Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-09
tte'e is no objection to hypnotic craze, Unless
its pI actfces are detrimental to health This IA

tte'e is no objection to hypnotic craze Unless
its PIT ctices are detrimental to health This Is
a serted TO be the case By many efnfaent p1y5i-
cans WHO aver thag the nervous energy is
ropidly impaired by nyphotism, and the Rabit
o trance established as source OF permanent
inconvenience. Tae victims Usually couua,n
o. aus IL he head When the saan e Is ever.
IafuCNl&fiy II a. all pTavracrei. fhs EYES IN
ume acquire settled expTes-i ~ akin u lii IL
OF ePilepJ1c Cattenls, and there are dark rings
Denta'h teen; the SKIN Is ahnorualin it's lalor;
'Ie Movement languf0 aud the cast or counte-
naLct, daZt q AID lstleSS There have BEEN some
sIS or seven entertainments OF this class up
Town Within the last week or two, the tnos5 or
them In the pariOrs of physicians Or literary
men. The experiments Incident 10 sucI occa-
sitEs are not exactly OF the same kind as those
exhibited by Hammond at the Univer-1
Meci al Schooi. eEd by Beard, before the
Academy or ,terc5S. They are By no means so
decisive as tests the reality OF the confltion,
but better sdapted to entertain ana a.nu5s
an unsc.entitc audience. 1t Is laughable 10
see grave and grAy-haired gentlemen and Ia
dies playing leapfr0g, or pelting each other
with imaginary sBowbasls In & parior snow
StcTA. Inc other evening. aG the residence of
hysicial OF emnence, q handsome meSmaflc
professor had class OF dign1od old gentlemen
AID Ladies playing narui9j. They were seated
ufon The carpet, ike school childrea, and ao-
ptafed 10 take Il vivid interest In the eT0iu-
lions Of imaginary spheres. Quarrellng. &C
cuSLg each ether OF deception scrAinbl ig
ABOUT On all fourS-in fact. living over a5atl u
trance the memories or youth, until the o.
crater observed With snap OF tie iugef, III It
IL a. ECECCl time. Then they all scrambled
hurlteoly TO their seats and began to study wi b
all their might, while the spectators ltrrhtd
uutll the tears came. Blird mans blff, hun
tht 'himhle and other Childish games are pla! e
In trance by millionaifes aud baBkeTs IN
dee G, the principal point OF the entertainment
INST the action shall be as incOngrloas AZ pos
siDie with the age and position or the tndiYjd-
uai Men TO whom tears would be an indlgaiiy
Ia tnefr proper senses are made TO Weep like
tOGoilng 4-ye3r cid boys over an ina gtnary
sore HDger, end grave and aged women 10 skip
the rope like girls. But there Is no firing Of
plctoIS N the ear 10 test the sense OF hearing,
or passing OF surgical needles through the fie-n
OF the forearm 10 prove the reality OF local
afsetheoia. personal liberties being discounte-
nanced by general consent IL Is Lot easy.
duce gentlemen and ladies' 10 submit them
selves 10 eXI eriment, and the officiating profess
Sor has sometimes to arm himSef Beforehand
with two or three well trained subjects. VINO
receive tritltDg compensation for their Ser-
vices, besides the satisfaction OF appearing in
full evening dress In circles Of society Ordi-
narliy closed To them. These advance TO the
seats assigned after q little deceptive hesiIa-
ton. and their example induces others to par
tlclpate In the entertainment. Sometimes
00Zen subjects are ranged about the operator,
all locked III hypnotic siumber, and with tbs
number scenes OF lively ana dramatic interest
are enacted, one reciuDg Macoeth'5 address 10
the air-draWn dagger, another Hamlet'S SOIL
CQUy. ahd third The nursery rhyme or Mary
and her little lamb. Such are the entertain
mentS Hfich are Just now popular in certain
cultivated circles, aud upon whose phenomena
believers In animal MAJ netIssn talR IL mystert
Gus whispers rs tC the wonderful forces which
unGerile our puDy lives.