3 i6 NATURE STUDIES. 



It is clear that in this feat there was legerdemain, 

 and (in a sense) machinery, too. Several common 

 school-slates were brought in, but one slate only was 

 used. We may be sure this, however it resembled 

 the others, was not, like them, a common school-slate ; 

 and that the name, Victoria, was already written on 

 it under the surface which was prepared to receive 

 whatever name the General's friend might write. 

 We might also explain the conjuror's knowledge of 

 what the General and his friend had written, by the 

 wonderful quickness and keenness of sight which 

 conjurors obtain with constant practice. That some 

 can tell what name is being written, by watching the 

 movements of the pencil-end remote from the slate or 

 paper, is certain. I am disposed, however, to consider 

 this a case of mind-reading, after the much more 

 wonderful case cited before, which can only be 

 explained as an instance of mind-ruling. In the 

 following cases it seems doubtful whether mind-reading 

 or mind-guiding were in question. Professor Barrett 

 is referring to trials made with the children and a 



young servant-girl of the Kev. Mr. C , of whose 



personal integrity he was convinced (though, of course, 

 this statement respecting a person unnamed must be 

 taken only for what it is worth, that is, as an expression 

 of opinion). 



" Having selected at random one child, whom we 

 desired to leave the room and wait at some distance, 

 we would choose a card from a pack, or write on 

 paper a number or a name which occurred to us at the 



