26 The Art of Biding. 



If you fixed your mind upon a particular 

 spot, no matter how distant, he could take hold 

 of your hand and lead you to the identical place. 

 Now let it be observed, Mr. Cumberland could 

 not look at you and read your thoughts, it was 

 necessary that the part in which he possessed the 

 most sensitive feeling should come in contact 

 with that part of his subject in which there was 

 also much sensitive feeling; and that is the hand. 

 The explanation is that, so subtle and all-pervading 

 is thought that the nerves and muscles are power- 

 fully affected by it, and when a certain figure was 

 thought of, the nerves and muscles of the hand 

 were sufficiently powerfully affected to enable a 

 delicate touch to detect the influence of the 

 thought in this or that direction. Unconsciously 

 to the thinker the mind works the muscles : an 

 electric power darts instantaneously from the 



