Thought-Reading Experiments.
Having satisfactory evidence of the reality of thought-transference,
it would be interesting to know if this power or faculty can be
cultivated, and if so, how? I propose in this chapter to show how this
can be done, and how to give thought-reading entertainments.
Experimental mind-reading may be distinguished, for the sake of study,
as the abnormal, the normal, and the spurious.
The abnormal, that which takes place in trance, dream, vision, or
which may be the product of artificial somnambulism or of some
super-sensitive condition of the nervous system, through disease. We
observe thought-transference in these conditions, rather than attempt
to cultivate it.
The normal, where the phenomena takes place in the ordinary waking
state, _without muscular contact_.
The spurious mind-reading, so-called, as the result of musculation or
_contact_, but which is, in fact, only muscle-reading.
In both the abnormal and normal, direct transference of thought
from mind to mind can only take place when there is the necessary
development of psychic activity in the agent or operator, and the
equally necessary sensitiveness in the sensitive or percipient.
Classed under muscle-reading are those performances and games in which
the sensitive reads not the mind, but some special desire (of those
with whom he or she may be placed _in contact_), by a “careful study
of the indications unconsciously given by the agent or operator to the
percipient or reader.”
In both abnormal and normal thought-reading, then, are presented
innumerable instances of the possession of psychic faculties; in the
muscle-reading phase there may be, and it is possible all successful
“readers” have, more or less sensitiveness, to take impressions.
To cultivate mind-reading in a sensitive, the operator should first
cultivate in himself the habit of projecting mental pictures, and
think of things as seen by the eye, rather than as described by words.
This is best done by calling to mind a landscape or domestic scene, by
conceiving and mentally building up the same, and, by degrees, getting
each feature or detail well stamped in his mind.
It is well in the beginning of these experiments to make the scene as
simple, and yet as natural and as complete in detail, as possible. For
instance, let the operator think of such a picture as this:--A bright
little landscape, having a well-defined cottage on the left, just on
the margin of a small lake; boat with two figures in the foreground;
rising bank upon the right; and a little higher up a defined windmill,
well thrown out by the perspective of blue-ridged and undulating
mountains, and sky in the background.
The agent, having satisfied himself of his sensitive’s whole or
partial powers of psychic perception, might ask:--“Do you see anything
now?” and quickly and deliberately go to work, meanwhile formulating
definitely such a picture as the above; even allowing himself to get
into ecstacies over the scene--peopling the cottage and the mill, and
introducing imaginary conversation between the individual dwellers
therein, and so on. The sensitive will describe the whole as the
same is _felt_ or perceived. This experiment may appear to some to
be impossible, but the word impossible belongs to the limitations of
sense, and not to the range of the things possible to the human spirit.
Some sensitives and mediums take impressions from their
surroundings--their clairvoyant revelations are often nothing more
than so much Mind-reading. _Nothing more_; but this nothing more is a
great deal. Certainly, it may not prove the existence of spirit, apart
from the sensitive’s own powers; but it does prove that man has other
avenues of knowledge than those with which he is usually credited.
The development of mind-reading in the psychic states may be encouraged
by a little judicious assistance or direction. Invite the sensitive
to pay attention to So-and-so; to visit places, to examine rooms, or
describe people whom the sensitive has never seen. But the places,
the rooms, and the persons must be _distinctly in the minds_ of those
persons, or agents, with whom he or she is placed in _rapport_.
During these experiments the sensitive will say, “I _see_ this,” or
describe that other, as if he actually saw. Hence the infinitely close
relationship of mind-reading to clairvoyance. Thought-reading in
spiritualism will be referred to in the next chapter.
Once possessing a good sensitive, the development of the power, as
a matter of fact, lies particularly in the operator’s ability to
concentrate and focus his thoughts--to think clearly, calmly, vividly,
and distinctly himself--and to deliberately and conscientiously project
the same.
THE NORMAL EXPERIMENTS WITHOUT CONTACT.
A pleasant hour or so can be profitably filled up on a long winter’s
evening with experiments in mind reading, without resorting to
mesmerism. It will be found that there are mind-readers in every
family--some boy, girl, or young woman more sensitive than the rest to
impressions.
Sometimes it has been found, when two or more persons think of the
same object, as in the “willing game,” the impression becomes more
vivid, and the sensitive finds, or describes, the article, or thing,
more easily. It has been left to the versatility of Professor Lodge,
of the University College, Liverpool, to project two distinct images
at the same time to a sensitive. He requested two friends to look at
a paper that he had given to each. On one paper a square was drawn,
and on the other an oblique cross. Neither person knew what the other
was looking at, and after they had looked intently at these diagrams
for a short time, the sensitive, who was in a normal condition, but
blindfold, said:--“I see two figures--first I see one, and then,
below that, another. I do not know which I am to draw. I cannot see
either plainly.” Having been requested to draw what she saw, she drew
a square, with an oblique cross inside of it. On being questioned,
she replied that she did not know why she placed the cross in the
square. The two images projected by distinct minds, intermingled, and
were produced, as narrated by Professor Lodge. We can readily see
that confusion will arise where a number of persons are thinking of
different subjects, or when some positive-minded individual declares
mind-reading to be an impossibility.
Something after the above experiments of Professor Lodge are those
which were conducted by Mr. Guthrie, a London barrister, and reported
by him to the Society of Psychical Research.
A number of diagrams, roughly drawn off-hand at the time, were shown to
the agent or precipitant, Mr. G., the subject, or percipient, a lady,
being blind-fold. During the process of transference, the agent looked
steadily and in silence at the drawing, the subject meanwhile sitting
opposite to him, and behind the stand on which the drawing lay, so
that it was entirely out of her range of vision had her eyes not been
blind-folded.
The agent stopped looking at the drawing when the subject professed
herself ready to make the attempt to reproduce it. The time occupied
thus was from half a minute to two or three minutes. Then the
handkerchief was removed, and she drew with a pencil what had occurred
to her mind.
[Illustration: RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS IN THOUGHT-TRANSFERENCE.]
[Illustration: RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS IN THOUGHT-TRANSFERENCE.]
The reproductions were made generally without the agent following or
watching the process. We reproduce several of the attempts here, giving
both the successes and the failures. Even the failures show the effect
Mr. G. produced upon the reader’s mind.
The experiments conducted so successfully in the family of the Rev.
Mr. Creery, of Boston, and made public by Professor Barrett in _The
Journal of Psychical Research_, show to what extent thought-reading
may be successfully carried on in the quietude and confidence of a
well-regulated family.
The mode of procedure adopted by Professor Barrett to test the faculty
as possessed by the children was as follows:--“One of the children,”
says Professor Barrett, “was sent into an adjoining room, the door of
which I saw was closed. On returning to the sitting-room, and closing
the door also, I thought upon some object in the house, fixed upon at
random. Writing the name down, I showed it to the family present, the
strictest silence being preserved throughout. We then all silently
thought of the name of the thing selected. In a few seconds the door
of the adjoining room was heard to open, and after a short interval
the child would enter the sitting-room, generally speaking, with the
object selected. No one was allowed to leave the sitting-room after
the object had been fixed upon, and no communication with the child
was conceivable, as her place was often changed. Further, the only
instructions given to the child were to fetch some objects in the house
that I would think upon and, together with the family, silently keep in
mind, to the exclusion as far as possible of all other ideas.”
Now, if Professor Barrett had told the children to select a word, and
upon coming into the room were to spell or state what the word was, I
question if the experiments would have been so successful. The articles
thought of, whether a hair brush, an orange, wine glass, apple, or a
playing card, were of such a nature that a definite picture or image of
the thing thought of could be formed in the mind. The father, mother,
and even Professor Barrett, seem to have been especially in _rapport_
with the little sensitives, and thus all the more readily were they
able to transmit the mental picture of the articles selected. Trick or
collusion in this case is absolutely out of the question. It would be
interesting to know if these young sensitives, who were so bright in
1881, still retain, or have increased or lost, their powers.
There were 312 trials made during Professor Barrett’s stay of six
days, who adds--“One most striking piece of success, when the things
selected were divulged to none of the family, was five cards running
named correctly on the first trial--the odds against this happening
once in our series, being considerably over one million to one. We had
altogether a good many similar batches, the two longest runs being
eight consecutive successes, once with cards and once with names,
when the adverse odds in the former case were over one hundred and
forty-two millions to one, and on the latter, something incalculably
greater. _Walls and closed doors made no difference._” [The italics are
mine.--J.C.]
Something after the foregoing style are drawing-room entertainments
given. If failure result, no one is blamed, and ridiculous mistakes
only lend pleasure to the company, where all are known one to the other.
The usual method is to select someone for thought-reader. Lady or
gentleman, matters little. He or she is sent out of the room. Some
one in the room generally takes the lead, who may suggest the article
to be selected and hidden, which the thought-reader is to find. The
article selected is thought of by the entire company. The reader is
to go to the place where it is, lift it, put it down, or give it to
some one else; or to find a certain book and remove it from its place
on table or elsewhere, and put it somewhere else; to come in and sit
on a certain chair or to lead someone else to it, or perform whatever
other test that is decided upon. The reader is admitted into the
room, and, if at all receptive, will do or say something like what is
desired--often going direct to the spot, lifting the article, or doing
the things which the company have decided upon.
A good plan is to get the assistance of one or two friends, use a bag
of counters, upon which numbers 10 to 100 are placed; also a smaller
bag with numbers 1 to 9. Let the sensitive sit at a table in such a
position, so as, if not blindfolded, he or she could not see what the
agent has in his hand. Use the small bag to begin with. Let one friend
hold the bag, another select a number. When both have carefully looked
at it, let it be handed to the agent, who shall fix his eyes steadily
upon the figure, and picture the said figure on his mind. The sensitive
will in one or two minutes either say or write down what the figure is.
If these experiments become satisfactory, the larger bag can be used.
The experiments with numbers must not be continued too long, and so
weary the faculty. In the same way a number of simple outline designs
can be used--these presented one by one to the agent or operator--a
fish, a boy and barrow, a fireman with escape, a negro and banjo, a
lecturer on platform, an orange, a book, etc., such as are found in
children’s school books; repeating the same processes as above. No one
must speak but the agent and the percipient, nor is the agent to know
what the numbers or designs are before the experiments are commenced.
Should failure occur, select another medium. In a company of twenty
to thirty persons it will be very strange if a good thought-reading
sensitive is not found. In which case, more serious experiments may be
attempted subsequently, and attain scientific value.
The thought-reader should be blindfolded, and _resign_ himself to the
_influence_ of the agent or operator. Although he understands that
something is expected of him, he is not to be anxious about what, but
simply _act_ as he _feels_ himself prompted.
In proportion as the sensitive is able to give up anxiety and desire,
so will he be able to become a good reader.
The operator, or agent, must concentrate his mind upon what is
required, and _will_ the sensitive to do it. When two or more persons,
or all in the room, _are_ concentrating their minds upon the thing,
object, or word, the sensitive may all the sooner be influenced; but
I prefer that one person should be chosen as the operator, and all
intended experiments be submitted to him.
The process is analogous to that of mesmerism. We see traces here of
the influence of mind over mind. We see the operator determines and
the subject performs, although it may not be very clear how thought is
actually projected, or in what way it is received, other than already
suggested.
Practice makes perfect in this as in other things. Success is
proportionate to success. A reader showing a degree of susceptibility
at first attempts will generally improve by subsequent efforts. In a
similar way, operators will make headway with practice. Some operators
and sensitives will be successful at first trial; others again have
failed after repeated attempts.
Plenty of time should be taken for all first attempts. Let the
operator, for instance, keep his mind thoroughly fixed on the object.
Should the reader be going away from it, let the agent strongly wish
him to go back, _touch_ it, lift it, etc., as previously decided upon
by the company.
All sensitive persons are likely to make good thought-readers; the less
sensitive, muscle-readers.
MUSCLE-READING ENTERTAINMENTS.
Thought-transference, like clairvoyance, is unequal in power and
manifestation, even with good percipients, and cannot be turned on
like, and with, the evening gas, to enlighten and entertain. Hence
those enterprising entertainers, like Bishop and Cumberland, depended
on “muscle-reading,” and “backed-up their show” with tricks, some of
them so puerile and barefaced that a third-rate conjuror would be
ashamed of them.
The general public, however, enjoyed these entertainments. They were
something new, and, like “angel’s visits,” were few and far between.
Not only so, but that wonderful combination, the general public, saw
that these entertainments were patronised by men of science, such as
Carpenter, Beard, Hammond, Baron Kelvin, and others deeply in love
with strictly materialistic hypothesis. They were also patronised by
“society.” These entertainers undertook to read thoughts and expose
spiritualism; and as the dear public loves mystery, it went. But the
dear public don’t like to be “taken in,” hence these performances are
generally repeated--in the next town.
The following, reported from St. John’s, N.B., January 17, 1887, in
the _Herald_, is a good illustration of the psychic and muscular
indications involved in an experiment of this kind:--“In a
‘mind-reading’ performance on Saturday night, after several examples
indoors, the ‘reader,’ a young man who belongs to this city, asked for
an outdoor test. The party separated, one remaining with the reader,
and hid a pin in the side of a little house used by the switchman of
the New Brunswick Railway at Mill Street. In their travels they went
over the new railway trestle, a most difficult journey. The reader
was blindfolded, and one took his wrist, but at the trestle hesitated,
fearing to venture, and was told by the reader to let go his wrist and
place his hand on his head. The subject did so, and the reader went
upon the trestle. Some of the party suggested that the bandage should
be removed, but he told them not to mind, and, the subject again taking
the wrist, he went over the ice and snow-covered sleepers. With a
firm step he crossed to the long wharf, went over as far as the mill
gates, then quickly turned, retraced his steps, and went back to the
corner of Mill Street. Here he rested a minute, then again took the
subject’s hand, and in less than five minutes afterwards found the pin.
At the conclusion of the test, the reader inquired what the matter had
been when they first reached the trestle. It was easily explained.
The storm had covered the sleepers with snow, and it was thought
dangerous, even for a man not blindfolded to cross them. The subject
felt anxious for the reader’s safety, and hesitated about going across.
The tests were most satisfactory.” Thought or mind-reading applied to
these experiments is a misnomer. If this young gentleman could “read
thoughts” by musculation, or _contact_, he would have known what the
matter had been when they first reached the trestle. Muscle-reading is
not thought-reading. Hence it is classified as spurious.
Any number of illustrations could be given of such entertainments. The
foregoing is sufficiently adequate to give an idea of how these muscle
(not thought) reading entertainments are given.
For drawing-room entertainments, first blindfold the reader, who is
conducted out of the room while the experiments are decided upon. The
blindfolding helps to mystify friends, who think the work is rendered
more difficult. As a matter of fact, the reader’s work is rendered much
more easy. It helps to isolate him, and leaves his mind much less
entrammelled by sights and impressions which would otherwise prevent
him receiving _the_ impressions which it is desirable he should receive.
Suppose the reader is to locate the seat of an imaginary pain, the
assistant or operator _pro tem._ will grasp[F] with his left hand
the sensitive’s right wrist and hold it firmly. While the reader is
endeavouring to locate the pain, the operator must give up his will,
and think intently on the situation of the pain. The reader will then
locate it.
There is less secret in this than appears at first sight. The
sensitive, or reader, is simply guided or led by the operator, and the
reader’s hand either stops partially over or is pressed upon the seat
of the pain. He then declares he has found the seat of the pain, and
points it out accordingly.
A somewhat similar method is adopted in finding the pin, or the _hole_
in which a pin _had been_. The racing and flying about of public
thought-readers are only so much “theatrical side,” thrown in to give
dramatic effect to their performances.
In reading the numbers on bank-notes, or spelling out certain words, a
board with the numerals and the alphabet (see front cover) is placed
in sight of the audience. The reader takes the wrist of the operator,
and, commencing at the left side of the board, proceeds from figure to
figure till he detects the right one. The operator thinks only of _one_
figure or letter at a time. This is the whole secret of “musculation.”
Even when the operators are sincere, and are careful to give no
conscious indications to the reader, yet it is almost certain, if they
keep their mind fixed on the desired figure or letter, object or place,
they will unconsciously indicate to the reader the right number or
letter.
To find an article, number, or do a certain act, it is necessary
for the reader to give prompt obedience to the indications given
him. The concentration of attention necessary can only come with
practice. No end of surprises and amusement will follow if the operator
honestly concentrates his mind upon the things to be done, and a good
muscle-reader is found to take up the indications. Apparently, the most
difficult feats are sometimes accomplished.
During the experiments, the reader will have curious sensations, such
as heaviness of feeling, dread and uncertainty, and then _blankness_
of mind, followed by an impulse to do something. If the reader can
keep his mind passive enough, he may receive impressions, as in
thought-transference; anyway, it is advisable to wait for the impulse
to move and to do. The highest percentages of success always follow.
General directions for the cultivation of experimental
thought-transference and mind-reading given in these pages are
sufficiently specific, to be found thoroughly practical by those who
have put them into practice; and certainly no harm, either mental or
physical, can come to those who are willing to give them a fair trial.