MIND POWER THE SECRET OF MENTAL MAGIC/PART 4
Chapter 4.
Mental Magic In Animal Life
I
have spoken of the manifestation of Mind-Power among the atoms and particles of
matter, whereby the tiny corpuscles become aware of each other's proximity, and
whereby they move voluntarily in response to the desire aroused by the
attraction or affinity of the other atoms; and whereby they also exert a pull
or drawing power on the other atoms, and respond to the same attracting force
of the other particle. Ascending the scale, we find the crystals building up
their forms by drawing material from the fluids in which they are immersed, and
then building upon a set pattern and style, as truly as does the builder among
the animals or among men.
Passing
on to the low forms of animal life, we find tiny life-forms in the slime of the
ocean-bed, which are apparently no more than tiny drops of glue—cells without a
nucleus— which nevertheless perform the functions of all organic forms, being
born, taking nutrition, assimilating, eliminating, growing old, and finally
dying, after reproducing their kind by growth and division. But, the point that
most concerns us is that although these creatures have no senses, or even
rudimentary sense organs, they are aware of the approach of other creatures,
and of their food. In some way they become "aware” of these things—how,
man does not know. Moreover they are possessed of the power of motion, and
exert their will in the direction of moving from place to place.
Some
of these forms of life when viewed under even a strong microscope are seen to
move by gliding from place to place, apparently at will, and with no
perceptible employment of organs of motion such as false-feet, fins, etc. They
seem simply to move by pure will. How do they do this? How do they become aware
of the approach of other creatures, without sense-organs, or the rudiments of
the same? It seems that mentation and telementation are manifested here.
Rising
higher in the scale, we find many insects seemingly endowed with the faculty of
becoming aware of the presence of other insects at distances so great as to
render the ordinary senses of no avail. Students of ant-life relate many
remarkable instances of this kind. Ants at a distance seem to be able to
communicate with their fellows, summoning assistance, and directing the movements
of ant-armies. A professor in an American university has related that upon one
occasion he met with an instance of telementation on the part of a colony of
ants. He stated that he had placed a breeding cage of ants inside of a stone
house, the latter having walls sixteen inches thick, with no windows and but
one door, the latter being so sealed and protected that it was impossible for
even a tiny ant to enter its crevices. When approaching this house for the
purpose of studying the progress of his ant colony, he would notice that other
ants had collected on the outside of the walls, and were running about trying
to get through the stone blocks. Then he tried the experiment of moving his
ant-cage from one part of the house to another—first placing it beside one
wall, and then another, and so on, trying all positions and places. In each
case, after each change, when he would emerge from the house he would find the
outside ants grouped on the stone wall as near to the inside ants as possible,
changing their position from side to side according to the position of the
ant-cage inside of the house. Many other instances of the possession of the
power of telementation on the part of ants have been noted.
Another
authority relates that a pair of foreign moths were brought to England. There
were no other moths of that kind in the country. One of them, the male, escaped
in a part of England many miles distant from the place to which the remaining
moth, the female, was taken. The female moth was placed in a tiny cage for
security, and then set out-of-doors during the night. In the morning, much to
the entomologist's surprise, he found the male moth clinging to the tiny cage
which contained the female. It was the same male, undoubtedly, for in size,
coloring, appearance, etc., it corresponded exactly; besides which there was
not another moth of that particular species known to be in England. Similar
experiments have been conducted with insects, and there is held to be ample
grounds for believing that insects attract their mates by means of some mental
power beyond the range of the ordinary senses.
Schools
of fish seem to have some method of instantaneous communication between the
individual fishes composing them, for the entire school moves from side to
side, turning sharply, etc., as if it were possessed of but a single mind. Some
scientists have held that many of the lower animals who live in groups,
schools, etc., have mental relations similar to those of the colonies of cells
which seem to have a common mind. There is undoubtedly communication over
distance of the cells of the blood in animals, and the phenomenon of the school
of fish, just noted, may be analogous—at any rate, there is some sort of
distant mental communication between the individual fishes. The same phenomenon
is noted among flocks of birds, as many know who have witnessed the flights of
large numbers of birds of different kinds. Wild animals undoubtedly have some
subtle sense whereby they find each other when separated by long distances. The
return of cats and dogs who have been carried miles from home—and the return of
birds to their original places, after their migrations, may have a similar
explanation --there may be subtle vibrations from places, people, and objects,
which the animals sense at a distance.
That
animals exert a mental control over their fellows by some form of manifestation
of Mind-Power there seems to be but little doubt among those familiar with the
ways of animals, particularly of wild animals. There is a manifestation of
something besides physical strength and prowess on the part of the animal—there
is a mental something displayed! A. E. McFarlane, in a recent magazine article
on the subject of "Bad Animals,” says: "Put two male baboons into the
same cage, and they will open their mouths, show all their teeth, and 'blow' at
each other. But one of them, even though he may possess the uglier dentition,
will blow with a difference, with an inward shakiness that marks him for the
under dog at once. No test of battle is needed at all. It is the same with the
big cats. Put two, or four, or a dozen lions in together, and they also,
probably without a single contest, will soon discover which one of them
possesses the mettle of the master. Thereafter, he takes the choice of the
meat; if he chooses, the rest shall not even begin to eat until he has
finished; he goes first to the fresh pan of water. In short, he is 'king of the
cage.'”
Among
the animals we find many instances of the power of "charming” or
"fascinating,” both of which I hold to be but varying forms of
manifestation of Mind-Power in the direction of powerfully influencing the
imagination, desire, or will of another by mentative induction. This
mental fascination, among the animals, manifests along two lines, viz., (1)
along the lines of desire operating in the direction of sex manifestation, such
as the winning of mates, etc.; and (2) along the lines of will operating in the
direction of overcoming the prey of the animal, such as the "charming” of
birds by serpents, or of smaller animals by tigers, etc. These cases are
capable of liberal illustration and proof, and natural history affords us full
authority for accepting the same.
I
recently read an account of a naturalist, who related that one day in a
tropical country he noticed a winged insect circling around and around a
scorpion. After a bit, the insect made a series of desperate plunges at the
scorpion, as if in a frantic desire to terminate the charm; the scorpion soon
striking down the insect, and afterwards devouring it. It is related by
travelers that when one comes suddenly in the presence of a lion, tiger, or
leopard, his legs seem paralyzed, and the eyes of the beast seem to exert a
peculiar fascination and power over him. I have seen a mouse manifest the same
emotion in the presence of a cat; and the same is true of a rat in the presence
of a ferret, or similar enemy. On the other hand, every observer has noticed
the wonderful "charming” power that animals exert over others of their
kind, of the opposite sex. If you have ever witnessed the courting of a bird,
during the mating season, you will have a keen sense of the reality of the
power employed. One of the birds, and it may be either a male or female, will
be seen to actually "fascinate” or "charm” the one of the opposite
sex, the latter lying still with quivering wings, and a helpless expression in
its eyes. When compared with the attitude of the same bird, when charmed by a
serpent, the resemblance will be striking.
I
have before me a book written in 1847, which relates quite a number of
instances of the operation of mental fascination among the lower animals. I
will give you a few of them, condensed, and abbreviated. Prof. Silliman is
quoted as stating that one day, while crossing the Hudson River, at Catskill,
he passed along a narrow road with the river on one side, and a steep bank,
covered by bushes, on the other side. His attention was attracted by the sight
of a number of birds, of a variety of species, who were flying forward and backward
across the road, turning and wheeling in strange gyrations, and with noisy
chirpings, seemingly centering over a particular point of the road. Upon
examination the professor found an enormous blacksnake, partly coiled, and
partly erect, showing an appearance of great animation, with his eyes flashing
like a brilliant diamond, and his tongue darting in and out. The snake was the
center of the motion of the birds. The professor adds that although the snake
disappeared in the bushes, frightened at the approach of the men, still the
birds seemed too dazed to escape, and perched on the nearby bushes, evidently
awaiting the reappearance of their "charmer.”
The
same book relates an incident of a man in Pennsylvania, who saw a large
blacksnake charming a bird. The bird described gradually decreasing circles
around the snake, at the same time uttering piteous cries. It seemed almost
ready to drop into the jaws of the snake, when the man drove off the latter,
when the bird arose with a song of joy.
Another
case is related of a ground-squirrel, which was observed running to-and-fro
between a creek and a large tree a few yards distant. The squirrel's fur was
badly ruffled, and he exhibited fright and distress. Investigation disclosed
the head and neck of a rattlesnake, protruding from the hole of the tree, and
pointing directly at the squirrel. The poor squirrel at last gave up the fight,
and yielding to the fascination, laid himself down with his head very close to
the snake's mouth. The snake then proceeded to swallow the squirrel, when his
meal was interrupted with a cut of a carriage whip in the hands of the
observer, and the squirrel, released from the spell, ran briskly away.
Dr.
Good is quoted as having made quite a study of the curious fascinating power
that rattlesnakes manifest over small animals, such as birds, squirrels, young
hares, etc. He relates that these animals seem incapable of drawing their eyes
away from those of the snake, and, although seemingly struggling to get away,
they still gradually approach the snake, as though urged toward him, or
attracted by a power superior to their natural instincts. He goes on to state
that the animal creeps nearer and nearer, until at last it is drawn into the
serpent's mouth, which has been open all the while to receive it. Dr. Barrow is
quoted as relating many instances of this kind, known to peasants in all parts
of the world. Valliant, the African traveler, tells of an instance in which he
witnessed a shrike in the very act of being fascinated by a large snake at a
distance, the fiery eyes and open mouth of which were gradually approaching the
bird, the latter manifesting convulsive trembling and uttering piercing shrieks
of distress. The traveler shot the snake, but upon picking up the bird, he found
it dead—killed either by fear or the power of the serpent, or perhaps by the
violent breaking of the spell. He measured the distance between the snake and
the bird and found it to be three and one-half feet.
A
case is related in one of the early reports of the Philosophical Society, in
which a mouse was put in a cage with a viper, by way of an experiment. The
mouse at first seemed greatly agitated, which state was followed by a condition
of fascination, the mouse drawing nearer and nearer to the viper which remained
motionless with distended jaws, and glistening eyes. The mouse, finally,
actually entered the jaws of the viper, and was devoured.
Bruse,
the African traveler, relates that the natives of an interior tribe seem to be
protected by nature against the bite of scorpions and vipers. They are said to
handle these creatures fearlessly, the latter seeming to be robbed of their
power of resistance. He states that the creatures seem to sicken the moment
they are touched by these natives, and are sometimes so exhausted by the
invisible fascinating power that they perish shortly. He says, "I have
constantly observed that however lively the viper was before, upon being seized
by any of these barbarians, he seemed as if taken with sickness and feebleness,
and frequently would shut his eyes, and would never turn his mouth toward the
arm that held him.”
Personally,
I have seen a somewhat similar case. When I was a boy, in Maryland, I knew of a
farmhand who was called a "snake-charmer.” How he did it, I never could
find out, but he would exert some kind of influence over all kinds of snakes,
poisonous ones included, and would cause them to remain fascinated until with a
quick movement he would grab them by the neck with his bare hands. This man
generally carried a few pet snakes around with him for company. They seemed
perfectly contented, and would poke their heads up from out of his pockets, in
order to look at some one else with whom he might be talking. The negroes on
the farm had a mortal terror of this man, and would walk a couple of miles
rather than pass by his house.
The
power of charming animals, dogs and wild-beasts is undoubtedly possessed by
some men, in varying degrees. And nearly everyone has known of men who could
"charm” the wildest horses, as if by magic. I have read of some burglars
who seemed able to quiet the most ferocious watch-dogs. The Swedish writer,
Lindecrantz, tells of certain natives of Lapland who are possessed of some
process of charming dogs, to such an extent that they have been known to cow
the most savage great-hound, causing him to fly from them with all the signs of
abject fear. Many of my readers have seen, or heard of, the horse
"whisperers” found in various parts of the country, who will shut
themselves in a stable with a fierce horse, and by "whispering” to him
will manage to tame him completely, and make him passive to their will.
There
are cases recorded in which men who have been "charmed” by a snake, have
afterwards given in their experience. One of these cases relates that the man
was walking in his garden when he suddenly came into the presence of a snake
whose eyes gleamed in a peculiar manner. He found himself fascinated, as if by
a spell, and unable to withdraw his eyes from those of the creature. The snake,
he stated afterward, seemed to begin to increase immensely in size, and
assumed, in rapid succession, a mixture of brilliant colors. He grew dizzy and
would have fallen in the direction of the snake, had not his wife approached,
throwing her arms about him, and breaking the spell. Another similar case is
related, in which a man found his companion standing still on the road, with
his eyes fixed intently upon those of a huge rattlesnake which was regarding
him fixedly with gleaming eyes, scintillating in its raised head. The man was
leaning toward the snake, and would have fallen toward it in a few moments. He
was crying, feebly, but piteously, "He will bite me! He will kill me!”
"Sure, he will,” replied his friend, "why don't you run away? Why are
you staying here?” But the man seemed perfectly dazed, and distracted, and
could not answer. The companion finally picked up a stick and struck at the
snake, which glided away savagely. The fascinated man was sick for several
hours afterward.
When
I was a boy, I had a somewhat similar personal experience, although not nearly
so serious. Walking one day among a grove of trees belonging to my grandfather,
I found myself standing staring intently at a snake about two feet long whose
eyes glistened like large diamonds. In a moment I ceased to see anything but
those awful eyes which glistened and displayed all the prismatic colors to my
frightened glance. It lasted but a moment, however, for the snake glided away,
seemingly as anxious to get away from me as I was to part company with him. I
cannot say whether the spell would have been broken by me, if the snake had not
moved away—perhaps it might, or perhaps not. All that I remember now, after the
passage of thirty-five years or more, is that I did not seem to feel fear after
the first shock, my feeling and emotion seemingly being that of great wonder,
and amazement arising from what I saw in those eyes.
But
I have said enough regarding the manifestation of mentative induction among the
lower animals. There are many interesting instances of this sort, scattered
through the pages of books on animal life, and nearly everyone who has lived in
the woods, or among wild life knows of many cases illustrating this fact which
have come under his own observation. I have mentioned these features of the
subject merely for the purpose of showing you that we have to deal with a
general natural principle which manifests throughout all life. This book has to
deal with the manifestation of this force among men. But in closing this
chapter, I would ask you to notice the resemblance between the manifestation of
the force among the animals, on the one hand, and among mankind on the other.
The
animals employ the force for two purposes, i. e., the captivating of mates, and
the capture of prey. And how do men and women use it? Along similar lines! Yes,
I mean this, as startling as it may appear.
For
is not the use of fascination, in the direction of attracting the other sex
akin to the sex-charming noticed among the birds and animals? And is not the
use of fascination in the direction of influencing men and women along the
lines of business, or personal interest, akin to the "charming” of prey by
wild animals, serpents, etc.? You may see that evolution simply changes the
form of use in this and other natural qualities, and power—the force or power
remaining the same, under all of the changes. And, does it not become important
for us to understand, study, and guard ourselves against the employment of such
an elemental force as this, which manifests along all planes of life, from
lowest to highest?
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