(2) Banachek - How to read People`s Minds.pdf

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HOW TO READ PEOPLE'S MINDS
Mind-reading began its career in Chicago. The
sensation produced by it was astonishing, and it has not yet
"had its day." It has not only puzzled the minds of every-
day people of the world, but has also engaged the attention
of scholars, scientific men, statesmen, and even crowned
heads. The first person who made any display of it was J.
Randall Brown. He became a monomaniac on the subject,
experimenting with all his acquaintances, and informing
them of the many wonderful things he could do, till they
began to think he was "possessed," as some of them
expressed it. Brown's first public success, and that which
caused him to adopt mind-reading as a profession, was,
strange to say, on a wager which he made with an old and
well-known resident of Chicago. He made a bet that he
could find a pin, no matter where it was concealed,
stipulating only that it should be within walking distance.
After considerable speculation as to where the hiding-place
should be, the gentleman concealed the pin beneath one of
the rugs in front of the Sherman House. Brown was
blindfolded, took his friend's hand, and, after wandering
about, led him directly to the spot, much to the man's
surprise, as well as to the depletion of his pocket-book.
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H. J. BURLINGAME
Brown, feeling assured of success, now started out
professionally. He made a tour of the States, creating great
astonishment, and coining both notoriety and money. His
success was unprecedented, and he is still traveling about,
giving much the same entertainment as formerly.
Washington Irving Bishop traveled with Brown for
some time as assistant and finally discovering how the trick
was done was shrewd enough to go abroad where it had not
yet been introduced. For a person having no credentials
whatever, and no means, Bishop created a most astonishing
sensation. He required an assistant, and secured the services
of a bright youth named Charles Garner, who, like Bishop
was well-posted in anti-spritualistic performances. Like his
employer, Garner was an assistant but a short time until he
also became master of the art, taking it at once to the
continent, where, under the name of Stuart Cumberland, he
too, made a great success. The public exploits of these two
gentlemen are well known. Their careers have attracted the
attention of many scientific men, and much speculation has
been made as to the cause and effect of their tests.
The pursuit of mind-reading as a profession does
not affect the nervous system any more than any other
intellectual calling, in fact not as much. Although circulars
of prominent mind-readers are, in very large part,
exaggerations of the possibilities of their performance, and
such as are probably beyond the power of man to
accomplish, nevertheless, the work may be varied in form
as indefinitely as the performer's brain is fertile of
invention. The one essential condition which is to be
impressed unmistakably upon those who take part in the
performance, is that the person to be led to the secreted
article must concentrate his mind upon the place where the
article is hidden, until that place has been reached by the
mind-reader and himself, and then upon the article itself.
This mental concentration is required as constantly as
possible to the end. If the mind-reader fails, the fault lies
HOW TO READ PEOPLE'S MINDS
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with the subject, for he must succeed if the subject fairly
complies with this single condition. There may
occasionally be found an individual incapable of prolonged
or even brief mental concentration, because of great
trouble, loss of fortune, or ill-health. Such subjects are
always to be avoided if possible, as the accomplishment of
the trick with them is exceedingly improbable, if not
altogether impossible.
It follows then that the best minds available should
always be chosen. The mind-reader has then nothing to do
but to establish physical contact between himself and his
subject, and, after starting a motion of his body in any
direction, quietly surrender himself to the involuntary
muscular leading of his subject, when he will find himself
led unconsciously to the proper place.
Almost any physical contact will be sufficient,
although Brown's method of placing the back of the
subject's hand to his forehead is probably the best, because
the most impressive. When you have the back of the
subject's hand to your forehead, start a swaying motion
around and go in the direction you find it easiest for the
subject and yourself to move; go and you will be led to the
place. If you lead him in a different direction to the one he
is thinking of, you will find more resistance to moving him
or his hand. To be blindfolded is not essential, although
helpful, because it presents the appearance of rendering the
work of the mind-reader more difficult, while it really
assists him in being passive to the leadings of his subject,
as it shuts out from his mind all exterior detractions. The
body of any, and every person has always an inclination,
more or less strong, in the direction of the thoughts of the
mind, more especially so if the body is in motion. For
instance, if you think of an object on your right,
accompanying that thought will be a slight motion of the
body in the same direction. Then place your mind upon
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H. J. BURLINGAME
some other object in the opposite direction, and over will
go the body accordingly.
The natural law of mutual dependence between
mind and matter - or habit of harmony of action between
the brain and body of man or beast - is the whole secret of
mind-reading. It follows that all the mind-reader has to do
is simply to observe carefully the actions of the muscles of
his subject's hand against his forehead, and follow in the
direction indicated by the subject's muscles, and he will
find himself led unmistakably toward the place upon which
the subject's mind is concentrated. Having reached the
place, the mind-reader will feel around with one hand until
the secreted article is found, and as soon as his hand
touches it - although he has no previous knowledge of its
nature - he will recognize it instinctively for the subject has
unconsciously imparted such information by the relaxation
of his muscles. As mind is indivisible; or in other words as
it is impossible for a person's mind to be in two places at
the same time, it is plainly to be seen that if the subject
honestly concentrates his mind upon the article hidden, he
can not discover the fact that he is leading the so-called
mind-reader, instead of being led himself. It is obvious
from the foregoing explanation, that instead of the mind-
reader being the operator and leading the subject, as is
generally supposed, he is himself led by the subject; hence,
the mind-reader is the subject, and the subject the operator.
To sum it all up, the mind-reader "must follow the least
resistance."
The tricks of mind-reading are exceedingly
numerous, depending on the ingenuity of the performers in
devising them. We will give the leading ones: (1) The
finding of a concealed article, usually a pin. (2) The finding
of a person thought-of. (3) The imaginary murder; a
number of knives are laid on the table, and are considered
instruments of death. Any person selects any one of the
knives, and with it kills, in his mind, one of the audience;

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