THOUGHT-READER'S THOUGHTS THOUGHT-READER'S THOUGHTS. THOUGHT-READER'S THOUGHTS BEING THE IMPRESSIONS AND CONFESSIONS STUART CUMBERLAND AUTHOR OF " THE QUEEN'S HIGHWAY FROM OCEAN TO OCEAN, "THE RABBI'S SPELL," ETC. LONDON SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE & RIVINGTON Limited t. jOunstan's joust FETTER LANE, FLEET STREET, E.C 1888 {All rights reserved\ BY THE SAME AUTHOR. The Queen's Highway from Ocean to Ocean. By STUART CUMBERLAND, F.R.G.S., Author of " The Rabbi's Spell," &c. New Edition, with an additional Chapter and numerous Illustrations. Demy 8vo, cloth extra, 75. 6d. "The Queen's Highway" is the only work which accurately and fully describes the Dominion of Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. LONDON : SAMPSON LOW, MAESTON, SEAELE & EIVINGTON, Limited, ST. DUNSTAN'S HOUSE, FETTER LANE, E.G. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE My first " subject " The process of development What the mystics thought A noted medium A " spirit " appears The " spirit " lied I squirted " the spirit" What " a spirit " is made of The medium and the prince " The spirit " forgets his boots The " spirit of Dante " and the business end of a tin-tack The perils of in- vestigation At a rapping sdance Three familiar " spirits "The sex of " Old Tom "How raps are produced Mr. Gladstone and the medium Spirit children i CHAPTER II. A believer in " willing " Lord Lome and the Moose The Crown Prince Rudolph and his dog-^-The pin in Trafalgar Square The United States Minister and the Easter-egg A modern Judg- ment of Paris A Redskin and the whiskey General Ignatieff The General as a " subject " The General as a Diplomat M. Lessar Mr. H. M. Stanley 25 CHAPTER III. Russian superstition Hidden treasure A seance in Warsaw gaol The prisoner confess ed General a 1C77J 1 7 vi Contents. Gourko The censor intervened Madame Gourko Russians and Poles A Russian's word Red-Tape " Backsheesh "A Polizei- Presi- dent Bill-posting in Russia My Warsaw receipts The contra account The last straw I pay under protest The " Blessed poor" The Jew's account I am referred to the Tzar Russian officialism Tipping in Russia How to tip, and whom to tip Squaring a minister Seeing M. de Giers It cost ten roubles For three roubles he told the truth Russian society Dogged by detectives Mr. Gladstone and the Russians Such a good friend to Russia . 39 CHAPTER IV. Notable people at the seance Extremes meet ; Mr. Gladstone accepts a chair from Mr. Healy 366 the number thought of Mr. Gladstone remem- bers it is Leap Year Mr. Gladstone a remark- able " subject " Sympathy versus judgment Mr. Gladstone a magnetic man Mr. Gladstone as a mesmerist Seeing with their own eyes The personal charm of Mr. Gladstone To one thing constant never A letter from Mr. Glad- stone 67 CHAPTER V. The late Kaiser Wilhelm His reception of me His Majesty thinks of a date ; and I at once divine it The explanation of the figure 4 The Kaiser as a " subject" Nervous people as " subjects " The Kaiser's eyes The Kaiser's loyalty My indebtedness to the Kaiser The character of the Germans German friendship Entertain- ments on the Continent Thought-reading in theatres A leap in the dark French and Contents. vii PAGE German audiences contrasted Theatres and halls An intelligent public A dishonest double : and his reward I suffer from imper- sonation The police interfere A visit from the police ; and what followed Under arrest All right at last My portrait Doing a don The don's disappointment ; and his vexation of spirit German officials Red tape The police's opinion of thought-reading Satisfied at last The kindness of Herr Tisza The results of my Vienna seances The press and the public My indebtedness to the press Taxes on perform- ances The story of a trustful man The Dutch chair-tax The Dutch psychologically con- sidered The Dutch as linguists More about the taxing of performances The stamp tax on printing How to raise the wind A hint to Mr. Goschen 75 CHAPTER VI. The Land of Mariana The Orientalism of the Spaniard Spain a land of contrasts A domi- nant idea A descendant of the Stuarts A Spaniard's hospitality I find myself de trap " Some day" It was washing day Infidel and Christian The Spaniards as linguists The typical grandee Sir Clare Ford His tact and knowledge of Spanish character The Spanish Royal family as linguists The Queen-Regent Mother and child Monarchy versus Republi- canism The Spanish Gladstone "All brains and no conscience " Spain's ablest statesman Reforms in Spain A stance in the royal palace at Madrid An imaginary murder scene Down came the knife The Comtesse de Paris and her permit Queen Isabella My experi- ments with her Majesty A traitor disposed of a 2 viii Contents. PAGE A thought-reader as a husband Queen Isabella and the Queen-Regent So very Spanish Spain and her colonies About the fair sex Chaperoning in Spain Spanish " cuss- words "A Spanish woman's education I am much sought after And my patience is sorely tried A delicate matter Alfredo versus Antonio In a dilemma First come first served A fat lady's secret If this should meet the eye of A serious affair Cher Alphonse A dog with a curly tail Buried treasure Spanish frugality Spanish amusements Between the acts A Spanish audience The prices at the theatres A Spaniard's word I am taken in A Spaniard's idea of a contract His idea of time An honourable man A delicate matter A first night in Barcelona The bull-fight Pity the poor horses How a bad bull fares A bull- fighter's wealth One's sympathy for the bull The way a Spaniard stabs The Catalans The Valencians The trail of the Arab La Patria The future of Spain Official corruption Train robbers . . 115 CHAPTER VII. The Portuguese and Spaniards contrasted The King of Portugal The Queen of Portugal A striking experiment The Portuguese Premier In a dilemma The Marquis Fronteira at Bene- fica A dream of the past Portuguese names Portuguese money Lent in Portugal and Spain I am an object of suspicion A strange dream In which I descend to the nethermost pit The climax . . . . . . . .186 CHAPTER VIII. The Khedive as I read him His loyalty and Contents. ix PAGE straightforwardness His powers of concentra- tion A model husband and a model father An experiment with Baker Pasha Nubar Pasha Pashas as " subjects '' It is the pace that tells . 202 CHAPTER IX. Arabi, the Egyptian At breakfast with Arabi The exile's home Arabi's opinion of Theebavv An experiment with Arabi Arabi psychologically considered Arabi's expectation of the English Radicals 209 CHAPTER X. About nationalities Alike, yet how unlike The pompous man The listless man The jolly man The " clever chap " " The strong- minded " female Women as " subjects " A galaxy of " good subjects " Madame Adam and Madame de Novikoff Miss Braddon " Willing " How it is done Further explana- tion The reply of the " true believer " Those who make the best " subjects " Princess Bismarck Prince Bismarck The outer and inner Bismarck The all-round popular man, and the unpopular man Individuality Prince Gortchakoff and M. de Giers The policy of M. de Giers When Russia is most peaceful she is most dangerous Count Peter Schouvaloff Count Paul Schouvaloff Count Julius Andrassy as a "subject;'' as a politician M. Alexandre Dumas An experiment with M. Dumas, in which I encounter many difficulties, but in the end am successful A kindly thought and a strong will A great honour Sir Edward Malet The duties of a diplomatist Our One Man idea Lord Dufferin : his ability and tact Lord Contents. Dufferin and the natives of India The policy of Lord Ripon The voice of the Bengali Baboo Sir Lepel Griffin on Babooism The evolution of the Baboo What the native princes think The Baboos and Lord Dufferin The good work done by Lord and Lady Dufferin The Baboo's swagger I am tempted to " forget myself " A Baboo's indignation Tremble ye at Lord Ripon's name A term of endearment The Nizam of Hyderabad Dining with the Nizam A Maharajah's idea of a good drink The Nizam's loyalty The Prime Minister's con- firmation The foresight of Lord Dufferin Abdul Huk The Nizam as a "subject" Sir Salar Jung Mehdi Ali The Maharajah of Cashmere A present from his Highness Re- enacting a murder The possibility of applying thought-reading to the detection of crime Lawyers as " subjects " Sir Henry James, Sir Edward Clarke, and Sir Charles Russell Musicians as " subjects " Gounod Rubinstein A batch of artistic l< subjects " Clergymen as "subjects" Medical men as "subjects'* M. Coquelin and Mr. J. L. Toole An experiment with Mr. Toole The comedian's opinion of thought-reading Mr. S. B. Bancroft Signor Rossi Mr. W. S. Gilbert as a "subject" Gilbert and Sullivan Mr. Joseph Chamberlain As I read him The man of the future Mr. Henry Labouchere A much misunderstood man A man of his word A good story Mr. Labouchere as a friend Mr; Labouchere as a " subject "Red Shirt, the Red Indian A scalping experiment with Red Shirt Red Shirt's determination, and his disappointment Mr. J. R. Whitley An experiment with a converted cannibal The thoughts of a monkey An ex- periment with the late Colonel Burnaby An PAGB Contents. xi PAGF. outdoor test with Mr. Grant Allen A curious mistake Mr. W. T. Stead The best "sub- jects " according to nationality . . . .218 CHAPTER XI. The use of thought-reading A big offer A debt of honour Posted A gipsy's warning Fate Monarchs as " subjects '' I am asked my " terms ;" and not having any, am asked to supper Supping with grand dukes The Noiiveaux Riches A monarch of finance His "little present" The history of a souvenir I pay the piper, as well as dance the tune Society and artistes Meissonier and his dinner An imposition upon one's good nature, which I resent The way out of the dilemma The Duke's plan ; and how it worked " Somewhat rough " Not worth acknowledging Acknow- ledged with thanks Bank-note reading A notable challenge About the figures on bank- notes They adjourn with the note ; and "peter" it out in whiskies The first "subject" with whom I read the number of a bank-note True gentility Baron Henry de Worms Latter-day thought-readers ; and their antics What thought-reading has been brought to The last stage of all As like the genuine article as an artichoke is like a moss-rose The modus operandi of thought-reading Why I am blind- folded Reading thoughts without physical contact Perception of touch Body-reading Character reading First impressions About liars in general ; and one in particular Lying will out" Talk of the Devil," &c. A curious coincidence First exhaust the natural The gift of thought-reading Who possess it The wear and tear of thought-reading Adieu . . -.28 A THOUGHT-READER'S THOUGHTS. CHAPTER I. " THOUGHT-READER, read thyself," is a cry that has gone out to me in many lands ; for most people who interest themselves at all in the matter think it a duty I owe the public to lay bare my own thoughts as fully and as candidly as I have frequently laid bare the thoughts of others. From time to time I have endeavoured to fall in with the wishes so expressed ; and my views upon what is called " Thought-reading " have gone forth to the world in almost all, if not all, written languages ; but, in spite of this, I to-day find especially amongst my own countrymen a very general desire to know something more of the subject. In order, therefore, to supply this "something more," I have in the present work considerably enlarged upon my previous communications, 1 1 By kind permission of the proprietor of the Nineteenth Century I include in this work parts of an article of mine which appeared in that magazine for December, 1886. B 2 A Thought- Reader's Thoughts. and, in addition, have included my impressions of some of the notable personages with whom I have been brought in contact, and the places and countries I have visited. These events are not chronologically arranged, nor are they recorded with the regularity and precision of a diary ; the whole thing, in fact, is simply my thoughts casually noted in leisure moments. Whilst a mere child my perceptive faculties were remarkably keen ; and the power to arrive at other people's thoughts was, I presume, with me at an early age. But it was only about seven years or so ago that I began to practically test the matter. My first My first important experiment was performed " subject." with the y ery Rev Dr Bickersteth, the Dean of Lichfield. I was on a visit to the Dean, and one morning, after breakfast, the subject of conversation having turned upon "willing" and "mesmerism," he asked me if I thought it possible for a person to read the thoughts of another. I replied that I believed such a thing, undcr certain conditions, would be possible ; in fact, that I was almost certain I could do so myself. This reply naturally called for a test ; and the Dean undertook to think of some object in the Deanery of which I could know absolutely no- thing. My attempt to arrive at the Dean's thoughts A Thought-Reader's Thoughts. 3 were, as compared with my after-efforts, some- what crude, but the experiment was perfectly successful. I remember that I took my host by the hand I was from the first impressed with the neces- sity of establishing a physical communication between the subject and the operator and led him from the breakfast-room ; not quickly, as I invariably do now, but slowly and lingeringly. We entered the study, and I immediately felt that I was in the correct locality. A moment more, and I placed my hand upon an object which, according to the impressions I then received, I believed to be my subject's selec- tion. I was quite right : the object was a bust of Lady Augusta Stanley. This experiment, I need hardly say, embold- ened me to make further attempts ; and I speedily arrived at a much higher pitch of per- fection. But let it be clearly understood that I cannot Th e pro- to-day find an object thought of with any develop- greater certainty than I did on my, as it were, ment - opening occasion. To-day's execution is, of course, speedier, but my improvement is in going beyond simple tests of this character ; for it is astonishing how, when the faculty is once with one, the power to thought-read develops by practice, until the most intricate form of experiment can be encompassed. This I have abundantly proved in almost every coun- B 2 A T bought- Re ciders Thoughts. try under the sun, and with all sorts and con- ditions of men. At first my exhibitions puzzled even myself, and I could not readily account for them ; for, when young, one is so apt to imagine one's self supernaturally endowed ; and experiments such as I performed were certainly calculated to develop a tendency of this kind. But whilst carrying out the demonstrations, I set myself the task of arriving at a practical explanation of them ; and eventually I convinced myself that, instead of there being anything of an occult character about my experiments, they were one and all accountable on a purely natural basis. Later on I intend unburdening my thoughts as to the true explanation of the process ; but I purpose first giving instances of the practice of thought-reading and the curious features they in some cases present. \vimt the I shall never forget how the idle many and, not mystics thought, infrequently, the learned few imbued with ab- normal fancies, sought to invest what I did with an aspect of supernaturalism. Some even went so far as to say that I did not myself under- stand what I performed. Others, thorough-going Spiritualists/waxed wroth because I would not acknowledge the influence of " spirit-power " in connection with my work. " You are a medium," would say the Spiritu- alists, "a medium, without knowing it." " Oh, no ! " would answer the Psychical Research folk, " he is a conductor of ' brain- A Thought- Reader's Thoughts. 5 waves ' ; " and then would follow some learned chatter upon Telepathy. " Brother ! " said a white-turbanned dark- skinned follower of Madame Blavatsky, placing his hand reverently upon my shoulder, " you possess an ' astral-body ; ' work for the cause of Theosophy, and the heart of Koot Hoomi will be glad." I fear my answers in many instances were not of the character that turneth away wrath ; but then what is to be done with people who are superior alike to argument and common sense, and who measure everything by the stan- dard of improbability ? I cannot too emphatically disavow any belief in what is called Spiritualism. My investiga- tions, in fact, speedily convinced me of the futility of the true believer's aspirations, the vulgarity and absurdity of the " manifestations " exhibited, and the invariable rascality of the performing " mediums." Verily, it is enough to make one rub one's eyes in bewildering wonderment, on coming across in the daily newspapers, side by side with the most matter-of-fact announcements, the ad- vertisements of a society devoted to the study of ghost-lore, askingfor information about "spooks" and their doings ; as Mr. Punch has it : " Wanted ghosts of every variety Fitted to mix in learned society." To old-fashioned believers in ghosts, this hue A Thought- Reader's Thoughts. and cry in the daily press after manifesting " spirits " by those who profess to be their best friends can scarcely, I should think, be pleasant reading, whilst common-sense folk can only regret that the society in question is not as solicitous over the living as it is over the shades of the dead. It is distressing to think how many mouths of the hungry present the money annually ex- pended by these enthusiasts in their quest of the departed would have filled. Just as no county family can claim to be quite the thing without the possession of a family ghost, a personal acquaintance with a " spirit " is, I suppose, a thing to be proud of, and the closer the intimacy the greater the pride. This may be the case in a general way, but so far as I am myself concerned acquaintance with "visitors from the other world" has, in every instance, been the reverse of satisfactory ; and I certainly take no pride from the associa- tion. A noted As far back as August, 1880, I made the medium. acqua i ntance o f a sp i r it." It was at 2, Vernon Place, Bloomsbury ; and one Bastian was the