Evening Star Newspaper, November 4, 1923, Page 37

. Schermann’s Amazing Powers Baffle Noted Pole’s Achievement Astounds World of Science. Visit to U. S. Soon Excites Wide Curiosity. Scientists Puzzled The name of Rafael Scher- mann in Vienna and all Central Furope is as widely known the name Sherlock Holmes here. Untll recent dispatchen nounced Schermann’s coming te America_early this month. few here had heard of hia mazing powers, which are well recog- nized In Europe by tints of established reputa- ! k that any human “mecond [ sented In the following a-ticle In worthy of serfous consi tion. The achievem mann, a Polixh el adopted eity of a, aroused the enriosity of Amer- fean sclentists and police ofi- elnls. atay In n demonnstrations before seientific bodies, may employed in connection hitherto unsolved criminal mys- teries. BY DR. OSKAR FISCHER, Professor of Paychiatry and Neurol- o8y, German University of Prague. I have worked with Rafael Scher- mann for about two years, conduct- ing more than 200.experimentd and tests. When I first met Schermann I was a skeptic. I wanted to meet nim partly because of the fun I hoped to get out of it, partly because T was bent on unmasking a fraud. After a few hours' Investigation I vhanged my mind. I realized that 50t only was Schermann absolutely senulne, but also that I was con- fronted with a psychic phenomenon unmatched and unheard of, with one that came well within the accepted meaning of the term miraculous. This realization resulted in two years' re- search of a most extraordinarily in- taresting nature. As a scientist T cannot, of course. admit that there Is anything in Schermann’s performance that is su- pernatural in the ordinary sense of the word. But there can be no doubt erformance transcends the again in the accepted sense it goes beyond rational ex- planation. This, for a scientis ¥ nded. I do not hesitate to say that he case of Schermann necessitates a radical revision of what is considered scientifically possible in the field of na. question I put to myself How far is Schermann’s d on sensual per- ception? My tests converged In the answer that his performance involves praeter-sensual, or ultra-sensual, per- ception. Results Remarkable. One shows Schermann a plece of Paper with a few lines written on it. The paper may be turned upside down it makes no differeace. Schermann not examine It as the ordinary zraphologist would —he merely lances at it for one or two seconds. On the strength of this glance he will tell you what the writer looks likke, what diseases he had as a child, ife’s hair is and how ildren he has. He can tell sou where, under what conditlon the Jines were written. Once he said to me about a sample writing: “This was written by a chronic_drunkard in prison.” So it was. Again, by way of experiment, 1 wrote a few lines while sitting in the bathtub. Scher- mann said: “This was written In a bathtub." These things are not in the hand- writing. This is not graphology, or the art of interpreting handwritin Once he said, looking at a few 1 relevant lines from a letter: This was written by a man who achieved ocial and professional suc- coss by exploiting the beauty of his wife.” It was true. But the handwriting could not possibly show it. Graphology in the ordinary sense can tel. us, on the basis of examining seript, whether the writer is a strong. willed or weak man, whether a big, heavy man or small, slim person— whether he Is vain or eareless of ap- pearances—a man accustomed to suc- ess or one living In the shadow of fallure—it moves in the framework of ontrasting generalities like these, approximating the specific In a hap- a yet cautious way. Schermann, by glancing at a script, cannot only give a specific chara terization of the writer—he can iml- tate his characteristic gesture—how he eats, twirls his moustache, wipes brow, blows his nose, walks. He an diagrose diseases the very names of which he does not understand. On the whole, he frequently makes ac- curate statements the full purport of which s not clear to him, for he is not an educated man. The next question that presented ftself to me was this: Is Schermann’ zift a particularly acute form of t lepathy? Now telepathy, in the a cepted sense, involves the tranafe ence, without sensual communication, of known contents from one person to another. _The emphasis is on the known. But Schermann will look at | a seript and sa; . Beyend Telepathy. 1 “This was written by & lady whn‘ has a very bad scar on her shoulder and always wears furs to conceal n."‘ Now when I showed him the script 1 did_not know anything about th 1 made inquiries afterward and found that what Schermann had said was true. In other words, his perform- ance In this case—and there are many similar ones—is outside the domain of telepathy. He cou d not read thoughts, which 1did not think. mann will say, glancing at } ‘This man will commit sul of fact, the mlnI e MOVING, PACKING & STORAGE. ELI]E'Ar nnv;i‘r"uu"mf‘irul: rfimfiirfi te_cheerfu Senent, R CHLERY, 83 08 Senient Jocation. WESCH ave ) hone Main 12 New You a : RED BA‘.L TRANSIT CO. National Housebald_Movers. & Wostward B0g. - Matn S168. T NATIONAL CAPITAL BTORAGE & MOVING GO North 8845 1342 U 8TO! UNITED STATES GE Co- NG, K IN [PPING. uon'uf PACKY. N iR SMIT TRANSFER & STORAG LOCAL & LONG DISTANCE MOVERS WE CRAT PHONE NORTH 3343 1313 YOU STRFET N. W Mind Specialist DR, OSKAR FISCHER. has already committed suicide. And perhans I, at the moment of owing his handwriting to Schermann, dld not know about it. Schermann practiced telepathy he would say, In case I knew about the man’s fate. H.';h::omlnln has rur:nmlttcd suicide.” uld say nothin - norant myself. £ iiwaredls: Further proof that Schermann does not arrive at his results only by ex- amining handwriting is found in this test: I drew zig-zaz lines like those traced by school children when thev begin tolearn to write. Then 1 had Some one else draw similar lfnes Schermann “would know at once Whether the lines shown were drawn by me or by some other person. The closest examination by others could not reveal any difference. hermann ‘always knew in what condition I wns when I drew the lines. He would say: “These "were drawn on an empty stomach,” or “These were drawn after & heavy dinner, There was no visible alfference, yet this diagnosis never falled Another experiment: I gave Scher- mann a_ bundle of assorted letters. written by a_number of persons and bearing not the slightest reference to one another. He sing'ed out two let- ters. written at different times to different peopls, and said: “The man and the woman who wrote these are engaged to marry. They were. But Schermann does not need at all to look at handwriting. He will furnish excellent descriptions and analyses of the writer of a_script Which he has merely touched while blindfolded. 1 _guarded azalnst the possibility of finger-tip reading, of the type familiar to the blind, simply by using thin ink with a very sharp pen or pencll. The keenest touch could not discover any relief. More- over, the result was the same if there was no writing on the paper at all; if the writer merely went through thr motion of writing with the butt end of a penholder or an unsharpened pen- cil, without pressure on the pap Schermann, blindfolded, would pro- ceed with 'his analysis undisturbed He did not even know that no writ- ing was visible on the paper. Ol viously some sort of energy, unper- celved to ordinary senses, but per- ceivable to Schermann's extraordinary sensibility, remalned fixed on the pa- per. ' Tent Astounding. In another Instance I traced on pa- per certain figures or symbols with my finger. Schermann, blindfolded, felt the paper and 1d: “There is a flourish (Schnorkel) here—it expresses an Idea—Iit inspires a feeling—the feeling of worship—if one sees this thing one raises one's ha A journalist, who was present, an trreverent sort of person, asked: *“And if one wears no hat?" “Then one must kneel down,” sald Schermann. “And if one has no knees?’ pursued the journalist, bent on being witty. “Then one must prostrate himgelf.” The sign 1 had traced on the paper was the sign of the cross. This e: periment Is extremely important be- cause it establishes definitely that Schermann's faculty is not simply find reading or telepathy in the accepted sense. The point is that while I drew the invisible cross I thought not of the symbol of Christianity, but of the mark made by llliterate persons on documents by way of signature. (Continued tomorrow.) Copyright, 1923, United States and Caneda b (CopyrEht, 1 cne 5. Bavker e MIAMI, FLORIDA. T O O KKK THE SUNDAY SOCIETY NEEDS FUNDS. Will Give Tea. Members of the Starmont Ald for Consumptives are to be hosts at a tea at the Harrington Hotel, 1ith and B streets northwest, Tuesday and Wed- nesday, November 20 and 1. They will be oh hand at all times between 1t o'clock In the morning and 10 o'clock at night to receive and entertain their | guests, Reports recelved by the executive board indicate that tho organization I8 Uving up to its name more actively than at any previous time in tis his- tory, being called on for aid to an ex- tent’ that requires replenishment of its funds in order to continue functioning. ————— English ilrl- are tattooing their na elr_wrl RESORTS ATLANTIC CITY. N. J. HOTEL ST CHARLES | ON THE BOARDWALK How fortunate it is that the Playground of the open, aiwaye } terms moderate Write or phone. M. WATSH DUNCAN FERRY W. VA. HILL TOP HOUSE Open to December 1, after that. woek ende. Write for special fall dny and meal rates. S 1.8 "LOVETT. Propris FLORIDA. = T CLEARWATEW Florida West Coast, on_ the gulf, highest | e'evation on either coast. Booklets and iufor- | tion f.ee on mavest H. O. Ransom, Secy, et of Commerce. “YHE OITY OARE FOROOTY NEW ORLEANS e Paris of America™ Ceatre of Winter Raci Carniva) Roll. Hunting and All Outdoor §ports 01!1» $t. Charles One Amcflu::mlafuu‘m& Hare-den Hillsborough County The charm of summer 1s call- ing you to this thriving com- mercial resort hub of Florida's West Coast. Unique among American citles, historic, col- orful, sub-tropical. Hustling port-gateway to Panama and imles of southern seas. Famous Spaniszh restaurants; wonderful fishing, bathing, boating and other “water sports. Gasparilla Carnival, ~Mid-Winter _ Fair; world's largest cigar industry. Regular boat excursions to other - teresting _resorts. _Health-restor balmy weather. Four golf conrse: many other sports. Open air band con: For play, rest, recreation and Tovestment. " Write D. A. YOUNG Board of Trade, Tampa, Fla, MIAMI, FLORIDA. FOR THE FINEST CLIMATE! FOR THE ‘LIVEST RESORT ! FOR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL SCENERY! The Tourist’s Delight The Motorist’s Mecca The Fisherman’s Paradise The Golfer’s Wonderland The The The P, ' Pride s:rf- i:"‘ ’s Joy Yachisman’s Rendezvous The Aviator's Dreamland THE REALIZATION OF YOUR ANTICIPATIO! SEASON WILL OPEN DEC. 2nd WITH EXTRA FAST TRAINS Through Pullman service to Miami from all lsrge Northern Cities. SEVEN GOLF COURSES Mid-Winter Regatta will be one of the world's best. National Acronautic FI Boat Moet for other lavy the famous Caurties valuable prises. U. S. Planes will participate. ARTHUR PRYOR'S FAMOUS BAND Coneerts twice daily in Reyal Palm Park New Year’s Day Grand Fruit and Flower Pageant 75 botels with sccommodations % suit every demand. nd y Send Wnte for bandeome boabict with il informtion Miami Chamber of Commerce Miami, tlorida WHERE NCE 10U STAR, WASHINGTON, D VEMBER 4., 1923—PART 1 EXXXANNX The Dorothy Dix Articles * ) o M Will begin exclusive fiublicationthashington tomorrow ~Monday, Nov. 5th- -and continue in every issue of he Foening Star “The Talks” On three days of the week—Mon- day, Wednesday and Friday—she will give her “TALKS” on subjects, prompted by her keen observations of human life as it is being lived— pointing out errors that folks are mak- ing; suggesting remedies for wrongs that need righting. These “TALKS” strike a responsive chord—and you’ll thoroughly enjoy reading them. “The Letter Box” On the alternate three days of each week—Tuesday, Thursday and Fri- day—Dorothy Dix’s “LETTER BOX” will appear. In the “LETTER BOX” will be found answers to the remark- able mail which is addressed to this remarkable woman. Her replies are candid—full of human sympathy— but charged with a sense of justice which opens the eyes of the writers of these letters—and those similarly perplexed—to better understanding. You can write to Dorothy Dix of your troubles—and if they are troubles in which many share—your reply will come through her “LETTER BOX” in The Evening Star. Or if your inquiry is of more individual concern she’ll send you a personal reply. “Dorothy Dix understands human nature, and with her ready sympathy and broad-minded tolerance she strikes a note that rings true to every heart.” ’ 1.2.2.2.0.0.086666666666608088888.0.8 6 ¢ That sums up the great popularity of Dorothy Dix and accounts for the in- terest with which her “Talks” are read and for the crowded condition of her “Letter Box.” And both are coming to Washington through The Evening Star. Men as well as women will enjoy reading them—the oldest and the youngest can take good 1 the Circulation Dept.— Main 5000 —and have The Star left at your home regularly — by Star Carrier— * beginning with the first of the Dorothy Dix articles—tomorrow, Monday ?