198 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



performed before me. For some days the movements were violent, and the 

 traces left by the pencil w^ere erratic, the lines being drawn with seemingly no 

 aim, but finally rude forms of objects were executed. 



Gradually my hand moved with more regularity and the pictures pro- 

 duced became interesting. Among these were dark-skinned savages, animals 

 and vases of ancient type usually ornamented fantastically with curious faces. 



•'!*' 



..>:.*?^ 



A large proportion of the drawings were human heads, at first very crude 

 in design and execution. 



In the course of about tAvo months the pictures assumed an artistic ap- 

 pearance, especially the heads. Most of the heads were quite small and dim 

 in outline and detail. 



My hand executed these without volition or direction from my natural 

 self. My mind directed neither the design nor the execution. A new power 

 usurped for the time being the functions of my natural or every-day mind. 

 This power directed the entire performance. 



Many times I tried to produce pictures of familiar faces, or scenes familiar 

 to me by long association. I could produce nothing in this direction, but con- 

 fusion was the result of the attempt. My hand continued to be guided by 

 the unknown power. Weird, fantastic pictures were produced in abundance, 

 many of them artistic in execution, but mostly of ancient type. 



Sometimes the face would be so covered with strange devices as scarcely 

 to be recognized as being intended for a face. Frequently a rock would be drawn 

 with faces hewn in it. 



While drawing these pictures I became drowsy, so much so that after 

 finishing an artistic one I would sometimes go into an hypnotic sleep, and 

 always would, after a long sitting, if I did not combat the influence. 



My pencil moved sometimes so rapidly as to make it difficult to follow 

 it with my eye. At other times it moved slowly. Some of the best eflfects 

 were produced by rapid movements. I never knew what my pencil would make 



