Thought-Reading

Abstract

IT would seem that the “discovery” of reading people's thoughts, lately mentioned in the daily papers, is in no way essentially different from the well-known “game” of “wishing” often played by young ladies. It consists of the following procedure. One person goes out of the room, while others arrange upon what she is to do. She enters blindfolded, and in the particular instance now alluded to, was turned round several times so as to be quite unconscious of the direction in which she was facing. Two persons now place their hands on either side of each shoulder, making their fingers meet at the back of the neck and under the chin; or they may be placed round the waist; but as the forehead appears to be equally sensitive, perhaps it is immaterial where the hands be situated. After standing still a moment or two, the lady moved slowly round in the direction of a sofa under the impression, as she afterwards said, that she was walking in quite another way. Having reached it, she sat down (not even knowing the sofa was close by), and deliberately put out her hand, took up an antimacassar which lay upon the sofa, and raised it, asking, “Is this what I was to do?” This was perfectly correct, the antimacassar having been expressly laid there for the purpose.