid gloves over the eyes
Gas did Paul Alexander Johnstonel the
strain of the 'kerchief falls upon the
part of the gloves resting against the
contracted browS. When he desires to
see he raises his brows-a very simple
thing, indeed.
This is a very great aid and is espe-
cially deceptive when describing a
young lady in the audience to whom a
book or bouquet is to be given. She
was plainly visible to the operator
(from underneath the fold) when he
muscular action of the subject
This blindfold is also used to prove
CD that his experiments are not due
to physical contast when he does not
touch the subject, but, instead, extends
his hands, one above the other, about
foot or moro apart, and directs the
subject to put one of his hands be-
tween and eQmdistant from his own.
Were they placed on the level of his
eyes he could not do the trick. Why?
Because he could not see the action or
movement of the subjects hand. This
is essential to success because when
the operator moves his hands in the