The southern press., 1850-10-05
ID Al l. Y
SOUTHERN PRESS.
Mysteries or Mesmerism--A Scene at a
Social Party.

from the continual excitement which was kept
up by the principal spirits of the OCCASION
/ Many a joke was perpetrated, and many bad
one was enjoyed at the expense OF some one
present.
/ Among the fairer portion of the guests was
one Miss Sarah H., who is beloved and admired
by all for her accomplishments and natural kind
ness of heart, while she is dreaded for her keen
satire, and her aptness at the execution of cruel
and practical jokes.
Miss III. had reigned supreme during the even
ing, and nearly every guest present had suffered
| from her wit. Among those whom she had
treated in the most cruel manrer, was Charley
] E., who was not bad at such innocent hmuse-
ments himself and who resolved to repay Miss
Sarah in her own coin.
| The conversation turned upon mesmerism.
Charley said he put to sleep any quantity of
pretty young ladies, and strong minded young
gentlemen, in his day, II facetously remarked
that he tlattered himself on being as good at it
a. Parson f.
.'With pair of plates" said Charley, u can
accomplish as much in the putting to sleep line
as the parson can with one of his dulest ser
mons"
"Nonsensem cried Miss II.
"Nonsense?' echoed Charley, assuming sud-
den earnestness; .perhaps you think can't put
! you To sleep
perhaps dor laughed Miss II.
! 81 think | could convince you in few min
utes p
| "rhat you could put me TO slecp!"
"Ies" exclaimed Charley with admirable en-
thusiasm. "And if you will let me try, pledge
myself to accomplish the task, or to furnish the
oysters for the company"
"The oysters ?" cried Miss II. 'I take you at
your offer!"
yes"
agreed them
| And Charley, to the delight Of the whole
company, who were fond of fun and oysters,
commenced making preparations for the appa-
rently hard task OF putting the bright eyes OF
! the wide-awake Miss II. in n mesmeric sleep.
| Charley said that he operated with plates. =
He also remarked that some plates were better
than others, and Charley must 90 with Mrs. S.,
the lady of tho house, to her pantry, to make
choice of such specimens Of erockery as would
best suit his purpose.
Charley WAS occupied some time in making
his selection of plates, and the company, whose
appetite for fun and oysters was becoming very
acute, began to grow impatient.
At length, hover, Charley re-appeared with
very sober face, and said in a serious tome
Il couldn't find any plates to suit me exactly
but | mean TO have trial at any rate. The
best could find We're some dirty ones piled
away in one corner. which Mrs. S. is washing
for the purpose. While she is producing them
we may as well make choice of good posi-
sitioH, Miss H."
.'Sr," said Miss II. pertlv
sYou can hold Your oountenance. believe r.
81 rather think | can"
| SWELL you must, or | cannot put vou to
sleep. If you laugh the charm is broken. The
company may laugh at the oddity of my mo-
tons, and | presume they will, but you must
not, for if you do | shall be under no obliga-
ton to produce the oysters
Miss Fl. thinking the whole trick consisted in
this, and supposing Charley felt sure of making
her laugh by the righteousness of the scene.
readily entered into the arrangement.
Charley then placed two chairs facing each
other directly in the centre of the room. took
his seat in one of them, and requested Miss H.
to occupy the other
"Accordng to my improved method of mes
nerisnl," said Charley, with imperturablc gravity
'you will be required to look me ntentIv in the
eye and to intimate my motions invariably
sYes, sir" said Miss II.
| Charley then took hold of her wrists and look
| ing her in the eye, while the ladies' and gentle
men present gathered about them, eager for the
| fun.
"'rhe plates.' echoed Miss H., with equal gray
| itv Mrs S. came forward with pair of the
required articles. Charley took one and held it
on his hand in his lap, Miss H. made similar
use of the other, still looking Charley in the eye.
After a pause, Charley withdrew his right
hand from beneath the plate, and with a slow,
mystical motion, passed his fingers across his
| face.
Miss II. grayely initiated the movement. As
she drew her delicate fingers from her brow to
her chin, yell of laughter burst from the spec
tators. Without smiling, Charley replaced his
right hand under the plate, and rubbed the left
over his face. Miss Ii. as gravely followed his
example, and another burst of laughter followed
Charley then turned the plate around in his
hands, and with his fingers made passes across
his brow, crosses on bis chin, long line down
the middle Of his nose, circles about his eyes, and
all sorts of imaginary grotesque figures on his
check, changing his hands occasionally, as if to
! invest the ceremony with additional mystery
Miss H. initiated him with scrupulous exactitude
and imperturable gravity, while the mrth Of the
| spectators became more and more excited, and
it seemed that some of them would die with
laughter. Some rolled upon the sofas, some
hung powerIess over the chairs, almost dead
with mirth and others fell upon the floor and
! held their sides.
Charley continued TO make the mysterious
passes across his face, and Miss II. to initiate
his movements, until the mirth rose TO such a
pitch that the poor girl began TO suspect that it
was occasioned by something besides the mere
| oddity of Charey's motions. She grew uneasy.
! She feared some trick was being played upon
herself The mrth increased. She could endure
it no longer. She resolved to forfeit the oysters.
Amid roars of laughter from the spectators, she
cried out
aThere! I've withstood this long enough =
! Now I'm going to know what there is TO laugh
at"
"Look in the glass! Look In the glass
cried the mirth-sufocated spectators.
/ Miss III. was before a mirror in moment. A
/ cry of despair and shame burst forth from her
! lips. Her face her pretty, hewitching face
! it was covered with black streaks of every
! imaginable character. Over her nose around
I her eyes, across her forehead, up and down,
diagonally and cross-wisc, on every portion OF
/ her face, were tho marks of her own fingers,
mat as shp had tourhad theiu on hor daicota