Modern Spiritualism is referred to, in so far as Thought-Reading is likely to throw any light upon its psychological phases, as well as on its physical phenomena. While attempting to cover so much ground my difficulty was not what to write, but what not to write, the materials at my disposal being so abundant. Much has been cut down to get the whole within reasonable compass. Nevertheless, I hope my readers will find “How to Thought-Read” a readable contribution to the science of soul. JAMES COATES. Glenbeg, Ardbeg, Rothesay, N. B. [Illustration: EXPERIMENT IN PSYCHOMETRY.--See Page 60. MR. and MRS. COATES.] HOW TO THOUGHT-READ. CHAPTER I. Somnambulism and Psychic Phenomena. Before entering upon the subject of “How to Thought Read”--or rather, range of interesting subjects grouped under this title--it is proposed to deal briefly with the key to the whole, which is to be found in the revelations of man’s inner life, soul-life and character, presented by somnambulism and trance, whether natural or induced. The use of a few simple terms having a well-defined meaning will help the reader and prepare him for the more careful study of the psychic side of human life. The somnambulistic and trance states may be divided, for the convenience of examination, into the Hypnotic, or state of hypnosis; the Mesmeric, or somnambulistic; and the Psychic, or lucid somnambulistic--or briefly, the Hypnotic, Mesmeric, and Psychic states. The operator is the controlling agent, hypnotist, or mesmerist; in spiritualism, the guide or control. The sensitive is the subject, the percipient, psychic, patient, or person who passes into the hypnotic, mesmeric, or trance states, etc. Hypnosis is the term used for the hypnotic state artificially induced by the agent. Hypnosis is the lowest rung of the ladder; the psychic or soul state the highest. The intermediate phases, as indicated in conscious or sub-conscious conditions of life, are innumerable and not readily classified. Still, the states mentioned will give a favourable insight to the whole. In hypnosis, physical rather than mental phenomena are evolved; _anæsthesia_, or non-sensitiveness to pain, is more or less present. The senses of smell and hearing are partially exalted, and the sensitive may be partially or wholly unconscious. The mesmeric state is the term frequently used to denote ordinary artificial somnambulism. It is actually the higher or more perfect form of hypnosis. The senses in this state are more fully submerged, and the mental faculties are more fully exalted, than in hypnosis.