Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-06-20
From the Yankee Nation
MYSTERIES OF NESNERISM
A Scene at a Social Party.

A merry party was assembled IN The
parlor of good friend Of ours, not long
since, and merry time had the guests,
if we may judge from the continual ex-
element which was kept up by the prin-
cipa! spirits of the occasion. Many a
good joke was perpetrated, and many
bad one was enjoyed at the expense Of
some one present. ... .u.
Among the fairer portion Of the guests
was one Miss Sarah H., who is beloved
and admired by all, for her accomplish
ments and natural kindness of heart, while
she is dreaded for her keen satire, and
her aptness at the execution Of cruel and
practical jokes.
Miss II. had reigned supreme during
the evening, and nearly every guest pre-
sent had suffered from her wit. Among
those whom she had treated in the most
cruel manner was Charley E., who was
not bad at such innocent amusements
himself, and who resolved 10 repay Miss
Sarah in her own coin.
The conversation turned upon mesmer-
ism. Charley said he had put to sleep
any quantity Of pretty young ladies', and
strong minded young gentlemen, in his
day, and facetiousl y remarked that he flat
tered himself on being as good at it as
Parson F.
"With pair Of plates," said Charley;
81 can accomplish as much in the putting
20. sleep line as the parson can with one
Of his dullest sermons"
"Nonsense," cried Miss II.
":Nonsense." echoed Charley, assum-
ing sudden earnestness; ''perhaps you
think can't put you to sleep"
"Perhaps do, Laughed Miss II.
IL think could convince you in few
minutes!'
"rhat you could pu, me TO sleep -
eyes," exclaimed Charley, with admi-
rable enthusiasm. "And il you will let
me try, pledge myself TO accomplish the
task, or to furnish the oysters for the
company"
"The oysters ?" cried Miss H., Il
take you at your Offer
"And you will give me fair trial p
"Yes."
"Agreed, then!''
And Charley, to the delight Of the
whole company, who were :ond Of fun
and oysters, commenced making prepara-
tons for the apparently hard task Of put
ting the bright eyes Of the wide-awake
Miss H. in mesmeric sleep.
| Charley said that he operated with
plates. He also remarked that some
plates were better than others, and Char
ley must 90 with Mrs S., the lady Of the
house, TO her pantry, to make choice OF
such specimens Q! crockery as would best
suit his purpose.
Charley was occupied some time i'll
making his selection Of plates, and the
com pany whose appetite for fun and oys-
ters was becoming very acute, began to
grow impatient. -u-..
At length, however, Charley reap
peared with very sober face, and said in
a serious tone
| s.! Couldn't find any plates to suit me
exactly, bta h:ean TO have trial at any
rate. The bes: could find were some
dirty ones, piled away in one corner
which Mrs S. is washin. for :he purpose
While she is producing them we may as
well make choice OF good posit."h'
Miss H." a =.3...
':Sir - said Miss H., per,ly.
"You can hold your coun.enance, be-
lieve?"
81 rather think can.' ..
well, you must, or cannot put you
to sleep. Ii you laugh the charm is
broken. The company may laugh at the
oddity of my motions, and ! presume they
will, but you must not, for if you do, l
shall be under no obligation to produce
the oysters" H=
Miss H., thinking the whole trick con-
sisted in this, and supposins Charley felt
sure OF making her laug b by the lud'crons-
ness of the scene, readily entered INTO the
arrangement. @4M4
Charley then placed two chairs facing
directly in the centre of the room, took
his seat in one of them, and requested
Miss H. to occupy the other.
"According TO my improved method OF
mesmerising," said Charley, with imper-
turbable gravity, ''you will be required to
look me inteutly in the eye and to initiate
nv motions invariably" sga## =z....
AZ. II "a