MIND-READING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1998, 28 April 1885, Page 2

MIND-READING.

On Saturday evening Professor Rice gave his second public performance in the Public Hall, Hamilton, before a very appreciative, although not numerous audience, which included several ladies. Capt. Beere occupied the chair. The Professor, after giving a short sketch of the Eddy Brothers and their spiritualistic trick*, exposed the " spirit fire, which he did in a manner to elicit the approbation of the audience, and then proceeded with the mind-reading portion of his entertainment. A committee was chosen from amongst the audience, consisting of Messrs W.ird, Hill, Sfiddon, Baiton, Hollow.iy, and Sorgt. -Major McOovern, each of whom the Profcssoi took m turn to prove the reality of his power aa a mind-reader. The first candidate selected was Mr Barton, ami after a short space of time the Professor landed on the hidden mystery in the pocket of an overcoat hanging on the side of the hall. Tho novelty of the tout— a vegetable—caused a great, deal of nierrinie.nt ? of which the possessor seemed not a little proud. In the next instance, the Professor, though not .so successful iis in the first c.use, drew the object thought of on a piece of paper, and the diagram coriespoudcd exactly with the article, which w.is a megrim pencil. Mr Seddon thought of a .shcop ticket, which the Professor soon drew foith fiom the pocket of Mr W. Yon Stunner amidst applause. The picture iiffordod by Mr Ward was not sufficiently clear, and the test had to be abandoned. Tho Professor thought the object looked like a pictuie, and asked Mr Ward to explain what it was, and he informed the audience th.it it was a photograph. Mr Hollow-ay's test was also not veiy successful. The object was an ink-araser, and although the Professor uaid he saw what appeared to be two patches of white with something between he could not hit upon its name. The last candidate who came forth was Sorgoant-Major McGovern, and bis powerful little handcuff key was produced in a very brief space of tune from Mr Logics pocket, to the [astonishment of the Sergeant-Major, who exclaimed, "It is wonderful." At tho conclusion of the tests, the professor stated that, although he had not been successful with one or two, he considered that his power of mind-rending was improving — in fact, he had before now turned audiences away in consequence of failing power, but lie was pleased to think that after 10 yeans lie seemed to get better day by day. The concluding pait of the entertainment consisted of an exposure of Chas. Read's ring, test, which the pi of essor cleverly exectuted, the watch tiick, and a brief lectuio on Physiognomy. At the close, Piofessor Rice st.ited that it was his intention to again visit Hamilton upon his return from Te Aroha and Thames, and he would then give an entertainment towards any chari" table object which the public might name, and he trusted there would be a full house. The entertainment was a great success, and tho audience .seemed highly pleased. Professor Rice left for Te Aroha and the Thames by yesterday's train, having been preceded by liig manager, Mr Voire-Hawkin*, on Saturday. During his stay in Hamilton the professor wan kept pretty busy drawingup Physiognomical charts, which in nearly every case are reported to have given satisfaction.