The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-11-16
A Strange Case Of KypnotiSm

Il Nll dlSU UitNO vi NlphVtNIi'
From London Truth.
The Rev. Eneas Briggs, MA, vicar of Little
Pedlngton, was one of those people who, in the
opinion of their friends, are bound some day to
make their mark in the world Gifted with
fine presence, full, rich voice, and a pair OF
piercing gray eyes, he impressed his acquaint-
ances generally, and the female portion thereof
in particular, as being a sngularly attractive
and interesting person But the good man him
self-to do him justice-was hardly conscious of
these advantages, or if he thought of them at all
it was solely with an ardent desire to utilize
them for the benefit of his fellow-creatures.
Brimming over with u large enthusiasm for hui
manity, he had flung himself with characteristic
zeal into study the development of which he
believed to be most intimately connected with
the future of the human race: and while his cleri-
cal brethren round about, indulging in hobbies
of an innocent though purely selfish nature, oc-
cupied their leisure in cultivating- to
their different tastes-roses or poultry or pigs
the Rev. -Eneas Briggs, with higher aims and
nobler purpose, cultivated the theory and prac-
tice of hypnotism.
Already, in fact, his reputation as will-curer
had spread beyond the narrow limits of his own
parish and had attracted to that formerly OBJ
scure place quite small colony of patients anX
ious to submit themselves to the treatment of
man whose character and skill were beyond
suspicion. Never before had such a strain
been put upon the lodging capacity of Lit
tie Pedlngton; never before had so many
distinguished strangers afforded matter for
speculation TO the minds of the inhabitants
Naturally, too, there was much diversity of
opinion in the neighborhood. Some declared
that the vicar could do no wrong, others scoffed
and roundlY asserted that the whole thing was
humbug, while not few predicted that the
reverend gentleman would get himself into
trouble before long, and shook their heads
gravely and thought of the bishop in the back
ground.
But the Rev. -fneas Briggs cared for none of
these things; he knew that it is the lot of great
minds to be misunderstood, and he pursued his
career of philanthropy, content with the ap-
proval of his own conscience. Everything was
going on we'll. Insomnia, gout, dipsomana,
and host of other maladies too numerous to
mention, and long since given up blythe medical
profession as hopeless, were rapidly yielding to
the irresistible ''suggestions'' of the Rev. E.
Briggs, when one morning, among the usual
mass of applications Tor advice on every kind of
ailment, from hydrophobia to Mysteries, there
arrived the following letter, with the word
''urgent' written on the left-hand top corner of
the envelope:
FITzwILLIAM-GARDENs LONDON, w.
REV. AND DEAR SIR: AS weak woman
appeal TO you for help. Between myself and
the loved one who shares my home an estrange-
ment has come which hangs like dark could
over both our lives. The circumstances of this
sad afflicton are Of so distressing and delicae at
nature that il would be most painful to me to
not do so; but as clergyman and one who has
Will, ] trust, sympathiZe with and excuse my
rctlcence ] can assure you that the case for
which entreat your aid is no ordinary one; that
il viii yield to strong moral influence, such as
you can exercise, firmly believe Come. then,
beg you; come at once, and all may yet be well.
JULIA DovEToN.
p. 81 need not say that expense is no consid-
Grafton IN q matter OF this kind, and any remu-
ncratlon you may demand will be gladly paid.
Now, in the chasteued undertone of melan-
choly-the air Of mysterious sreserVe-perVading
this letter there was something which appealed
with peculiar force both to the feelings of the
Rev. Il, Briggs "a man and TO his curiosity
as a mat Of science Successful as he had been
in all his hypnotic operations, he had not as yet
had any special opportunity Of studying those
Intricate psychcal phenomena, a fuller knowl-
edge Of which would, he was convinced, reyolu-
tionize the principles Of medical practice Such
an opportunity appeared now to have presented
itself. Besides, a minister of religion, it was
clearly his duty TO respond to the cry of a soul
aching beneath some grief too poignant for
words to express.
He according discussed the matter with his
sister-the sister who kept house for him, sewed
on his buttons, and shared the secrets of his
heart. L@titia Briggs was a homely embod
ment of common sense. She had no great sym
pathy with her brothers. enthusiasm, and she
utterly disapproVed Of this project.
"Remember, Eneas," she said, at the close Of
a lengthy discussion, 'if you 90 you will &c
against my advice You ought certainly tc
make further inquiries before doing anything 81
rash. There is something | don't at all lik,
about that letter"
''My dear,' he replied, "there are some case
and this, think, is one-in which delay NIGH
be fatal. You do not understand these things
L@titia assuredly did not understand them
but she saw th"t further resistance would b
useless and IN onsoled herself by rejecting
that Mrs Doy,tna, living at Fitzwiliam Gan
deus. she had yrriied this point from a Londo