Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-15
PROFESSORS OF MEsMERuSM.
Scenes ON q Variety Stage.

WHAT STAR REPORTER SAW FROM THE WINGS
THE SUBJECTS AND HOW THEY WERE De-
LUDED-A SUBJECT THAT ESCAPED FROM THE
srAGE-RIDING AN IMAGINARY MULE, &C.
"Go up and hear the quartet" said the stage
manager Of the Theater Comique to STAR re-
porter who had been invited behind the scenes.
into the penetralia Of the theater, for the pur-
pose of getting better opportunity Of wit
Messing the operations of the Kennedy brothers,
the mesmerists. than could be obtained from a
chair IN front. Upstairs. standing at the wings,
scene or fiat which was set on the stage, d.
vided the field of the reporters vision into two
sections. On the one side, in the dim light.
could be seen a semi-circuar row of chairs ar
ranged ready for the subjects of the mesmerists,
while two men in shirt sleeves stood ready for
the signal to shift the scenes. The other eye
was dazzled by the glare of the foetlights, ma
king everything confused and indistinct. On
this side the view included a section Of the
stage, the orchestra and part of the auditO-
RUM The quartette were four gentlemen with
their faces BACKED, who were engaged in cele-
brating jim rather doleful song the fortunes
of some young gentleman SO pleasing in
department as to inspire a desire
In the bCsoms of his lady friends to smother
him with clover. The music stopped the four
gentlemen in black cork came helter-skelter
into the wings. the audience rOared. pounded,
and whistled to express their delight the mana
gers bell clicked. and, presto. the scenes were
showed back and the semi-circular row of chairs
became visible to the audience. Prof. j. f.
kennedy stepped out from the wing on the OPP
pOsite side of the stage and made little
speech, challenging investigation into the gen.
~ nSfr ati ohnY,t 70 folio
He called for
VOLUNTEER SUBJECTS
and especially implored the ladies present to
come up and be mesmerized. promising to be
more gentle with them than with the men. The
reporter could not see the audience, but the
sounds of commotion that followed the pro-
fessor's invitation indicated that he would have
no lack of subjects. There came scrambling
upon the stage what. by sound appeared to be
a regiment of hoodlums, but when upon coming
into view they dwindled down to five gallery
gods" The ladies present. to whom the pro-
lessor had referred, We're seated In the boxes en-
J0ying the attentions of gentlemen. Their COM
pleXiOnS were well protected in most instances
against the diSenchanting effects of the fierce
glare of light by very liberal outlay of rouge
and powder Three of these young women who
had appeared before the audience before during
the evening in the variety performance came
mncing upon the stage. Finally the party was
all made up, there being about dozen male sub
Jects besides the three accommodating ladies.
Four OF the males We're cOl0red. Two or three
OF the young white men were very tidily dressed
and appeared to be accustomed to another
than that Of the COmque gallery
Most OF the subjects having never before 'trod
the boards on any stage, were evidently Ill at
ease, and sought comfort In giggling. The pro-
feSsOr, or rather the professors for Mr. c. NJ
kpnnp1T Ind this mn rod fhnr
BEGAN OPERATIONS TO SLOW MUSIC.
First the subjects were required to hold their
hands in their lap, grasping the left wrist with
the right hand. Then all were Instructed to
close their eyes. One Of the professors began
at each end of the row, making passes with
his hand about the heads Of the subjects
One by one the subjects showed evidences of
until all except two or three
who would not yield to the influence, had sue
cumbed Then the professors reused each one
in turn, and the look of surprise aud sheepish-
ness which each subject gave upon being awaked
affording much amusement to the audience and
eyOking yells of delight from the particular
friends OF each particular subject in the gallery
BY this time the professors had determined
quite well who were the best subjects A long
legged young man was called from his chair
and told to place his hands to the professors
shoulder. Then he found, that tug and twist,
with all his might he could not pull his hands
away. This experiment was successfully tried
with Others. Another big numbering fellow, and
a dapper little boy about four feet high, were
set to Whirling their hands and found they could
not stop until the professor had snapped his
fingers, and pronounced the words that broke
the spell. Then the two subjects felt an intOl-
cradle itching in the middle of their backs and
after vaniy trying to relieve themselves with
their hands, rushed against the scenes project
Ing from the wings, and there scratched them
selves as a COW scratches herself against tree
several OF the subjects were in turn made to fol-
low the professors hand keeping their noses
always within about six inches of the hand.
All the subjects except one or two still resisted
the influence, were then fastened by invisible
hands to their chairs, and could not arise though
they seemed to make most genuine efforts to do
So Then the whole line were set clappIng their
hands and could not stop. Then they all began
to cry. and blubbered away in most mournful
fashion. Upon their being brought out of the
crying fit, one Of the lady subjects retired from
the stage as the real tears she had shed had
somewhat damaged her complexion After that
the whole company were set to laughing and
some laughed SO heartily, that they rolled off
their chairs.
RIDING AN IMAGINARY MULE,
Then the Professor turned chair over on the
stage near the footlights. The subjects having
their eyes closed, he told them that when they
opened their eyes they would imagine them
selves In circus; that there was mule in the
ring, and the man who rode it was to get five
dollars. When the subjects opened their ewes
four or five OF them made rush for the chair
and struggled manfully to ride the kicking
beast. AS the whole crowd seemed in danger of
going over the foOtlights in their struggles the
Professor snapped his fingers before any one of
them had earned the FIVE dollars. Then the
crowd were made to believe, apparently. that
they We're receiving a company OF fine ladies
and gentlemen. The subjects bowed and
seemed very polite. One subject. comica-
looking young cOlOred man with a big collar
bowed and scraped all over the stage. CAUSING
much merriment. Two of the ladies and two of
the male subjects were selected to form a church
choir, and under the Professors influence
actually did attempt to sing ''Shall we gather
at the river" Then two of the boys were trans
formed into runaway boys and two Of the ladies'
into the mothers of the boys. who discovered
them and proceeded to whip them. This scene
was carried out in most active and natural
manner the young women charging down upon
the scGpegraces before them In the most ap-
proved maternal way and the boys setting up q
howl Of anguish that such as none but a bow ex-
pecting waloping could emit
A SUBJECT ESCAPES
After other amusing scenes had been repre-
scented in the same manner one of the snhiacts