she
carried away with her a dose prepared by the doctor. Not knowing
why, and like the other sensitive, _under an influence she could
not resist_, she gave her friend the harmless drug in a glass of
milk, and thus enacted the part of a murderer.
"These experiments have the novelty of having been made by the
regular faculty; but thousands of Spiritualists have proved the
truth of an hypnotic influence lasting long after the apparent
release of the sensitive. We know, or ought to know, that the
hypnotic condition can be induced without visible passes; and
many of us have seen a sensitive under influence sitting
quietly, showing no sign of her slavery to the will of another.
We may go yet a step further and assert that men and women,
visible and invisible, are constantly psychologizing each other,
although we only use the term "sensitive" when the effect is
visible to our dull senses.
"But Spiritualists as a whole have been converted by the
phenomena appealing to their outward senses, and know little and
care little for effects that can only be traced by shrewd,
careful and scientific experiment. Yet such facts as come to the
surface in those experiments with sensitives in France, are keys
with which to unlock some of life's darkest mysteries, and
expose the harsh treatment of many mediums.
"Many of us have been greatly troubled by the conduct of our
mediums, and often puzzled by their careful prepared attempts at
fraud. Mediums we have met and loved, because they have given us
proof after proof of the 'gates ajar' for angel visitors, have
been presently detected in frauds that required days of careful
preparation. We have cried, 'Down with the frauds!' and insisted
that they should return to wash-tub and spade for an honest
living.
"We have omitted to keep in view that one who is a medium
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays must also be a medium Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays, and we have neglected to learn the
lessons of our own experience. I was talking recently to a
gentleman of prominence, twice sheriff of his county, who was
narrating with glee how he had mesmerised a young man, and then
told him, 'At noon to-morrow you will be lame, and it will last
two hours.' Of course it happened much to the poor fellows
perplexity, but my friend would have been surpr
|