Wichita eagle., 1888-09-25

happened 10 mentlOn Jhat ne was pupil OF
NJ. Mesmer and was well versed in his system
| Some good natured skepticism being evinced
as to the power of producing hypnotic sleep,
he offered to experiment on his host, and did
SO successfully. Then he proposed to try it
on John, who assented. He was equally
successful there. He put number of queS-
| tions to John while in the mesrneric state,
which were answered, to his brothers great
delight. TIL windows were open, as the day
was warm They were what were called at
| the time French windows, opening to the
floor. on narrow balcony with a low railing.
One of the answers seemed so coInicai that
the Frenchman fell into fit Of laughter, SO
! violent that he lost his balance and fell back
ward out of the window and over the balcony
/ to the ground, the chamber being in the sec
| ond story. My father ran down TO assist him,
| but he was past assistance. The man had
! broken his neck.
There was a coroners inquest, whose YER
dict was in accordance with the facts. When
that was over my father went in to John,
who in the excitement of the moment had
been forgotten. He found him still in the
mesmeric stupor, and tried to awaken him.
Failing in this he sent for the family physi-
clan, to whom he detailed the circumstances
Every effort was in vain The doctor insist
ed that it was q cataleptic fit; he pooh poohed
at Mesmer and his devices. But whatever it
was John could not be aroused, and was put
TO bed. Thus be had remained tnrough these
long years To avoid scandal, the secret had
been kept in the family. His food. which
was given him by a stomach tube, was Of a
liquid character and had served TO maintain
life His brother had attended him, per-
forming the most servile offices faithfully
and well When his son was near manhood
he had let him into the secret. When the
latter married, the wife, in time, was made
acquainted with it. Thus it had gone from
father to son, and on down, the Trelawneys
being chained to living corpse.
OF course | accepted a share in the respon-
sibilty of the secret What else could | doi
But never married, though often urged by
my father. | would wait, l said, until all
was over. John Trelawny was now over los
years old lie could not last much longer
When | asked my father why no attempt
had been made to awaken the mesmeriZed
man, he replied that the secret of doing that
had died with Delille. This stimulated me-
| eagerly read and studied all about the sub
ject, and when it came my turn to wait on
the old man | made number Of expert
mental reverse passes, but always in vain.
Two years after this my father exhibited
marked symptoms of an incurable disease,
with which he fingered for nearly two years
more, when he died.
The secret had now become my sole bur-
den. John Trelawney, if we could give the
corpse a living name, had been reduced
almost to a skeleton, -sthered and dried up,
but still alive. | had given up all hope of
reSuscitating him. But he exercised over me
grim fascination. | used TO remain after
had fed him with the stomach tube and sit
and read an hour or SO, with a bottle of wine
before me, though | only slipped a single
glass. One day had taken a solitary pamph-
let, German magazine rather, and on
CHANGING over its pages | noticed paper on
"Hypnotism. The only thing in it which
excited me was a statement of the author
that there was no difficulty in arousing one
from the artificial sleep provided the reverse
+ passes were continued without intermisslon,
and the operator had faith in his own powers
and an unconquerable will.
Il know" | said, that have ali the will
power in which the Trelawneys have been
deficient and will control this man. He
shall awaken
/ began making the reverse passes over the
PROSTATE form, and continued them without
intermission until MY arms ached. But 1
kept on
''You shall awaken" ] said, and meant il.
Suddenly tie figure beneath me uttered a
deep sigh
/ How my heart throbbed! I continued the
passes.
John Trelawney opened his eyes, looked
around, half closed his eyes and fell back. l
ran to the table, filed glass of wine and
poured it between his lips. To my intense
delight be swallowed it, though apparently
with difficulty. 1t seemed to inyigorate him.
lie half raised himself, while | supported
! him, and, looking in my face, said in thin,
piping voice:
''Where an 1? Who are you!"
! II am Guy Trelawney," replied.
"Guv Trelawney? Nonsense! You are not
my brother, Ali" he continued, looking
around and then at me. Il see it now This
is a dream!"
/ With that he closed his eyes.
! put him gently down and procured an
/ other glass OF wine. Take this, Uncle john"
l said; lit will do you good"
He calls me Uncle John,'n he muttered.
Just now he wanted to pass for my brother.
What a queer dream! Wine Ell! Well, it
does seem natural in TASTE
He drank the wine, and l supported him in
a sitting posture by piling the pillows, rein
forced 10y chair at his back. Then, as it
was growing dark, | drew a match from the
safe and, after igniting it, lit the lamp.
What on earth is that.n he cried. ''Did
YOU get light by rubbing the ends of your
fngersl This is certainly the oldest dream
that ever entered a mans noddle."
told him il was a friction match, and lit
another to show how the light was produced.
lie WAS very much amused, and listened with
a sardonic smile while explained the mode
of manufacture and the materials used. I'VE
find them indispensable when there are not
only GreS to make, but SO sany gas jets to
light"
Gas jets" he said inquiringly.
LET ne assist you to dress, l said. at is
some hours vet till bedtime We will go TO
the library, which is more comfortable
He had a dazed look as said this and was
still more astonished when l brought out a
pair of trousers and dressing gown
All" he said these are the things people
are wearing now-Jeifersonian innovation.
Rah! where are my breechesN
Went To the chiifonier in which his clothes
had been always kept, and drew forth his
brooches. found them literally riddled.
Uncle john l said, producing them,
''they are ruined by moths:'
WHAT he said, my best breeches
cut up in this way! What the-oh! but it's
all a dream. of course. Well, I'll try the
others
lie thrust himself into the trousers, but
toned and braced them, put on the dressing
gown, and laughed.
They flap about my legs Legs! Why,
am notorious for my muscular calves, and