"He has shown his power of mind reading in a manner that would do credit to a Bishop or other person of like fame."

I have no idea what became of Flavius Taylor, but for a period of time in the late 19th century the lad from Kentucky received wide notice for his supposed mind-reading powers. An article from an August 1891 edition of the New York Times, which originally ran in the Louisville Courier-Journal:

“The wonderful feats of Flavius Taylor, the boy mind reader of Glasgow, Ky., continues to astonish all those who see him. Though only nineteen years of age, he has shown his power of mind reading in a manner that would do credit to a Bishop or other person of like fame.

The young man is very modest about his power. It is not often that he will consent to give a performance, even in private. When he does he has never been known to fail, even in the most severe tests. It makes him very nervous, and sometimes after a performance his muscles are in tremor the whole of the next day. Recently he attended a reception near Glasgow, and a Courier-Journal reporter who was present had an opportunity of witnessing some of his wonderful feats.

"As he always does, he took hold of the intermediary's hand." (Image by Keith Schengili-Roberts.)

Mr. Taylor was in another room when it was decided to ask him to give an exhibition of his power. Three coins–a dollar, a quarter, and a nickel–were first secreted by as many young ladies. The room was crowded, and a fourth person, who was a disbeliever in mind reading, went to the room where Mr. Taylor was engaged in conversation. He consented to the test, and then, as he always does, he took hold of the intermediary’s hand. The mind reader led the way in a rapid walk, and without hesitation went directly to the first young lady and asked her to please hand him the nickel from under the edge of her waist. Though the room was crowded, he had not the least trouble in finding the second girl and taking the quarter from her handkerchief, which lay under the fold of her dress. The third young woman was sitting in an opposite corner busily engaged in conversation, but he walked straight to her and took the dollar from her hand.

Perhaps the most remarkable part of this particular test then followed. When the money was his it was also the desire of the one making the trial that young Taylor should give the dollar to a certain person in the room, the quarter to a certain other, and the nickel to a particular third person. He did this without the slightest blunder, and the young mind reader had one more convert.

A physician who was present doubted even in the face of this test, and for his self-satisfaction he decided to give Taylor something that would be hard to do. Fifty yards from the front gate of the house, in a thick clump of trees, were hitched more than a dozen horses and vehicles in which the guests had come. One belonged to the doctor, and he thought of the whip which was in his buggy. Upon taking the physician’s hand, Mr. Taylor said that he knew what he was thinking of, but, to more fully convince him, he led the man to his buggy in the darkness, though he did not know one of the vehicles from the other, and took out the whip.

Small pieces of money were hidden in nooks and corners of the house, but he walked as straight to them as if he had secreted them himself. Some one thought of a certain book in the library. Without knowing what he was to hunt for, he went to the room, opened the door and took out the book. He also turned to a certain page and passage, of which the young man was thinking. He would grasp the hand of any one present and tell exactly what his thoughts were.

"In addition to his ability to possess himself of the secrets of the mind, the young man is a ventriloquist."

Mr. Taylor is a handsome young man, and until six months ago, when he first became aware of his power, the ladies and girls were not loth to shake his hand. He danced at all the parties, and his hand was grasped without fear or tremor. But things have changed, Mr. Taylor says, and not to his advantage. For six months he has been unable to find a girl who will allow him to touch her hand. He often steals a march on those unacquainted with his power, but he fears that his dancing days are over. In addition to his ability to possess himself of the secrets of the mind, the young man is a ventriloquist. He is overflowing with wit and good humor, and on every occasion he takes advantage of his power as a ventriloquist to provoke laughter. He has possessed this particular control of his voice for several years, and is an adept at its practice.

Mr. Taylor is about 5 feet 8 inches in height, weighs about 135 pounds, has light hair, regular features, with a very high, prominent forehead, and is altogether striking in appearance. He has a brother and sister near his own age, but in none other of the family have any of his remarkable powers been exhibited.

Scientific men over the country are beginning to be attracted by his feats, and he has had offers from several managers to go to some of the larger cities to exhibit himself, all of which he has declined, as his father fears that it would seriously impair his health to practice it continually. On account of his youth and the short time he has been aware that he is a mind reader his case is looked upon as one of the most remarkable ever known, especially as he has so far mastered the hardest tests that could be devised.”