When the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in 1787, William Jackson (1759-1828), applied for the position as its secretary. The friendships he'd made with many of the delegates during the Revolutionary War (especially Alexander Hamilton), helped this gifted writer and orator edge out Benjamin Franklin's grandson for the position. He was thereby able to utilize his considerable organizational talents in the service of the new republic. Jackson was sworn to protect the secrecy of the deliberations. After the final draft of the Constitution was signed, he destroyed all records...

Few people realize that George Washington (1732 - 1799) was a man who formally attended school only to the elementary level. Yet, he went on to become Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in 1775, and served in this capacity until 1783. Washington first gained prominence leading troops from Virginia in support of the British Empire during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), a conflict which he inadvertently helped to start. After leading the American victory in the Revolutionary War, he relinquished his military power and returned to civilian life. This act alone brought him much...

THE PRISONER NOBODY WANTED It all started in Wynne, Arkansas. Judge Harold Casoaer stared sternly at the lovely young defendant: "Blanche Palmer, you stand convicted of the murder of your common-law husband, Charles Turain. "Therefore it is the judgment of this court that you serve the next 21 years in the Arkansas State Penitentiary at Little Rock." Two days later, Sheriff E. L. Cooper and his comely prisoner arrived in Little Rock. They were met at the railroad station by Arkansas Gazette reporter Joe Wirges who drove them to the prison. The guard at the penitentiary gate carefully checked...

The mysteries of hypnotism are presented in this easy-lesson format in an attempt to throw important light upon a subject that has too long been misunderstood and ignored. Hypnotism is no longer one of the curiosities of science. It is a most important addition to the fields of medicine, psychology, religion, counseling, entertainment, etc. It's also of widespread interest throughout the world -- as well it should -- for it is certainly one of the most remarkable phenomena known to man. For untold centuries the knowledge of how to produce hypnotic sleep was a closely guarded secret. Those who...