Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-10-03
A STRANGE WoMAN's SPELL.
A Girl Thinks That She Was in Peril Of
Becoming q Victim of Hypnotism.

A Girl Thinks That She Was in Peril Of
Becoming Victim of Hypnotism.
An experience of rather a sensational
character befel a young lady employed in
the government printing office, an attempt
being made to hypnotic or mestnerically
control her by a strange woman, who,
whatever else may be true of her, seems to
possess great mesmeric power After &C.
costing the young lady, who is the daugh-
ter of Presbyterian clergyman, she at
once entered upon the subject of hypno-
tism, stating that she had just come from
an interview with a lady who had made
that branch of mental science a special
study, and whose experience with it had
been remarkable and thrilling.
Learning that the young lady she was
addressing was going to East Capitol HILL
she declared that she was going to Lincoln
park herself, and resumed her remarks
upon hypnotism, asking also some ques
tions in regard to it.
Miss W, as she may be called, is not
an imaginative young lady of the emotional
school, but a plain, practical, common
sense person, who has made good use OF
educational privileges, and is the orphan
daughter of a well known clergyman.
But in spite Of her cool head and good
Judgment she felt an almost unutterable
fear of the strange appearing woman, who
seemed bent on following her, and deter
mined that she should listen to her re
marks upon the subject.
Miss Wa AYERS that she felt strange
but unmistakable mesmeric or electric SEN
sation in her hand and arm nearest to heI
chance acquaintance, nearly as pronounced
as that from lightly charged galvanit
battery. She could see no policeman, mol
any one to whom she could appeal, and
she feared to make an cutlery, as her I'M
welcome companion kept her right hand
in small travelling bag, the contents Of
which could only be surmised.
Determined to shake her off she took q
direction nearly opposite to her destina
ton, but the mysterious woman did the
same. Finally they were passing rustic
seat upon which person was seated with
whom Miss W was acquainted, and the
latter seated herself and remained till the
hypnotic enthusiast disappeared around
the corner.
Miss w states that during the time
she was in the presence of the strange
woman she felt obliged to make the most
strenuous mental effort to resist the won
derful influence which seemed to emanate
from the stranger, and that she could feel
it for several hours.
A person possessing the power that the
strange woman apparently does, with
reckless disregard of its use, or who chooses
to exercise it for improper purposes, is a
dangerous character to be abroad. The in.
cident will no doubt be of interest to spe-
cialists in psychological mysteries, and OF
some possible interest to the police
Washington Post.
How Beck Got Fair Play for a Darby Boy.
An interesting story is current here
about Mr.. Beck in the early days of his life
in Lexington. He was always keen to take
the side of the weak against the strong
On one occasion he offered to thrash
whole circus company, in the slavery days,
when, in circus, a call was made for vol
unteers to ride a trick mule. Fifty dollars
was offered to anybody who would stick
on. A little darby came forward and
mounted the mules back. After going
around the ring few times the mule be-
gan a series Of tactics to dislodge his rider
But the little darby stuck like wax, and it
soon became pretty plain that the mule,
unaided, could not get him off. The ring
master, thinking himself safe in maltreat
ing friendless negro boy, came up and
gave his colleague, the mule, several sharp
CuUS WILL LID WHIP CAdU oOAU OttIAy ttuu
mule rolling over in the sawdust.
Mr.. Beck saw the fraud. He jumped
down from his seat, dashed into the ring
and catching the ringmaster with very
persuasive grip, administered some Jack
sonian language to him, and demanded the
money for the boy. The ringmaster showed
fight. This was an easy matter, but 1t did
not look so easy when the whole circus
company took sides with the ringmaster.
The spectators Immediately sided with the
man who had championed the friendless
little darby. The money was paid over
Washington Cor. Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette.
Actor Robson's Tonsorial Skill.
Twas being shaved in the St. James ho-
tel barber shop when I noticed Stuart Rob
son sitting next to me, with a waxed
haired razor wielder standing idly, yet in
terestedly, looking on. The famous funny
fellow was shaving himself, and the sound
of that blade traversing the stubblefeld of
his physiognomy was like unto the gentle
touch of small boy, short stick and
paling fence He won't allow barber to
divest him of that hirsute wire which
adorns his face, and the greatest joke about
this idea is that he doesn't know how to
shave himself He looks like he needed
shave, no matter how often the habit has
been INDUCED in during the week.
Another strange feature of this jugglery
is that instead of Mr. Robson shaving him
self down, as other mortals do, he persis-
tently pushes the sharp steel up against
the grain of the beard. The BARRIERS all
stand back aghast and wonder how he sur
wives such an ordeal, but no one is more
complacent than he when the job is done.
The clever comedian then seeks the wash
stand, allowing the bowl to be filled with
4 Oh L.