OF VITAL MOTION. 141 



mand a clownish spirit by allying himself to another 

 who lent himself implicitly to his purpose. Let the 

 interpretation of this phenomenon be what it may, how- 

 ever, there is abundant evidence to show the influence 

 of mind in determining an idea in another person, as 

 we see in the ideas of children and students which 

 are respectively stamped by parents and teachers. 



The connexion of feelings with a foreign impulse 

 is very obvious. A glance of the eye, or an 

 expression of countenance, is sufficient to enkindle a 

 corresponding feeling in the minds of others. An 

 amiable person, for example, cannot be long in a 

 room where there are children before his kindness is 

 distinctly reflected in their manners or countenances ; 

 and a morose visitor, under the same circumstances, 

 is sure to extinguish mirth and laughter. It would 

 seem also as if there was something more in this 

 influence than what we are pleased to regard as 

 impressions through the senses, as we may argue 

 from the frequent coincidence of thought when we 

 are in company with a friend, although, there has 

 been no turning of the head to read what is passing 

 in his countenance. Both speak at once, and both 

 know that they are about to express the same thing 

 before a single word has been uttered. It is also an 

 instance of the same more mysterious supra-sensational 

 influence where one person is aware of the approach 

 of another (a not uncommon event with many) before 



