The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-07-27
A NEWPORT ENTERTAINMENT.
An Interesting Exhibition of Hypnotism al
Mrs. Paran Stevens Residence,


Mrs. Paran Stevens Residence.
Especial to THE HERALD-Examiner Dispatch. I
NEWPORT, r. l., July 2S.-Mrs. Paran
Stevens gave an entertainment at her
home Thursday evening which was the
most novel affair of the season. More than
one hundred and fifty people were present,
including the cream of Viewpoints literary.
artistic and fashionable circles. The guests
were assembled in the large main hall and
reception.rooms adjoining. From 10 o'clock
until almost midnight. Prof. Donate, the
noted exponent of hypnotism, held the
audience interested and facinated by his
wonderful power over eight subjects four
men and four women, who accompanied him
Many OF the guests confess that they went
to scott, but remained to feel awed by the
performance. Many of those present were
actually frightened by some of the feats.
and few of the ladies sought relief from
the strain by leaving the room at intervals.
No requirements were o.made with the
guests, although the professor urged to be
allowed to show his power in that way.
One young society man consented, but
speedily begged off when he felt Prof. Do
natos cleaning eyes fixed on him. At the
beginning OF the evening the guests were
seated IN chairs facing the long hall where
Prof. Donate and his subjects were seen.
The professor promptly disposed of the
latter by putting each IN an apparently
deep sleep, then calling upon one or two at
a time, he proceeded to astonish the spec
tators.
One woman was placed in a cataleptic
state, her rigid body suspended between
two chairs, supported only by the neck
and heels, and great weight was placed
upon her. All the other subjects laughed,
sang, danced or cried at the will of the
professor. The women were grouped in
the most picturesque attitudes, and re-
NAMED Tor long periods as unyield-
ing as marble. 1t was impossible to
move an arm, hand, head or in fact any
part of the body. Several persons in the
audience tried it and failed. The guests
also amused themselves trying to rouse the
subjects from their deep slumbers but
| could not succeed. One of the subjects
drank two glasses of cod liver oil under the
| impression that it was sherry, drank it
thoughtfuly and with evident appreciation.
Considerable interest and excitement
were caused by the professors impartial
distribution of his subjects among the
audience. He hypnotized them and then
allowed them to wander at will through
the different rooms where their uncanny
appearance aroused, well. not alarm, but
something akin to it. The manner in
which this was done was peculiar. The
| professor placed his fingers very near the
subjects eyes and with a gesture as if
| plucking them from their sockets pointed
toward certain person in the room The
subject sprang forward with dstended
eyes and arms, reached backward, rushed
towards the person designated and trans
fixed him with his glittering eye until the
victim became nervous and besought the
assistance of the professor. The spell was
broken by the professors breathing 1lnon
! the eyes of the subjects.
| Those who were present declare that the
entertainment was one of the most weird
and fascinating they ever experienced. A,
the same time many say they would not
care to see it repeated, as it was an in
/ tensely trying ordeal. The whole affair
was conducted very quietly, as Mrs
Stevens was determined that no mention
of it should be made in the newspapers.