15. Mesmerism
'All things being are in mystery; we expound mysteries by mysteries;
And yet the secret of them all is one in simple grandeur;
All intricate, yet each path plain, to those who know the way;
All unapproachable, yet easy of access, to them that hold the key."
Martin F. Tupper.
When Ella entered the parlor, she found tho family too deeply engrossed by conversation to notice her arrival. She glided toward her brothei Charles, around whom the others appeared to be gathered, and saw that the commotion had been excited by some announcement in the newspaper.
" Ella dear," said Charles, " listen to this curious advertisement :
" ' William Norwood, professor of the sublime science of the immortal Mesmer, here proclaims, that on Thursday evening, he will endeavor to illumine the minds of the inhabitants of Clinton, by disseminating through Albion Hall rays of that magnificent sun which has dawned upon himself; in other words, he will give an elucidation of that newly-discovered remedy for the evils which afflict mankind. By means of his art, he will compel his subject to direct his mental vision into the system of a person diseased, whether by acute or chronic maladies, will immediately discover the true nature of the disorder, and will satisfactorily prescribe remedies for a thorough cure.
" ' He will gladly gratify the curiosity of any persons who desire to receive intelligence of absent friends, by revealing an exact account of their situation, their health, and the occupation in which they may be engaged.
" ' Those who object to a personal examination for disease, may send a lock of their hair. With this simple substitute, the professor, by means of his great skill, can obtain the same results. The compensation demanded will, of course, be greater, than as if the examination were more directly made, but in no case will the charge be exorbitant.'"
"What a specimen of grandiloquence!" exclaimed Ella, laughing merrily ; " the man's character must be a singular combination of assumption and pomposity."
" Well, leaving the style, what do you think of the substance?"
"His pretensions are as comic as they are preposterous. Does he mean that he can invisibly enter a room in Boston or New Orleans, and tell us how the inmates are employed ? "
"Even so."
"That he can look within the frame of a sick person, and learn the nature of the malady ?"
" The same."
"The reality of the Salem Witchcraft would be quite as credible."
"Even that absurdity received full credence from Cotton Mather," replied Charles, with great gravity.
" Cotton Mather was a learned man and a Christian, " remarked Mr. Thornton, as if he thought himself called upon to defend a calumniated saint.
"And a good minister," chimed in Mrs. Thornton".
" But, would you vindicate the belief in witchcraft?" asked Charles, with a quiet smile, "because Cotton Mather was among its supporters ?"
"No, my son," answered Mr. Thornton, "but my thoughts were wandering amid that strange delusion ; and I was pained, as I frequently am, by a glance at the ridicule which the good men of those days now so often receive."
" Good men," repeated Ella, " to press one to death, and to hang others, both men and women, merely because the poor wretches were accused by some silly children !"
"I fancy, Ella," retorted her mother, "that if you had lived at that time, you would have joined those silly children. You are very fond of doing any thing to attract attention."
" I, mamma," said poor Ella, crimsoning at the unkind imputation.
" Yes, you, Miss Ella."
"Am I bold, papa?" appealed Ella, springing upon her father's knee, with as much ease as little Carrie would have shown, "ami conceited ?"
" Why," hesitated Mr. Thornton, kissing the fair brow of his daughter, "you are not a true violet, but, in my opinion, you are quite as agreeable as if you were. But, hear now what I have to say with regard to some of the reprehensible conduct of our ancestors. Independent as they professed to be in matters of judgment, they were still greatly influenced by the views maintained in the mother country. England was yet under the dominion of superstition. Even the renowned Sir Matthew Hale tried and condemned a great many who were chargod with the supposed crime of witchcraft."
"Ella," said Charles, "Cotton Mather wrote that little book which you were reading the other day ; 'Essays on Doing Good.' Do you know that Dr. Franklin attributed all his usefulness to a perusal of that volume?"
"Dr. Franklin is no favorite of mine. People would be very mean, if they were to observe all the maxims inculcated in his ' Poor Richard.' "
Mr. Thornton, who always considered an attack upon Franklin or Washington as an act of sacrilege, hastened to recall attention to the main subject, by saying, "Who will go to the lecture this evening?"
"Not I, sir," answered Charles; "I feel quite sure that this Norwood, whether or not he has any claim to the title of professor, is an ignorant pretender."
"Where is your proof?"
"Look at his advertisement. To say nothing of that ridiculous first sentence, here is a statement which positively attests his ignorance. ' Newly-discovered remedy!' One would infer that animal magnetism had been known only within a few years, whereas, Mesmer, its founder, proclaimed the doctrine in 1766. I doubt whether Professor Norwood merits the least attention. I shall not waste my evening upon him."
" Oh, men differ as to the meaning of words referring to time," returned Mr. Thornton, with great deliberation ; "I advise you to go, Charles."
"I have another reason for not attending, sir. Kose is going to a party. Of course, Captain Wilmot's daughters never leave him without a companion. Adelaide will remain at home this evening. Consequently, my time will be occupied in reading or conversing with her."
" Certainly, my son. Ella, should you like to go with me ?"
"Yes, indeed, papa. I am curious to know whether the lecturer will mention Miss Martineau and her mad cow."
" I should be glad of some information concerning that cow's health," observed Charles, laughing. " If Miss Martineau succeeds in her efforts to accomplish a cure, I hope that she will employ her skill in Mesmerism to relieve her own defective hearing."
" Have you any confidence in Mesmerism ?"
" Yes, I believe that it is one of many remedial agents ; but, so fall of mystery is the subject, that I would not trust an unprofessional person with its administration. I could rely only upon an experienced physician."
That evening, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton, accompanied by Delia and Ella, proceeded to the room mentioned in the advertisement. In truth, Mr. Thornton had some hope that Mesmerism might relieve Delia of her indescribable malady.
Albion Hall, which had probably thus been named by some wag, from the abundance of whiteM'ash bestowed upon its adornment, was early filled by the lovers of the marvelous.
The next day, when the four attempted to give Charles some account of the lecture, they appeared very much as if their minds had indeed been sent on some distant excursion by the boastful professor. Even Ella's usually retentive memory could not furnish a good abstract of the evening's entertainment.
" For my part," confessed Mr. Thornton, as he paused in despair, " I must say, that the young man glanced at so many subjects, and gave such a profusion of anecdotes, that my brain has blended them all together in dire confusion."
"That is frequently the case," observed Charles; "do you not remember Basil Hall's singular comments after spending an evening with Sir Walter Scott? The distinguished novelist related so many stories, that the unfortunate Basil had hardly a distinct recollection of any one of the number."
"Well," declared Mrs. Thornton, "I never heard so many falsehoods told in one lecture."
"My dear," remonstrated her husband, "as we are entirely ignorant of medicine, we can not judge whether or not the young man were telling the truth."
"If all those absurdities were true, I am ready to believe in witchcraft."
" Oh, mamma," entreated Charles, with mock horror, "do not reach that point. Delia, have you entirely forgotten the lecture?"
"I was so terrified," answered the young lady, " that I could not duly attend to the lecture. His experiments upon that poor boy, whom he called his subject, were frightful. By his maneuvers, he caused him to fall asleep, and then questioned him upon different topics. I would not be thus served."
" Not even with the hope of a cure?"
"Not if Norwood were the operator."
"You are right, sister. Only a physician should practice Mesmerism. I feel certain that Norwood has studied neither physiology nor pathology."
"He told us that Mesmer was a physician," said Ella, brightening with the recollection.
" Very good. No one will dispute that statement. Come, Ella, try to recall some other facts."
" He said that Mesmer began to practice with magnetized rods, which he had obtained from a Jesuit."
" What was the Jesuit's name?"
" He did not say."
"It was Holl. I have read an account of the affair. Proceed, Ella."
" Mesmer soon discovered that his hands could be as effectual as the rods. His success was so remarkable, that he acquired renown, made many proselytes, and founded a school. A large majority of his pupils became celebrated."
" I remember," exclaimed Delia, with a sudden effort, "what was said of king Clovis. The monarch dreamed that he could cure a certain scrofulous man by touching his neck. His dream was verified. Afterward, the power of removing scrofula by touching remained a prerogative of the royal family in France."
" Delia," inquired Charles, abruptly, " did this Norwood, with whom I have no patience, assert that diseases were actually cured by the touch of those royal Frenchmen?"
" He appeared to have entire confidence in the doctrine. He told us also that the same mode was soon practiced by other sovereigns. James the Second, after his exile from England, was engaged in some of the French hospitals, as a toucher for scrofula."
Charles gazed intently upon the ceiling, magnanimously attempting to repress his inclination to laugh.
"I presume that he also detailed the process of touching, as reported by Cavalli, the Venetian embassador, in the time of Francis ?"
All asserted that no such name had been mentioned.
" Ah, I believe that, with my limited knowledge of Mesmerism, I could give a better lecture than you heard last evening - "
" Charles," interrupted his mother, "you are as conceited as Ella."
" Oh, mamma," replied the young gentleman, with an assumption of the sententious, " a just appreciation of one's individual merit should not receive the misnomer of self-conceit. I would embellish my lecture with sundry very fine stories of which Norwood has never heard. How full of pathos would be my description of Edward the Confessor, the first English king who touched for scrofula ! How well would I enlarge upon the enthusiastic description of Cavalli, given in the reign of the French king, Francis ! He tells us that the ceremony was performed on the day of some holy festival. Before touching, the king confessed, and received the sacrament. These preliminaries ended, he made the sign of the cross upon the patient, saying, 'The king touches, may God cure thee.' How romantic the scene ! See what an effect may be produced by imagination ! The spectacle must have been truly imposing in the eyes of the ignorant multitude."
" Then you do not believe that Francis, or any other king, ever possessed this power ?"
" No, Ella, I am a very skeptic as far as the marvelous is concerned. The clays of miracles long since ceased. The belief in the efficacy of the royal touch must be numbered with the superstitions of by-gone days. Do you not know that Johnson, the eminent lexicographer, was taken, during his scrofulous childhood, to Queen Anne, with the vain hope of a cure. But the hand of the royal lady had no sanative power. If the lecturer knew of this fact, he was not sufficiently candid to communicate it to his hearers. But could not you decide whether Norwood related those stories as if he believed them, or merely as curious instances of the effect of superstition, aided by imagination?"
" He seemed to give them entire credence, and to explain them by the principles of Mesmerism."
" What other topics were discussed ?"
"So many that I can not remember them. He spoke of health, disease, and dying; of Gassner, Cochran, and Swedenborg."
" I perceive that he lectured without much method. Now, tell me of the Mesmeric sleep."
" He induced sleep in his own subject by a simple wave of the hand. This, he said, was attributed to the power which he had acquired over the lad."
" I pity that youth. How can his parents allow him to be the victim of such a man ! If there is any truth in Mesmerism, his system must be injured by so frequent an endurance of that unnatural sleep."
" After those experiments, he boldly challenged any of the auditors to approach, that he might 'show, by his success with them, that no collusion existed between himself and his own subject."
" Was the summons answered?"
" At first, no one moved. The lecturer then observed, that, if he chose, he could will them to approach, but he should prefer volunteers. Finally, two boys crept timidly upon the platform."
" Who were they?"
" Frank Lewis and Arthur Hoyt. The lecturer said that he should have time only for one."
" I can tell which was chosen : Arthur."
"Eight, but are you really a conjurer, Charles?"
"Those who know more of a subject than others are the true conjurers, Ella. Arthur was selected on account of his red hair and transparent complexion. His organization well qualifies him for a Mesmeric subject. Norwood must have succeeded."
" Unfortunately, the nine o'clock bell rang. The lecturer, with the appearance of deep regret, said that he was well aware of the good habits observed by the Clintonians, and that he would not therefore detain them any longer. The time had come for the close of the performance."
Charles gave a prolonged "Ah!" and began to pace the room, apparently struggling with his thoughts.
" As we were leaving the hall," resumed Ella, the lecturer reminded us of his advertisement, and said that he might be consulted at his boardinghouse; by any who desired the benefit of his skill."
At that moment, Mrs. Stipend's little daughter was ushered into the room. Her mother had sent her with the message, that Professor Norwood was about to magnetize a lady who had long been ill with rheumatism ; and, that having heard of Miss Thornton's indisposition, he should be happy to allow her family to witness the operation, hoping that they would not object to intrust him with the treatment of her case.
"Let us go, by all means," proposed Mr. Thornton.
"Sir," entreated Charles, "do not, I implore you."
" Why, Charles, you have yourself expressed some belief in Mesmerism."
" Yes, sir, I confidently believe that it is a curative agent; but, also, that it is a subject requiring profound medical knowledge for its safe application. No ignorant person should be intrusted with its management."
"My son, you are very positive in your condemnation of this lecturer."
Charles hesitated a moment, and then quietly observed, " For a few months he was my roommate at college. He gained distinction in no one branch. From pure benevolence, I attempted to act in the capacity of private tutor. I hope never again to be favored with such a pupil. Ludicrous as was the advertisement in yesterday's paper, it was probably written by some scrivener, possessing a little more knowledge than himself. At the end of the first term, he was expelled from college for incompetency, or, in the moro polite phraseology of the West-Pointers, 'his resignation wag accepted.' "
Mr. Thornton received this communication with a blank visage. In plain truth, his curiosity had been excited to behold the experiments. As he prepared for the expedition, he defended himself by saying, " But, Charles, some men who made no figure at college, have since become celebrated."
" Yes, sir, but those were not stupid men. They were merely indolent. They redeemed their time and their reputation as well as they could by subsequent study. No man, naturally dull, ever became noted, except for folly. Lord Timothy Dexter's fame was quite unenviable."
For once Mr. Thornton was obstinate. He deliberately drew on his gloves.
" Delia," said Charles, as the young girl rose to accompany her father, " do not submit to any of the professor's experiments."
"I assure you, Charles, I do not intend even to make known my illness. I am going, like papa, from motives of curiosity."
Ella, too, like the Athenians of old, eager "to tell, or to hear some new thing," hastily arrayed herself for a walk to Mrs. Stipend's. As she was leaving the room, she pleasantly said to her brother, "You chose a very appropriate profession. You were born for a schoolmaster. My knowledge of the lecture was most chaotic, till you drew it from me by your cross-questioning."
" Observe closely what you see at Mrs. Stipend's, for I shall depend upon you for an account."
An hour afterward, Ella bounded into the room, exclaiming, " All is at an end. Norwood has failed. After a deal of preparation, he took Mrs. Gorham's hands in his, and looked into her eyes, till 1 thought that her face would ever after retain the carnation hue which it had suddenly assumed. Then he waved his long arms, and performed so many manipulations, that I think of sketching them from memory for the next edition of the Comic Almanac. But Mrs. Gorham sat with her eyes wide open, and manifested not the least inclination to sleep. The professor was evidently vexed. lie declared that she was a person entirely devoid of impressibility."
" Did Norwood acknowledge his defeat ?"
" Oh, no. He boldly asserted that Mrs. Gorham was one of the very few whom Mesmerism could not benefit."
" What followed ?"
"The professor whispered to Mrs. Stipend, who immediately led him to papa, and performed the ceremony of introduction. He asked permission to magnetize Delia. Papa replied, that if Delia were willing, he might do so at our house, with no witness but mamma. Norwood then bowed to my sister, and waited for her to speak. She answered that she would, on no account, submit to the process.
"Delia is a rational girl," observed Charles, with a sigh of relief.
"Now, brother, what do you think of the professor and his science?"
" My opinion remains unchanged. I believe, that in some disorders, Mesmerism may be employed with benefit to the patient ; but, that so mysterious an agent should never be trusted in the hands of those who have not received a thorough medical education. Norwood must be ranked in the company of itinerant lecturers, who, without regular study or education, have acquired a superficial knowledge of some subject, and who endeavor to make a fortune, as perambulatory teachers. Solitary study, Ella, is the best method of gaining instruction."
" Do you despise lectures ?"
" By no means. I have a very high opinion of oral instruction, when it is imparted by those who are truly competent. But I prefer books. The silent teachers are the best."