The Washington herald., 1911-02-26


gradually growing shorter, as, day by
day. my physical health responds more
easily to the suggestions
And the novel?''
"Oh, yes; / wrote the book-though
feel should say the book wrote itself
up in my apartment here, morning and
evening, beginning the fifth day after
my arrival in Washington. And, / assure
you, the .ease with which ideas came as
needed them was a revelation after
the sterile past"
We'll, did DR.. Robins suggest the idea
to you during your treatments:'
Not the ideas themselves. He sug-
gested to my subconsciSus mind that il
was able to supply all the ideas I needed
and directed it so to supply them the
moment l sat down to write
Were the ideas absolutely original
with your
His Friends as Prototypes.
Hardly; no. they were along the lines
of my greatest interest-the possibilities
of suggestion. I largely used my own
personal experiences in handling the prin-
cipal character; in fact, I myself took a
good big dose of rare drug this character
was using in order to make sure 1 was
absolutely right in describing its effects,
and I studied DR.. Robins carefully in
my sketch OF one of the other characters.
I've also victimized several of my other
friends in this manner and am quite Curl
Gus to see if they will recognize them
selves.
My idea regarding this book-and DIR.
Robins idea, too-was to write a novel
that should be full enough of dramatic
interest to hold any reader. and full
thousands OF nerve racked ones who exist
to lay hold of undeTstandingly."
We'll. are these suggestions hypnotic?"
asked
Don't let Robins hear you call them
that" warned Mr.. kempster, laughing.
mo, for though all suggestions may in
a sense by termed hypnotic. this method
is quite different In the first place. hyp-
motto subjects are comparatively rare.
I myself couldn't be hyFnotized in a hun
dred years despite my sensitiveness. So,
you see, if the aid given depended on
true hypnosis the cures by suggestion
would be few and far between. But it
has been discovered that there is a psy-
chic state. a kind OF bOrderland between
sleep and waking, in which the subcon-
scious mind IS peculiarly susceptible TO
suggestion. But there was never an in
slant during the last three months treat
ment, save when I was normally asleep,
that my own judgment did not control
the situation and was not perfectly free
TO accept or repudiate any suggestion the
doctor made. In fact, on several occa-
sions I did question the suggestion. and
later argued the matter out in friendly
spirit with the doctor. No. there has
been no mental coercion whatever. only
an intelligent cooperation"
What SupreSfion Maan.
But this particular idea of suggestion
isn't new, any way, is it. Mr.. Kempster?"
New? Oh. dear, no, Imagination and
suggestion, acting and reacting on each
other, have been the creators. the miracle
workers Of all ages. They are the basis
Df all faith healing. Christian and mental
sciences. new thought, the explanation of
all the Bible miracles. and. in fact, the
cause OF all evolutionary progress. only
he modus operandi has hitherto been so
hidden. misunderstood and involved in
and mystery that simple
practical demonstrations and intelligent
explanations have been rare and appeal
Is something startling and new"
And this book The Cup of Trembling
s intended to put these things on a clear,
practical basis. as I understand you?''
Yes. Though, unfortunately, in such
/ novel, addressed to general public, the
Iuthor is naturally limited. and the best
hat can be hoped for is to incite interest
perhaps inquiry, into a subject vitally i'm
'ortant TO the race. For I know that
is the key to all health hap
'iness, and progress, and it remains for
Is to decide whether we shall be con-
rolled by it blindly as heretofore or shall
understand and control it to
ur own betterment"
an Be Used in Harmony with Drugs
rs it to be inferred that you and DR..
robins are opposed TO giving drugs?''
Not at all; please don't make that mis- |
axe. Drugs have served in the past and |
re still serving a most necessary and |
elpfui purpose in the scheme of life, and !
he average doctors 1 reEard-and so 1 am |
ure does DR.. Robins-as among the most |
dvanced benefactors of the race Speak |
lg for myself l simply believe that this !
ld-new remedy. suggestion. is at present |
lore potent in a number of diseases,
rincipally those of the nervous system, |
han drugs. Also l believe that in time.
$ the race grows more sensitive, it will
AXE the place of drugs entirely, while as
n educational factor it is at present,
hen rightly directed. a power hardly
Ossible of overestimation.'
IF all this is so, Mr.. kempster. how
o you explain the fact that so MANY of
ne medical doctors whom you recognize
S intelligent professional men repudiate
digestion i'll the issue between it and
rugS?"
well. of course. evolution is slow;
leir patients demand drugs; drugs them
elves are intensely suggestive TO the
rdinary patient, and, besides, drugs do
Undoubtedly produce effects, and to the
Ntent that they do they justify their
Sc But you remember surely. how Ioath
ie allopaths were to admit the existence
any good in homeopathy. Yet think
'-day the most intelligent physicians of
9TH schools are using either principle
;cording to the exigencies of the case.
you may be sure suggestion will also
own in favor as it is better understood
- its supposed limitations are steadily
Itended- There should surely be no 4;
iarTel between the medical doctor and
e metaphysician: their work rather ;
lould be most harmoriously compile