THOUGHT-READING.
(TO THE EDITOR OF Tim "SPECTATOR."]
Sia,—I have read with great interest the article on "Brain- waves," in your issue of June 3rd, and venture to think that the following incident, which occurred in my own family, may not be without value, as bearing on the subject. I had one day been spending the morning in shopping, and returned by train just in time to sit down with my children to our early family dinner. I am an advocate for having children very early at table with their parents, and my youngest child—a sensitive, quick-witted, little maiden of two years and six weeks old—was one of the circle. Dinner had just commenced, when I suddenly recollected an incident in my morning's experience which I had intended to tell her, and I looked at the child with the full intention of saying, "Mother saw a big, black dog in a shop, with curly hair," catching her eyes in mine, as I paused an instant before speaking. Just then something called off my attention, and the sentence was not uttered. What was my amazement, about two minutes' afterwards, to hear my little lady announce, "Mother saw a big dog in a shop." I gasped. "Yes, I did ! " I answered ; "but how did you know P"—" With funny hair P" she added, quite calmly, and ignoring my ques- tion.—" What colour was it, Evelyn ?" said one of her elder brothers ; "was it black P" She said, "Yes."
Now, it was simply impossible that she could have received any hint of the incident verbally. I had had no friend with me when I had seen the dog. All the children had been at home, in our house in the country, four miles from the town ; I had returned, as I said, just in time for the children's dinner, and I had not even remembered the circumstance until the moment when I fixed my eyes upon my little daughter's. We have had in our family circle numerous examples of spiritual or mental insight or foresight ; but this, I think, is decidedly the most remarkable that has ever come under my notice.—I am, Sir, &c.,
CAROLINE BARBER.
Fernedene, Abbe ydale, near Sleiffield, June 22nd.
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