Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-10
HYPNOTIC FURORE IN FRANCE.


HYPNOTIC FURORE IN FRANCE.
an Incident OF the Remarkable Dura-
tion Of Mesr1eriC influence that DC
Cured in New Orleans.
Besides the excitement about the
cholera, says the New Orleans Times
D.mocrat, Paris just nov is considerably
a-itateJ on the subject Of what is called
Lvpn0lsm, q principle Of psychological
influence by means % which the motive
forces of humanity are subjected 70 Che
control o. an individual viii. Long since
the subtle power OF Eesmerism has been
generally conceded, and it has passed
beyond the 7aIe of controversy thatTlind
may De sUb0rdinated 10 mind. Mesmer-
lists have too frequently exhibited the
force Of tLeIr influence on minds less
strong than their own 10 admit Of doubt
Of commences. But in hypnOtism a step
further b. taken, and, according 20 the
Paris papers, the mesmeric influence is
continued over a long period of time, and
even after the lapse Of six weeks tie ire
-u1u-ilie subject cen be forced TO commit
any act his mesmeric superior may
desire. The suDleC during this time can
De so bro -ht into sympathy with the Will
Of the medium thai his acts may be fully
governed.
Ifthi= be true, il viii open a problem
which viii present much difficulty to the
Iaw-makar. For, should a subject commit
am assault or, in fact, any crime, induced
thereto hy the viii of the medium. under
our recognized rulings it would be diff
cult To- convict the medium, who would be
the sole responsible party.
This theory is called by its discOyerer
LypuO-i-m- a term heretofore used for
slmuam1ulism, but how far it can be
claimed as a novelty remains TO be seen.
The experimentation thus far has not
been Sufficient for scientists to fully recOg-
uiZe tEe s1uuiuess of the claims made for
this new physical force but the press of
France IS deFouEg much space to its dis
CussI1l.
But Sc was not 20 discuss this question
that attention is called to this new ism of
France AtErst blush il appears almost
frivolous 90 suppose that we have any
thing t1 fear from the full calculation of
hypuJtism, vet that there may be more in
IL than is understood now many psyehoIO-
gists admit
a case happened here some years ago
that IN Mluy features seems TO be allied
% this new doctrine, and, as il at the time
produced quite a stir in the circles in
which IL was known, 1t is given fer what
it is worth.
q
man OF polished exterior, agreeable adj
dress and great tluency, by the name of
Prof. Hale, who delivered a very inter-
estju- series Of lectures at Odd Fellows
and ola ArmOry Halls on the subject Of
electT0-1iOlogy. During these Lectures he
would Illustrate his subject by u curious
exhibition Of his mesmeric powers.
Well known citizens were amenable to his
influence and laughed. danced, sung and
went through all the Iudicrous scenes
OF a cOurtshiE before she audience with
an earnestness that was surprising.
There could be no possible cOnfederacY,
and each evening his lecture room was
crowded with the best people On one
particular evening the students of the
BOYS High School, then presided over by
Prof EObt. McNalr, We're invited to at
tend. and some twenty We're present.
After the preliminary lecture Prof
Hale requested that the students should
ascend the platform, and when all were
there seated he commenced his usual
manipulatiOns. OF the twenty there were
twelve who were almost Immediately
under the Professors influence, the rest
not feeling his power in the slightest.
With these twelve he began his illustra-
tiOns. 1t Is perhaps needless TO say that
these twelve young gentlemen belonged
to the first families Of the city. and each
81 them would have been the first to
resent any impHtatien Of conspiracy with
the Professor.
The twelve were first told to favor the
audience with a song, and, though but
one or two ever sung even in parIOr,
they all started an old ballad. The
Professor then announced he would make
minstrel troupe Of them. In a moment
they commenced with imaginary baniOs,
tambourines, bones, ETC.. 10 90 through
all the motions Of playing. at the cOnclu-
..fr fff
the usual minstrel cOnundTums and
Jokes. a JIG followed by two young gen
tiemen who had never danced a step.
Alter several other diversions of like
character. the Professor announced that
DE would attempt 10 do something more,
but be was not sure Of a success. He
would treat those present 10 a sketch of
mining Hie- and, if possible, retain his
influence over one or two Of the gentle
men for day or two, in order to give a
Guel 90 the evenings entertainment.
The young men on the stage began at
once 90 take OH their coats and. some with
unseen plckaXes, others with imaginary
sl0Ye.s. all commenced 10 dig, throwing
up what they thought was dirt. There
was an alarm Of Indians and a fierce
L=lt, all going through the motions of
loading and firing. The Indians retreated. /
When digging was resumed. For some
minutes this went on, when two Of the
young men exclaimed: ssWe'Ye found
10. All gathered around, and, with
--Ll e3Fu9 stuesS, what to them seemed a
-a- llui .l gold was lifted 10 the sur
Race Tue Two successful Young men
M-E ue'-l-a5- and said they would start
-i go once, as their lump was worth
All this time the Professor sat on the
-tt4t row o. seats, on a level with the
--,.ilL~-- -A- Two young men took their
55-t7 rs -n q wagon and, going across the
fldlns, urged the driver to hurry on. max \
A-- aga tle time comments as to the char
Aller oi tle localities through which they
imagined they We're passing.
AZ last they thought they had reached
NeW orleans, and, bearing their lump
ol-Heen them, they said they would de
4.si IL at Jacob Bakers bank. which
--tu was Kept at the corner Of Grayier
Gnu camp streets, where now is the
insurance Office of Mr.. John r.. Fell.
54leE Went through all the motions of
--ns the lump of gold on the counter,
-Nttsed with the clerk about its safe
AE-ilug, and said they would return to
nave II weighed and sell it.
throughout all this little drama the
.eales oil the two young men BETRAYED only
, s-t natural emotions. Their delight was
..4ltlsned- and their anxiety TO have their
,i li-u Kept safely was perfect and beyond
al, powers Of acting.
4en the entertainment reached this
.-Al the Professor announced that on
US coming Saturday morning Che mad
-----lel THIS day as not interfering with
-14l duties no 9 O'Clock. lie would en-
eet. 9r lT the power Of his win to compel
-"' Young gentlemen 20 visit Jacob