Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-03-14
A Story OF Mesmerism.

The following we find in Lowell
Mass paper: ga somewhat remark
able case of mesmeric influence oc
Cured recently as the result of an ex-
pertinent made by Prof. Caldwell. He
selected two female subjects at his per-
formance in the evening, whom he OBJ
tanned permission to influence in any
reasonable and proper manner, and to
keep one of them, who worked in the
mill, out half day for a mesmeric
demonstration not specified to them.
While under his influence that evening,
he made them believe that they were
picking grapes, and, after they had
finished picking an imaginary large
quantity, he handed each slip of pa
per, one of which, he said, was check
for $50, and the other for $25. He told
them to go to the First National Bank
at 1920 o'clock the next forenoon and
get the money on the checks, but that
if the cashier refused to honor the
checks to present them to Mayor jew
ett, and he would pay the amount named
on them. After these instructions were
given them their minds were immedi-
ately afterward diverted to another sub
ject, and the mesmeric influence was
then thrown off. And now to the sequel
of the affair. The two subjects, ac-
cording to their husbands, were appar-
emily as much influenced as ever up to
about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, when
a change was perceptible. One of them
then called at the residenceof the other,
and the two passed out. The husband
of one followed them, and they went to
the First National Bank. Mr.. Allen,
the Cashier, had previously been in
formed by Prof. Caldwell Of the prospec-
tive visit, and the former was prepared
to receive them. They presented their
bits of paper and demanded the money
on them. Mr.. Allen said that he had
no money to answer the checks, when
they responded substantially that it
must be poor bank that couldn't pay
checks to the amount of $55. They
then passed out, and up to the Mayors
office, going Immediately in and pre-
senting the checks TO the Mayor, who
was not in the secret, and who at first
was quite indignant at the imperative
manner in which they demanded $55 on
the bits of paper in their hands. They
were anything but complimentary to
the Mayor in their remarks when he
said that he could not see that the bits
of paper were checks, and one of them
put her spectacles over his nose, then
asking him if he could see. Prof. Cad
we'll put his head in at the Mayors office
door as that official was ordering them
out to avoid an arrest, and the fact that
the two women were under mesmeriC
influence was then made apparent to his
Honor. By this time DIR. j. @. Aver
and several city officials had entered the
room, and several experiments were
made, showing that the subjects were
completely under mesmeric influence
They could not see Prof. Caldwell, Of
feel his pulling of their ears, but whe1
DR.. Aver pulled these organs they were
Immediately cognizant of the fact, ant
scolded him emphatically for the iber
ties taken. In few minutes afterwart
Prof. Caldwell snapped his forefngel
and thumb, at the same time saying
'all right, and the influence passed off
They instantly sank down upon the sofl
in the room, one of them crying bitterl,
at first, and both evidently being mucl
ashamed. They were both perfectl,
unconscious of what had taken plac,
since they left their homes. A NOR,
surprising case of control under mes
meric influence is seldom made public.