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out the names。 The effect of this on a subject is very impressive。
With a little practice the above test can be given with very small
chance of failure； and in the event of making a failure it can be
explained by the statement that 〃there are opposing spirits
present；〃 or some similar excuse。 If one has other tests at his
command； it is well； in the event of failure； to announce that he
will try something else； and then give another test。 As these
experiments are always tried alone with one or； at most； two
subjects； a failure attracts little notice。
Now I cannot say positively that Dr。 Schlossenger performed this
experiment in exactly this same manner； but I do have a
recollection of his hurrying me along in my writing at some stage
of its progress。 I also know that I can succeed as often as he
did。 I will add further that a few days later I prepared six names
in advance； and； with my wife； had a sitting with the medium； this
time； although I paid him； he failed utterly。 He tried in every
way and had me write additional names。 This time I guarded the
points in the above explanation； yet no matter how he tried； he
made an utter failure。 All tricks require certain conditions； and
this is why it is not safe to repeat the same trick for the same
person。 There is too much danger that the subject may notice the
sameness of the modus operandi。
Referring to the second test which was given by the medium to my
father； I will state that when the subjects are writing the cities
and diseases； they will naturally pause after writing the city； to
think of a disease to go with it。 Of course； when writing the
correct ones； which are already in mind； no pause will be
necessary。 Also advantage may be taken of the fact that a small
per cent of persons die of smallpox or measles。 If in giving the
directions one says； 〃Write like this： 'Philadelphia smallpox； New
York measles；'〃 and the subject writes smallpox or measles in the
list； it is safe to eliminate that from the case。 This is
especially true if written in connection with some large city； the
name of which occurs readily to the mind。 It is safe also to
eliminate Philadelphia or New York if these should be written；
providing you mentioned these names in the directions； and that the
test is not being given in their section of the country。 A small
per cent of the people of a country die in any two places of
prominence。 Yet these places will be written readily by most
subjects if they are suggested； or at least other places of equal
prominence will be written。 If an unusual place or disease should
be written； it is almost certain these are the ones。
It can readily be seen how expert one can become at this by
continuous practice； such as a medium has many times a day； how one
can learn to take advantage of every little point； and use it with
telling effect on unsuspecting strangers； who do not know what is
going to happen； or what to look for。
I have been told that Dr。 Schlossenger had a very sharp eye；
although wearing glasses； and that the glasses were probably to
make the subject think it impossible for him to read writing when
they were moved out of position and placed on the forehead； as they
were during the tests。 It has also been suggested that his poor
hearing was feigned； to enable him to hear remarks made about
himself in his presence。 I have suspected that his memory had
become trained to a high degree of accuracy； enabling him to give
his tests with such marvelous success； as he did with nearly all
wherever he went。 That he does not use one set of principles only
in his tricks； I am certain； but has many more at his command which
he uses continually。 However； I can only vaguely guess at them
from having seen his tests but once。
Now； I do not say that this was the method employed by the lady
with Rev。 Savage； given in the account at the beginning of this
chapter。 But as the experiments are practically the same； it is
safe to conclude that the methods used are the same； or nearly so。
If the test were genuine in the case of the lady mentioned； it was
probably genuine in the case of Dr。 Schlossenger。 On the other
hand； if it were trickery in one case； it probably was in both。
MIND READING IN PUBLIC
Not long ago I received a letter from an old…time friend； in which
he urgently requested me to make a journey to his city。 In bygone
days he and I had spent many hours together； discussing the
mysteries of existence； the hidden powers which nature manifests to
us； and the origin and destiny of the human soul。 My friend is a
physician； and what is more； an earnest student； and he is also an
investigator of that strange phenomenon in nature which manifests
itself in organized beings subjectively； as thought； feeling and
things spiritual。
Many times had we discussed the possibility and also the
probability of an existence of the spiritual part of man after
death。 Many times had he reported to me cases of strange phenomena
that tended to prove the indestructibility of spirit。
When I received this missive； it stated to me that the writer most
earnestly desired my presence in his city； that I might assist in
investigating a very strange and marvelous case of psychic
phenomena。 The case was that of a certain traveling spirit medium；
who claimed the power to summon from the realms of the invisible
the shades of our departed friends and loved ones。 He gave most
marvelous exhibitions to prove his strange and miraculous power。
My friend stated that he thought he had at last found a person with
at least some queer psychical gift； if not even possessing the
power that he claimed。 He had watched the exhibition most
carefully； and had even served on a committee on the psychic's
stage； and he could find no evidence of trickery of any kind。 He
was inclined to believe that this strange being really possessed
the power of vision without the use of human eyes as he certainly
read sealed missives； of which he could in no secret manner have
obtained knowledge。
Accordingly； on Saturday evening； I journeyed to a city one hundred
miles away to witness the work of this modern sorcerer。 On my
arrival I suggested to my friend a number of ways by which such
things could be performed by trickery； but he informed me that none
of my explanations seemed to elucidate this strange work。 The
secret did not consist in the use of odorless alcohol； for the
reason that the medium never touched the sealed envelopes at all。
In fact he was never nearer to them than ten feet。 This also made
it impossible for him to use the principle on which the trick is
based； which is known to the profession as 〃Washington Irving
Bishop's Sealed Letter Reading。〃
He informed me that sheets of paper or cards were passed to the
spectators in the audience； and at the same time envelopes in which
to seal their questions were furnished for them； that the
spectators wrote questions as directed； many times signing their
own names to them。 He was certain that many persons folded their
written questions before sealing them； and that the operator
himself did not even collect the envelopes on many occasions。 He
informed me that the best evidence of the genuineness of the
performance lay in the fact that the medium seemed to have no fixed
conditions for his experiments； but seemed to perform them in a
different manner on each occasion。 The conditions were different
in every case； yet he always read the questions with the most
marvelous certainty。
I thought the matter over after this； but could in no way think of
any plausible means of accomplishing his work by trickery。 I
finally decided to wait and see the performance first； and to
figure afterwards on the method employed。
Accordingly； at eight o'clock that evening I was seated in the hall
with my friend； and shortly afterwards the 〃Seer〃 made his
appearance； taking his seat on the stage。 He was a very slender
personage； with long hair and a particularly ghostly look。 He took
his seat quietly on the stage。 In a short time his manager
appeared and made an opening address； which I will not repeat； and
then asked some boy in the audience to pass cards around to the
spectators on which they were to write questions。 Envelopes were
also distributed； in which to seal the cards。 When the writing was
finished； the manager asked any boy to take a hat which he held in
his hand； and collect the sealed envelopes。 After the boy； whom
everyone knew to be a local resident； kindly volunteered for this
service and executed it； a committee was invited to the stage to
properly blindfold the medium。 This was done in a satisfactory
manner； and the committee then returned to the audience。 The
manager now led the blindfolded medium to the rear of the stage；
where he was seated somewhat behind a table； on which were some