The Hastings Standard Published Daily. MONDAY, FEB. 1, 1897. SOFT HEARTED AND SOFT HEADED.

Hastings Standard, Issue 235, 1 February 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

MONDAY, FEB. 1, 1897. SOFT HEARTED AND SOFT HEADED.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

It seems as the century nears its close and when civilisation is supposed to have reached a high slate of perfection, when business is the basis of every transaction, that easy going, unbuttoned credulity has become more prodigal. It is marvellous how easily the most shrewd men and women are imposed upon, and especially is this noticeable when quackery steps in to deceive. The faith healer, the magnetic healer, the electric healer, and the whole host of unmitigated frauds seem capable of imposing upon tho smartest people, and so delighted are these dupes that they pay handsomely for the pleasure of being duped. The fact that the ever-recurring impostors are exposed makes not the slightest difference, the new healer as long as he varies hi.s methods of treatment to that pursued by his predecessor can make sure of drawing into his parlor the human flies that art,' to be found everywhere'. In this colony we have been visited by many healers; some of them cranks, but mo->t of them dollar-making rascals—frauds of the deepest dye like thu much lamented I'rofessor Richards.

Though the business methods of the hj» ali-r- vary, their tri-atm«-nt methods have a sameness, for the- frauds can work no change in this nspeet. They all use the hands for effecting cures, either shaking hands with their dupes, or " passing" the hands over the disease spots of their patients. The "cure?:," too, are of the usual "well authenticate! " character. Every healing fraud can produce acres of testimonials by alleged eminent persons of other countries. No doubt many of the " cures " are genuineenaugh. Many modern diseases hare their roots in the imagination, and can be cwwl by imagination.

And since no one knows exactly what power the soul has over the body, who can tell what unexplored healing force slumbers in the realm of the will or of any emotion which strongly acts on the will. In America last year a heal-ing-boom was in full blast. A snuffsniffiing German, with the unpoefcic name of Schlatter, had the people of that go-ahead city Denver in a frenzy of excitement. According to the published reports he performed " miracles." Schlatter's methods consisted in solemnly shaking hands with his patients assisting with some inarticulate exercises. Schlatter with his hand shake caught on, and the deaf, halt, lame and blind the epileptic and rheumatic-stricken for miles around flocked to him, and it was reported that at 10 o'clock one night a thousand patients were still standing in line waiting to shake his miraculous but dirty digits. The most wonderful thing about Schlatter, and which must be considered more of a miracle than any of his alleged " cures " was the fact that he sternly refused to accept any fees. The man that could by a simple handshake dislodge every known disease and do the healing trick "on the nod "is a miracle in himself. New Zealand has not been so fortunate, the healers that have visited us, while claiming miraculous powers, claimed the " almighty dollar" in big doses, and those who

have been treated, and were at the time of treatment real sufferers, have discovered that they parted with their money for no value or benefit received. It is worth noting that the multitude of miracle workers and healers always stop short of the feat of substitution, say a natural limb for a wooden leg, and yet if a " miracle " has any place in the business at all, why should there be any such arbitrary limitation. It seems hard to believe that at the fag end of this enlightened nineteenth century, that men and women should be so easily deceived, it is nevertheless so, and we must conclude that the human race is rich in credality and rich also in good nature. But it is just about bankrupt in common sense. For our part we would not swop a decent family doctor for all the faith healers and magnetic healers in Christendom.