The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1908-01-30
muscle READING.


Hmuscle but reading the mind by means
hoS unconscious muscular action. When
!, this h called "mind-reading"-in the
sense Ia which 1t is generally under
-stoodthe term "mind-reading" is a
\. rnisnorncr and Is, in consequence, mis-
leading.
\ Its History.
So-called .mind-reading" had its mi
y tiattve In Chicago in 1873, and was
first demonstrated by one ]. Randall
-. Brown, newspaper reporter.
In 1877, while Brown was giving ex-
'sshibitions in Chickering hail. New York
hi city. young man whose fame after
!. ward eclipsef that of Brown and every
"other so-called "mind-reader," made
shhimself known to Brown, and desired
ssiiaato be his assistant. claiming he had
like powers.
This was none other than the great
|, washington Irving Bishop, who saw
.1the opportunity of gathering in the
IA sheckels from gullible public.
In kconversation with Mr.. Bishop IN
~ Chicago (1SS7), after he had made an
International reputation, he admitted
% to me the trickery whereby all mind
" ~ readers" performed their various
feats, and strongly Endorsed the
$ memorable words of P. T. Barnum,
!. The american people like to be hum
: buggodr
:. especially remember his remark in
u 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
r 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
y 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
Y the Great Mind-reader of London, Eng
:. tand.n
- 81 | was an invited guest at a private
red seance (his initial performance held
. In the parlors of the Russell house
Of Detroit, Mich. l give herewith, as
to- briefly as possible, not only what was
No a. done, In a general way, but the HOW
A dozen or more prominent citizens
including ministers, lawyers, reporters
actors. etc., were present by special re
quest,
~, hnr o,riuA he ~
nounced that his tests of "mind-read
ing would consist of finding bidder
objects; giving names, dates of birth
Va places of birth, etc., ETC., of those pres
" ent. He did all that he agreed to de
lg land did 1t well-under the guise o.
Is "mind-reading." He failed in one in
ID stance only (of this l will hereinafter
y speak), and that failure was undenia
= BILE 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 beinl
blindfolded he took each of us by tn,
J hand. for an instant only. Why? TIL,
Hloreexpert the "mind-reader" (muscl'
redder) the more sensitive to the
tourf1t even to so fine and delicate I,
/. sense as may be rightly termed super
. sensitive,, He said 81 do this to as
certain the best subject for the sc
vereet, or most difficult test, viz, thu
: finding of three objects in quick sue
cessicn.'
Not only his touch but his sigh
guided him in his choice He woult
not Choose one of phlegmatic temper
arnent or one of a sluggish circulation
], being of a nervous, sanguine ten
permanent, sensitive to marked de
gree, was chosen for the test.
o How II Was Done.
First, the blindfold This is an as
sistance rather than hindrance. In
asmuch as it shuts out all exterior dis
tractions from the operators mind |
makes him more passive to the invo
untary muscular action of his subject
besides, it appears to render the worl
Of the "mind-reader" more difficult
In nearly every case the operate
proddces a black 'kerchief Ito add t
the deception) which he places owe
the eyes and asks you to draw it tight
ly. Yes, the tighter the better. Why
Because he contracts the brows an
even III you put ON an additional kel
chief and fold kid gloves over the eye
Gas did Paul Alexander Johnstone) tn
strain of the 'kerchief falls upon tn
part OF the gloves resting against tn
contracted brows. When he desires I
see he raises his brows-a very simpl
thing, indeed.
This Is very great aid and is espt
clalig deceptive when describing
young lady in the audience to whom
book or bouquet is to be given. Sh
WAS plainly visible to the operate
from underneath the fold) when h
muscular action of the subject.
This blindfold is also used to prov