on the
mouse, the eye of the snake on the bird, which in the end degrades
them into deeper evil. That there are such people, and that they
really make captive and oppress weaker minds, by suggestion, is true;
the marvel being that so few find it out.

But in proportion as this kind of fascination is vile and mean,
that which may be called altruistic or sympathetic attraction, or
Enchantment, is noble and pure, because it acquires strength in
proportion to the purity and beauty of the soul or will which inspires
it. It is as real and has as much power, and can be exercised by any
honest person whatever with wonderful effect, even to the performing
what are popularly called "miracles," which only means wonderful works
beyond _our_ power of explanation. But this kind of fascination is
little understood as yet, simply because it is based on purity,
morality and light, and hitherto the seekers for occult mysteries have
been chiefly occupied with the gloomy and mock-diabolical rubbish of
old tradition, instead of scientific investigation of our minds and
brains.

There is also in truth a Fascination by means of the Voice, which has
in it a much deeper and stronger power or action than that of merely
sweet sound as of an instrument. The Jesuit, GASPAR SCHOTT, in his
_Magio Medica_ treats of Fascination as twofold: _De Fascinatione per
Visunt et Vocem_. I have found among Italian witches as with Red
Indian wizards, every magical operation depended on an incantation,
and every incantation on the feeling, intonation, or manner in which
it is sung. Thus near Rome any peasant overhearing a _scongiurasione_
would recognize it from the _sound_ alone.

Anyone, male or female, can have a deep, rich voice by simply subduing
and training it, and very rarely raising it to a high pitch. _Nota
bene_ that the less this is affected the more effective it will be.
There are many, especially women, who speak, as it were, all time in
italics, when they do not set their speech in small caps or displayed
large capitals. The result of this, as regards sound, is the so-called
nasal voice, which is very much like caterwauling, and I need not say
that there is no fascination in it--on the contrary its tendency is to
destroy any other kind of attraction. It is generally far more due to
an ill-trained, unregulated, excitable, nervous temperament than to
any other cause.

The training the voice to a subdued state "like music in its softest
key," or