Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-17
BROKER wIGGINs, EYE.
1t Mesmerizes Forty Cotton Men, But
Not the Georgia Wonder.


Mr.. William Fl. Virgins, Of BROOKLYN.
says the New York Tines Of TUESDAY. Is
one of the handsomest of the solid men,
bers Of the New York Cotton Exchange.
and he is noted in the lower part of the
city for the grace and dignity OF his bear
ing. Within the last few weeks Mr.. Wig
gins has developed mesmeric power, or at
least his fellow-brokers have made him
believe he has, and the dun season
has been enlivened by a great deal Of fun
with the mysterious influence thus ex-
erted. lt has not been an uncommon
thing In the Cotton Ex-
change for Mr.. Virgins to mesmer-
lie dozen members at once, and cause
them TO follow him about at will though
it was always noticed that the spell lasted
only until Mr.. Virgins approached bar,
when all the meSmerized gentlemen would
insist upon his relaxing his features e.
smiling-t0 repay them for the necessity
he had subjected them to of following
him.
Yesterday, at a secret meeting of the
Cotton Exchange, it was decided to dele
gate Mr.. Virgins to visit Wallack's The
atre and mesmerize Lulu Hurst, and
about forty members of the Exchange
were present last night to see him do il.
the second delegation of twelve expert
menters that were called for by Mr.. Paul
Atkinson, the perpetual smIler, to do the
chair act. He esat in statuesque grandeur
while the wonder threw a few dudes over
the foOtlights and knocked brace of eX-
perimenting scientists through the wings,
and then there was a concerted shout
from the forty members of the Cotton Ex-
change OF "Wigginsv' "Wigginsw Mr..
Virgins rose, thrust one hand into
his bosom, placed the other upon his
diaphragm, and bowed impressively,
while the spectators applauded franti-
cally. Mr.. Virgins then bowed inquir-
lngly to AIR. Atkinson and overpowerIng-
ly to Miss Hurst, who giggled admiringly.
Then he advanced with a graceful inclina-
tion OF his body from the middle hinge
that threw the audience into convulsions.
81 would like" he said to Paul, "tO test
the power of the young lady in my own
way, by taking her hand and inducting
her with mesmeric power"
Paul gave him permission and Mr.. Wig
gins took Lulu's hand and gazed steadily
in her face. "Look me straight in the
eye" he said, and the phenomenon of the
nineteenth century stared fascinated.
The audience screamed with merri-
ment, but Mr.. Virgins needed them not,
though Lulu almost chuckled herself into
Mysteries. He continued to gaze steadily
into the translucent depths of her soft
brown eyes, and the spectators cried:
"Oh, you wicked manl' 'Stop that,
Grandpaw "Aren't you ashamedY un-
til Paul suggested to Mr.. Virgins that he
give somebody else chance. Then the
spectators howled for a speech,
and bob" Frazer led Mr.. Virgins
up to the fOot-lights, where he made
another graceful bow, waved his
arm in dignifed refusal, and strutted
back to his seat TO watch the wonder
hold chair while four men attempted to
put it down to the floor. But the spec
tators would not rest while Mr.. Virgins
was in repOse, and led by the forty wick
ed members of the Cotton EXCHANGE they
continually shouted his name, and he was
again and again forced to rise and bow,
each time with deeper courtesy and more
elaborate gesticulations, while the throng
almost wept with laughter.
Mr.. Virgins decided to allow Lulu to
lift him in char, but he insisted upon
being allowed to straddle it, and sit facing
the back so thathe mightuse his mesmeric
power upon her. He therefore seated
himself carefully, folded his arms, and
gazed steadily in her face again. 'sTlp the
cha1rW shouted the audience with concert
ed deVlltry. The Georgia wonder, with
malice prepense, gave the chair
twist, and Mr.. Virgins turned
double back someTsault over it, |
made two complete revolutions, and |
brought up on his back, with his feet |
pointing toward the flies, while the vast
audience got right up on its hind legs and
went frantic with delight, and cheered
and screamed and howled with overpow-
ering mirth, and it really seemed as if the |
forty wicked members of the Cotton Ex- |
change would expire with laughter. Mr. |
Virgins arose sadly, his raiment dusty
n md ftFgkar at1I H..
of dignifed and gentle reproach, and de- |
scended haughtilY from the sfape