THE MAGNETIC LADY.

Evening Star, Issue 8715, 6 January 1892, Page 4

THE MAGNETIC LADY.

SHE GIVES SOME STARTLING EXHIBITIONS AT THE ALHAMBRA. [From Oub Special Correspondent,] London, November 28. The Alhambra management is fortunate in its day 1 It has discovered the “ some new thing” for which Londoners, like the ancient Athenians, are for ever on the look out. We are tired to death of “strong” men, unutterably bored with “marvellous” acrobats, sick of mesmerism, and oven in this, the season for “ great glove fights,” long for something fresh. Truth to tell, there is something a trifle uncanny about the latest novelty, which hails from Yankee land. Miss Annie Abott, professionally known as the “ Little Georgia Magnet,” is to all appearances an ordinary little woman, with a pretty face and (pardon me) noticeably big hands and feet. She possesses no visible muscular develop ment, and yet can perform feats which would tax the united powers of Eugene Sandow and Louis Cyr to perspiration point without “ turning a hair.” It is something more than astonishing to see this petite dame, whose bodily weight is but 7st, balance herself on one foot, and, holding a billiard cue in both hands, resist the utmost efforts of half a dozen average men to disturb her equilibrium; to see her lift without apparent exertion a chair upon which five men are heaped, “merry muck-heap” fashion; and to see her stand seemingly rooted to the ground so firmly that the same number of men, push and lift as they will, cannot shift her one little inch. All these and many other equally wondrous performances did Mies Abott go through on the Alhambra stage last Saturday afternoon in the presence of doctors, electricians, men o’ the world, and Press folk. At the end of the sdanoe Miss Abott showed no symptoms of exhaustion or beat—in faot, she was apparently the ooolest person present. Naturally many surmises were indulged in as to the probable source of the American lady’s surprising power. Some suggested trickery, some electricity pure and simple, and some that undefinable quality “willpower.” Miss Abott was tracked to her hotel by a ‘Star’ man, and willingly submitted to be “ interviewed.” She said: “ I don’t remember exactly when 1 found out that I possessed these powers—it’s so long ago; but certainly when 1 was about six or seven, I knew I could do things the other children couldn’t in the way of lifting chairs about, and so on; and before 1 was ten they all knew that there was something queer about me. I remember that once a horse had fallen ill, and was lying right in the middle of the plank walk that led from our * lot’to the door, and nobody oonld move him. I said—not a bit meaning what I said —' Get out of the way, and let me try,’ I got hold of a loose plank under him, and just slewed him right round. Bat as soon as I stepped off the wood on to the earth I let the plank fall. It came on to my foot and broke my ankle. You see, I hadn’t discovered then that all my power leaves me when I am on the ground, I couldn’t explain to the doctor, 1 only said 'lt got heavy suddenly.’ Now I know by experience that I must be either on wood or glass. Yes, it ia curious, isn’t it ? Carpet won’t do— I should be useless in this room—and, as you noticed this afternoon, I must have wood or glass to work with. I couldn’t use a metal bar, for instance, and another odd thing is that the more the strength opposed to me the stronger I become. I have met Sullivan and Kilrain in these encounters, and really

oan work much better with snob men, Of course there is a great deal I don’t understand about it, nor the doctors either. They are generally sceptical, too. I remember once in a jeweller’s shop I saw a little girl having her ears pierced, and screaming with pain, I went and just held her hands and chatted to her, and it was only when I left my hold of her that she knew that the piercing had been going on, and the earrings actually been put in her ears. There was a doctor who had all along refused to come to my exhibitions, but he came forward then and said be was converted. Do I do anything with my powers besides those feats of this afternoon? Well, not mnoh, beyond using them medicinally. I oan take away nearly all sorts of neuralgio and rheumatic pains. Down at Sandringham the other night the Prince bad a very bad headache, and wouldn’t believe me for a long time when I said I could onre him. He let me try at last, and I put my bands on his Bead, finding tbb right piece by the jump he gave when my hand neared the seat of the pain. If you are well there is no pain, though yon certainly feel the establishment of the contact; but you feel a certain shook if you are ill. Oh yes, the Prince wss quite cured. I never had a better floor to work on than that, by the way. I don’t know what it was, but it was so shiny that the gentlemen were sliding about it when they tried to lift me or push me over—but it suited me perfectly. How long have I been doing this professionally 7 Only about three years, but I have always given exhibitions for charity, Down in Georgia I used to give one every week after tfie prayer meet-ing-even as a child—for the good of the church funds, and do it still occasionally. But lately I have been travelling a good deal, I wonder whether you English doctors will bo able to understand it. Ours can’t. No, the work doesn’t affect my health. I am always well, though I can't walk far, never could. All my strength goes when lam on the ground. And, as the doctors say, to-day, neither my temperature nor my pulse is increased by my performances, and I feel mnoh stronger afterwards than before, Yes, I suppose I am an odd sort of woman, though I believe myself that everybody has the same power in some degree, and mine is developed so just to show the scientific people that there are some things they don’t understand even yet. Good-bye,”