The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-12-17
Select Story.
AN EXPERIMENT IN MESMERISM.

Thirty Christmas nights have come
and gone since that one, SO memorable
in my life. and vet sitting here in my sol
itary room. a gray haired. lonely woma1.
the whole scene rises as wildly before
my rs though it had occurred yesterday.
| can see the comfortably hut plainly
furnished. ow-coicd. old fasloncdloom.
with it's dark wainsrotcd walls and its
dim corners. that the feeble light of Il
couple of composite candles could scarce
" reach; | can see the half circle of ta
ccs gathered round the hearth, looking
glowing aud pleasant in the rudy glare
of the tirelight-all except one that OF
man who sat in the corner opposite to
me.
could not keep my eyes off that face,
which had for me the fascination Of ug
illness: ~ the lights and shadows made
by the tlickcring flame touched the shock
of bristlv hair that half concealed the
low. narrow forehead, the cavernou~
ewes, sunken cheeks and huge mouth,
half open with cynical smile that
showed the tusk like teeth. could com
pare it only with shifting series of car
goyles from some old monkish ruin
We were all members of the thcatr,
Royal n. and, it being a non-play
night We were assembled at the lodg
ings Of one of our members, lady,to dc
| honor 10 her birthday. Our usual theme,
| the affairs of the theatre. past, present
and future, being exhausted. the convcr
! >atiou, | cannot remember how. ha,
/ turned upon mcSmcrism and claiY"y
ancc, and was stoutly declaring my nj
! ter disbelief in either, my skcpticlSn hc
ing greatly intensified by the circun
stance that Touy Anold-thc man
+. have ju,t described, and who WIS ON,
of the low commrdims OF our compa1N
took the opposite side. There had al
WAYS been an antagonism between rs
and although had no actual cause lo
such u feeling, a positive dislike upon
my part, which | believe was prctt,
strongly rcciprocatcd upon his.
Although | was scarcely twenty at th,
time, was what people would have
called rather II strong minded girl, will
opinions of my own that never ShrauI
from asserting, with AN obstiuacy tina
no argument could overcome; and or
this night, excited by a spirit Of defiance
TO my yiSa-vis, | expressed them with ;
bigotry and contempt that were any
thing but polite to those who ditfcrc'
! from me.
by your positvencss, Miss Grace,
sneered Arnold, i presume you have ha,
Il very large experience OF the trickerle'
of mesmcrists.
oh, indeed, have not. ! replie,
sharply. | was never at any eNhibitlo
of the kind in my life, and never inten,
to be. | should not nave patience exc
to witness such transparent impo'
turc
Suppose, he said, and there was
CLEAN in his eyes which indicated Iisin
temper-'suppose | could give you occl
lar demonstration that YOU are wrong
hy placing some one III this room undc
mesmeric influence; | have done ii
thing often If | did this before yor
own eyes, when YOU would bc quite a
surcd that there would be no trick {
collusion, would YOU believe in it then!
j don't know that | should answc
ed doggedly. If you have such a power
| added, with a contemptuouS smI
why don't you tryit upon me!
Arnold was evidently taken aback.
do not think he dreamed of my taku
up his challenge He regarded me +,
some seconds, with a doubtful, waverir
glance which | met detiantly and moe
ingy.
i would prefer any one else in Il
room, he answered hesitatlngly.
OF course you would, Ircplied with
malicious laugh; i am not good >u
iect the mystic influence is powerlc
over disbelcycrs Oh, | know al Il
jargon.
And cast Il triumphant glance roul
the company, who were exceeding
amused at our discussion,
Arnold turned alternately white al
red with rage and modification.
1t is not that, he answered Fuickl
then paused, but, evidently stuug by Il
cortemptuous laugh, he added Instant
Very well, he it SO, since you desire
The prospect of having the discussi
so summarily tested and adjudged, cl
atcd an immense excitement. and con
feel my own checks burning and my p'
ses galloping at fever heat as Arno
proceeded to make preparations for t
eXpeliment,
! anticipated the usual passes a
hand wayings, OF which | had hea
and read but soon perceived that
method was going to he entirely diff
ent, lie began by placing two cha
exactly opposite one another, in one
which he requested me to be seated, III
he draped large black cloak round |
so that only my face appeared above
then lamp, borrowed from the landla
OF the house, sea in such position Il
the light ShoAld focus upou my faca,