"Personal Magnetism" is the name given to designate the influence or control that one person exerts over others, causing them to do or think the things which he may desire of them. Just what constitutes this power and how it operates, has always been a question. Consequently, it has been placed on the list of the mysterious or occult sciences.

The existence of some subtle, effective force, is acknowledged by every thinking man, but even the scientists have been unable to give a satisfactory explanation of the law that governs it. They call it a "subtle, unseen, immeasurable force," and there they stop for the want of more light on the subject. The popular belief in the action of this force is, that it attracts people to each other as lodestone attracts pieces of iron. This belief does not explain the cause nor give the public a scientific basis to work upon. It is known that every person possesses, in a greater or less degree, some subtle power or force. It is also claimed that those who exhibit it in a minor degree may develop it into greater effectiveness. Just how to proceed in developing this latent force has never been satisfactorily explained. The consideration that has been given to it has only succeeded in creating a diversity of opinion.

Personal magnetism means personal influence, and as the name implies, the influence must result from personal contact through one or more of the senses. This being so, the influence exerted by anyone must necessarily be limited in its effectiveness to the number of people with whom he comes into personal contact. It is claimed that the success made by all great men and women is due to their personal magnetism, but this is an erroneous idea. I know that all success is due to a subtle power inherent in man, but it is not personal magnetism, for personal magnetism is not broad enough in its scope of action. If it is necessary that personal influence be used upon each and every person who assists in making another successful, how are we to account for the desire that is stimulated in the minds of people to see and hear an actor, artist or musician, or to read the books of a certain author ? They had never been within reach of his personal magnetism, yet they felt compelled to see him, or to read his writings, and thus to assist in creating his success.

If Personal Magnetism was the only force used to win success, it would of a necessity come very slowly. Personal Magnetism may influence and hold people after they come within its magic circle, but there must be some unlimited power that travels around the earth, that attracts people and draws them within the radius of a man's personal influence. There is such a power, and it is Men-talism. The thoughts and desires that are sent out from the mind (soul) of man travel on the waves of ether and reach all who are in sympathy (tuned in harmony) with his thoughts and work. His thoughts and energies having been given in all their intensity toward producing success, they created strong vibrations that went out to the world, and influenced the minds of others until they unconsciously responded and put forth efforts to help him. The multiplying of these efforts by thousands of people, produced the desired results.

We all know that it is only those things which receive the patronage and applause of the public that are considered to be successful, and also that people will not applaud that which is not in harmony with their thoughts on the subject; it must appeal to them and arouse their feelings and emotions. No one can win the approval of people by force or compulsion, for human nature always rebels against force or dictation of any kind. People are influenced only when we place in their brains, thoughts and sentiments in favor of ourselves or our work. Mentalism is the power used in conveying these thoughts from our brains to those of others. These thoughts they accept as their own and gratify themselves by acting upon them, for they like to believe they are pleasing themselves. Unless the person is a student and understands the Law of Mentalism, he will have no reason to suppose that the thoughts he is acting upon were sent to him by another.

The greater part of the credit given to Personal Magnetism, belongs to Mentalism, for almost all the influence is exerted through the mind. It is by this means that the thoughts and actions of others are controlled.

A simple experiment that proves the power of Mentalism to convey our wishes to another, and compel that person to act upon them, may be exemplified in the following manner:

While sitting in a church, theatre, or other gathering of people, select as a subject some one who is sitting some distance from you. Concentrate your thoughts on him for a little while, and then send out the thought that he will feel an irresistable desire to turn around and look at you, or you may give him the desire to take a handkerchief and rub his face, or to leave his seat and go out between the acts, or any other desire that you may wish him to carry out, that would not be inconsistent under the circumstances. It will not take long under these conditions to mentalize and influence him to carry out your wishes, unless he is at the time under the influence of a stronger Mentalism. Should one fail the first time, he has but to wait a little while until the other influence is removed, and then he will be successful. Have you ever unconsciously conveyed your thoughts to another in the following manner? While you were intently thinking upon a certain subject, and just about ready to speak of it, has someone else commenced talking on the same subject and deprived you of the opportunity? This experience is common to most people. The person, through Mentalism, conveys his thoughts to another, and he gives voice to them without knowing from whence they came, and the first person is thereby the loser. Such experiences are generally called coincidences, but they are not, they are mental communications unguided by the Will.

These simple experiments prove that one can mentalize another at a distance without speaking a word. If this much can be done by those who do not understand the Law, who can set a limit on the achievements of those who rightly use the power they possess. All that has been accomplished under the name of Personal Magnetism, is but the work of Mentalism. All that has previously remained unexplained about Personal Magnetism is now fully and clearly explained by the Law of Mentalism. Personal Magnetism is in reality only a small part of Mentalism, and is not an independent science. Those who understand the Law of Mentalism will find in Personal Magnetism very little of value.

"It is the mind that makes the body rich." - Shakespeare. "Noble thoughts make the foundation for noble manhood." - Segno.