MAN'S PSYCHIC POWERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12427, 16 February 1901, Page 3

MAN'S PSYCHIC POWERS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The interest which is just now being evinced in all countries in man’s psychio capabilities is my apology for asking you to kindly publish the following abridgment of an interesting article from, the "New, York Herald,” descriptive of a seance given in the "Herald” Office.—l am, etc., c. x. H. ; (Enclosure.) Exceptionally interesting was an exhibition of mind reading, or rather of " double vision,” which was given at the " Herald ” office a few days ago by Dr Alberto da Sarak, Conde de Das, said to be a distinguished occultist and one of the best known! physicians in Uruguay. The Doctor is now on bis way to Pans, where he will act as a representative of Urugay at a scientific;, congress, which is soon to be held in that city. At this congress he intends to give! some novel tests of his powers as a mind' reader, his special hope being, that he will bs able to convince those present at the congress of the possibility oi reading a person’s thoughts at any distance. The work done by Doctor Sarak at the ” Herald” Office'was decidedly novel and interesting. He. asked for a, glass of .water, a set of dominoes, a few sheets of paper and a pencil, and then, after seating himself in a chair, he produced some heavy, thick handkerchiefs and a- few rolls of cotton, with which he requested one of the by-standers to blindfold him. This being done, the Doctor, who is a low sized, alert, swarthy and very sauve gentleman,. turned to his friend, General Moscoso, who accompanied him, and announced that.he was ready to. begin. For a-few minutes there was dead silence, and General-Moscoso explained that, the Doctor was going into the necessary trance. , Suddenly the dark little man. with tna thick white bandage over his eyes half rose from lbs chair and said in dpanisji, -that he would like one. of -the gcuuenu h present to place his. hand on a sheet. <vi papi-jV which lay in front of him. His desire was gratified, whereupon ho asked that the hand, be raised from.'the. paper and write oii-it-some one word. . The word " velocipede . ' .was then , written, after which the paper wvas folded and placed on the Doctor's, head. This simple- act excited the'sleeper strangely. He moved uneasily in his chair,' hut soon recovered himself, -and) triumphantly seizing a- pencil and another sheet' of paper, he nervously but rapidly wrote on; it the word “velocipede,” and beneath the.word made a rough drawing of an old-, fashioned bicycle. The success with which he performed this difficult feat was the moia marked since he does not speak English,and hence the word had at first ho meaning tor him. let that die m time comprehended its qigiuficauce 'rqs made clear from the fact that he nob only wrote. it, but also gave its pictorial meaning. The Doctor next played a game of domin-, oes, and marvellous was the .manner in, which, though blindfolded, he unerringly; selected the risht domino with which to; make each move. He did nob win the; game, hut .it is very -doubtful, if he .cotM; have plaved better even with .the .aid of bis. two eves. After each move-hi* -'Mgers; wandered restlessly for a moment or two over the dominoes in front of him, and: then they grasped the proper one, and with 1 a little satisfaction, the .Doctor laid it in its fitting place)