orant of the subject than himself. Under this
head come the performances of Mr. Bishop and other sciolists who are
exercising similar powers with similar success.

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," said Pope; for the sciolist
is continually blundering in the false and superficial theories which
belong to the first stage of investigation, through which the patient
student of nature has made his way to a full understanding of the
subject.

The sympathetic transference of thought from one mind to another, and
the acquisition of knowledge of things either present or remote,
without the aid of the external senses, are phenomena known as far
back as history has any records. Such phenomena are wonderful and
mysterious, but not more so than the generation of animal life or the
appearance of a rainbow in the sky--subjects from which science has
removed much of the mystery.

Trans-corporeal or non-sensual perception has also been investigated,
its laws established, its anatomical and physiological foundation
explained, its range of power determined, its vast powers and
utilities illustrated, and its method of development and culture made
known. But of all this the mind-reading sciolists know nothing and
have not attempted to learn anything. They are attitudinizing on the
outer steps of the temple of science, before the gazing multitude,
instead of penetrating the interior of the temple, where the multitude
do not follow.

The exhibiting mind-readers start with the assumption that matter does
all, and that the ample literature in which the powers of the soul are
recorded, demonstrated, and explained is unworthy of notice. Thus they
place themselves in sympathy with the prevalent ignorance on such
subjects, and the dogmatism of a certain class of scientists.

The dogmatism of this hypothesis cannot be maintained by any careful
and conscientious inquirer, who knows how to conduct an investigation.
When the psychic faculties are well developed, as they certainly are
in Mr. Bishop, the inquirer cannot fail to realize that ideas are
developed by transference in the mind without the slightest
opportunity of being instructed by muscular movements. Hence Mr.
Bishop finally admits the direct transference of thought from mind to
mind; but instead of presenting it boldly as a positive and thousand
times demonstrated act, he still leans upon the letter of Dr.
Carpenter, which represents him as learning the thoughts of others, b