The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-09-10
A MEsMERIC sEANCI.
And How Il Afflicted a Frisco Barheeper.

extra polish on some pony glasses, a cou-
pie of strangers entered, and, as they
ordered drinks, one of them, long
haired, cadaverous person In faded ul-
ster, said
"Oh, it's very easily done, 1 assure
YOU"
easy - exclaimed his companion,
with much animation; "why, it's the
most remarkahle-the most astonishing
thing ever saw. What did you say you
called it?"
Mesmerism," said the long haired
man, holding his glass up to the light.
"The principle was discovered by Ger
man scientist named Mesmer, although
it is, unquestionably, identical with the
animal magnetism known to the early
Greeks. Tacitus says"
"But you don't mean to say" inter
rupted the other, who was making for
midable demonstration on the free lunch,
"you don't mean to say, Professor, that
the person subjected to the influence
hasn't the faintest idea of what's going
on?"
Exactly" said the Professor. "The
person under the influence of mesmerism
has no more self-consciOusness than a
cane-bottomed chair. For illustration,
do you see that man at the corner over
there He is evidently waiting for car
big hurry to go somewhere-and yet
could bring him into this saloon in a per-
fectly unconscious state in less than two
minutes.
"Bet you five dollars you can't do it, I"
said the other man, producing a some
what dubious looking V.
"Ya-a-s," added the barkeeper, arrange
ing his diamond pin in the glass, land
I'll go him twenty better he can't do it. +"
Neutrality-suspicious. L don't
want to rob ou-and-ahem-Im not
sure L have that much with me-" faltered
the professor.
ooh! you haven't ell ?" said the cock
tail mixer, winking at the bystanders,
who were, also, fumbling out their coin.
"Well, we'll trust you. Just fire away,
and if you win, you can take the pot.
"Well, gentlemen, suppose I'll have
to try anyway" and amid variety of
significant winks from the gathering
crowd of bystanders, he walked to the
window and began making series of
mysterious passes in the air, with his
eyes fixed on the party at the corner.
"Did you ever see such blamed idiot?"
said the barkeeper. "Looks like Santa
Clara windmill, n't-hello by Jove,
the feller's coming!"
The man on the corner had slowly faced
the window, passed his hand across his
eyes in bewildered manner and then
began walking in an uncertain way across
the street. "It will have more effect on
l, he .l~ {ha
lessor.
The man entered the saloon and stood
still, looking straight ahead with vacant
expression.
"I'll make him ask you for drink, {"
whispered the disciple of Mesmer. "Just
stand back, gentlemen" and sure enough,
the subject walked mechanically up to
the counter, and asked in hollow voice
for a little old rye.
"Give it to him-humor him in every
thing" whispered the professor, and the
victim solemnly swallowed the drink and
then stood motionless as before.
"Now Ill make him think he's an ac-
tor" said the illustrator of will power.
and Immediately the other began to strut
about and recite Shakespeare in tragic
voice.
"Make him bark like dog" sug-
gested the man who had bet the five dol
lars. Whereupon the man began to imi-
tate terrier, and tried to bite a specta-
tor, TO the immense amusement of every
body. After that he was caused to do
several things, such as Growing like a
rooster, catching fly and pocketing the
''pool" money which lay on the counter
Make him think he keeps the bar, 4"
put in the Professors friend, and the
subject walked promptly around behind
the counter, turned up his sleeves and
compounded cocktail, put the money in
the drawer and counted out the change
with great deliberation.
"Now," said the Professor "we will
make him put the contents of the drawer
into his own pocket, then restore him to
consciousness and accuse him of having
stolen the money"
Everybody said that would be first
rate joke, and then the five dollar man
thought it would be better to let him
walk outside and arrest him in the street
his establishment would be all the
greater, he said.
The man solemnly cleaned out the till,
walked from behind the bar and out of
the door. As soon as he struck the
pavement, however, he darted down
Powell street at three minute clip.
"Dear me, shouted the professor. 'T
must have been thinking about running,
somehow. Come on, Mr.. Smoothly, and
help me catch him" and the soul sub
duer and his friend dashed off in pursuit.
Tbay ORC sfi1l xyoitipo Of tho Baldwin
for the return of the trio, who must have
divy'd about S55 apiece, and the detec-
tives think they are liable to wait for a
long time. The barkeeper says he
wishes he may be blank blanked to ever
lasting blankation, while Manager Tom
Mcguire, who is out So on the mesmeric
proposition, says he's half mind to have
the whole thing dramatized for the fall
season