Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-12-18
An Amateur MesmerIst.

At small party up in the Western Divi
sion, one night last week, highly comic
young man said early in the evening that
he had bully idea for having some fun al
the expense OF quiet and inoffensive guest
who was expected later.
Tell you what well do said he, bub-
bling over with mirth as he spoke; I'll
I11rsnIrrfze J0nes=TnaKe INN stdnrl -v5r- MS
head, and think he's a tea-kettle, and so on.
It'll be awfully funny. I've been having a
little experience in mesmerism lately, and
can do it Just as easy as borrowing five
| dollars They all said it would be great
joke and too funny, and so on and when
soon after the unsuspecting Jones said he
didn't think there was much in 1t,
%, you don't, eh?' said the highly comic
young man. who, for the purpose of argu-
ment, we shall call Smith; now, have
been experimenting little in these things,
and there is a good deal in it. Now, l
think | could mesmeriZe you if you'd let
me try.
90, dear Mr.. Jones, cried all the young
ladies with one accord, please do let him
mesmerize you: it will add so greatly to
the eclat of the evening, and so Mr.. Jones
consented to be mesmerizGd if it would af-
ford them any pleasure. Rather to sownan
and greatly to everyone else's surprise, after
few passes Mr. Smith saw his victim passinto
the magnetic slumber, and then the fun
began. The unfortunate Jones was made
to believe he was a terrier backed to kill
100 rats in ten minutes, and so to engage
in fearful combat with his teeth with a
pile Of ottomans and sofa cushions; and
then was turned into a locomotlve-engine,
and went up and down the room blowing
off steam and footing danger sigr ais and
then became convinced that he was SEN
sational lecturer, and split his coat clear up
the back while trying to illustrate the op-
pressive calm which broods upon the Dead
Sea and compelled to recite poetry and
play the flute on ruler, and perform many
other interesting and unusual feats to the
delectation of the audience, SO that every
one laughed till his or her sides were sore,
and one tender hearted damsel remarked
that it was a shame. Finally, they left
the unfortunate young man possessed of
the hallucination that he was a cat, keep
ing patient watch over the register, from
which he expected mouse to issue, while
they discussed what to make him do next.
Il guess we've had fun enough out of the
poor cuss,' said Smith, magnanimously
"spose take him out of his magnetic
slumber2' So he called, 'Puss! Puss and
Jones came obediently to him on all fours
and rubbed against Smiths legs and purred
contentedly.
Now said Smith, observe that I will
make a few passes in the reverse way, and
thus release him from the controlling inf1u-
ence Of my mind and dispel the magnetic |
slumber in which he has been the uncon-
scious agent to minister to our mirth and
amusement
So he made a few passes, but Jones did
not come out of his trance; on the con-
trary he glared wildly around the room,
ran his fingers through his hair, and, tear
ing off his coat, howled, Thin Chinese
must CO. ETC.
why, he thinks he's Dennis Kearney y |
exclaimed everyone, and they looked in
surprise at Smith, who, however, retained
his presence of mind, and, though badly
surprised, said:
You see | stimulated his bumps of elo-
quence and causation, as may say; now,
however, l will dismagnetize him for
good So he made few more passes, and |
Jones set off walking at breakneck pace !
down the room, yelling, This is the 2697tb
bonanza mine to banana
l win.'
Smith looked somewhat more serious,
and everybody said, why, how singular y
and some of the guests remarked, Smith.
why don't you take him out of the mag
netic slumber at once2 He'll upset the
furniture
Il will, exclaimed Smith, and made
several more assorted passes, finally seizing
Jones and shaking him violently, with the
exclamation, Hi there say, you know