The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-20
MASTER OF MYSTERIES
DISPLAYS HIS TALENT
Mercedes, Mental Tciepathist, In Per-
formancc for Newspaper Men,
Oonvinces Them That New
Science Is Now Fact.
THOUGHT BY WIRELESS.
Woman Seems to Pick Up the Current
From nfosphcre-Mcrccdcs Tells
Reporters That Distance Makes No
Difference In Operation of Art.

Fifteen newspaper reporters. rep
tesenting tho four local daily papers,
were thoroughly convinced Yesterday
afternoon that mental tclcpathy, with
it's attendants in the psychic state, is
no longer a theory, but has been
brought into n practical. scientific
light. Mercedes, featuring with his
assistant Mile. StaTlone. the bill at
the Lyric theater this week. entertain
ed the newspaper men at a private
performance on the stage at the close
OF yesterdays matinee, and impress
ed upon them the fact that he is the
master of a very wonderful art.
Mile. Stanlone set blindfolded at a
piano with her back to the crowd.
and Mercedes stood back with his
audience on tho other side OF the
stage He removed every possible
hint OF the slight Of hand or optical
illusion, and gave his performance
with an open and frank display OF
his talent His work is called THE
Musical Enigma" and in every way
fully justfiss the title. When he had
given directions as to how those who
had come to test him should proceed
the exhibition began.
He asked one man to write the
name OF some piece 81 music on A
slip Of paper. Mercedes then glanced
at the paper, putting In his mind the
lame OF the music and the melody
The writer then stepped forward. and
said. "Play my sflel ten. please" and
without hesitation The woman at the
yyiano told him what it WAS he had
written. and then PLAYED II for him.
This test went the rounds OF the
crowd. until all were satisfied that
VI Mer~nGaS him
self did not speak word to the
musician. nor did he make any sign
whatever that could give a hint as
TO wha. was written on the paper.
One incident. demonstrated the re-
markabla nature OF tho proceedings
very thoroughly. One OF the crowd
suggested, In whisper. 10 another
that the woman be asked TO play n
certain selection. Poor Butterfly"
He did not mention this aloud, but
when some other man was called on
10 ask for q sele rtion. the musician
started playing the Poor Butterfly,
md when told 1t was wrong, declared
she had received that title through
the psychic channel
This test was made some twenty
i've times. and not once did she fail
to respond with thu correct selection.
Then. another case was attempted
Some one wrote i number on a slip OF
raper and she was asked 70 strike
that number Of keys. She did so
without hesitation, and each time cor
reStiy. All the tests that could he
thought OF were put IN operation. but
Mercedes and Mile. Ssanlone emerged
from the contest with perfect rec
ord 10 their Credit
Mercedes tfTef ~rated 70 his audi
ence that distance. or length OF time,
did not affect the matter at all. He
declared that he could set his watch
at certain hour and concentrate his
mind on this time. SO that when the
hour arrived. his subject would re
ceive the fun thought that had been
n his mind. During the public per-
formance in the afternoon he per-
formed his usual feats and completely
mystifed large audience. He has
studied the art until his mind has the
peculiar power Of concentration
necessary 70 the mastery OF the new
science. IN the Palace theater. one
of the largest vaudeville houses in
New York. he has recently been hon
ored with "A two weeks continuous
run. regarded in the show world as n
eomewhat unusual accomplishment:
He says he could easily read the
minds Of persons IN his presence. and
hat the art he follows could readily
ee used in detective work, as It Is
aow being widely practiced by mill
tary spies.