The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-08

Tho methods used by the professors Of this
science in the practice of their art 10 place
the patleut under the influence, ~ We're varied
and dlssimilar YET tended 10 produce the
same result. One. If / recollect rightly. used
@ small disk of copper, enclosing a smaller
one of zinc, which ne placed IN the palm Of
the subject, instructng him 10 concentrate
his gaze upon 10 and fix his thoughts intently
on II. This being done, the patient was
thrown into the hypnotic state IN a shorter
or longer time. according to ms susceptibility
or hlS ability 20 obey the instructions. lie
then became as wax in the moulders hands,
plant 20 every wish Of the operator
Another professor of this mysterious art told
The subject TO press the thumb firmly
on the pulse and SIT quietly with ms mind
concentrated on tins action, and IN a short
time a similar result would be produced The
presence Of the eXpcrimeuter was not neccs-
sary t. the success of the experiment; the pa
tent might be- placed In q room by himself
free from disturbance Of thought, and # he
faithfully followed the conditions of the eX-
pertinent, in a shorter OF longer time he
would find himself mere nonenuty, as far as
his VIII WAS concerned. Often the first scance
would not be successful, but. if Oft repeated
and in good faith by the subject, the effect
would never fail to be produced. No imagine
&c. OF mesmeric passes of the hands or other
m4WpulatlOns were necessary, and M truth,
70 Is an open question with me whether any
person other than the operator, with suih-
Gent vili power. could not produce all the
phenomena exhibited.
MYSTERIOUS PHENOMENA.
The rationale of these phenomena cannot
easily be accounted for. as l have seen en-
trely different phenomena exhibited 10y "A
similar impression of Will. on dissimllar sub
lects for instance: On one subject impress
ed the idea Of the presence of ghost. direct
ing his attention 10 white lady engaged IN
cutting out shirts. telling him she was the
splut Of colored woman who had lately
died employed in making her shroud. The
subject, negro boy, was not at all alarmed
az the unearthly vistant be evidently
seeing her in her earthly form and As he
knew her when alive. and the only emotion
he exhibited was wOndcTnent at her Occupa-
Ton. which he emphasized by cXclaimlng
n.y. woman, what yer gwlne DO wld two
tlfoudsf yer done had one aready.' Another
subject, also a negro. ! likewise impressed
with the idea Of a spiritual presence, no one
Icing present but ourselves. He, having no
embodied form 10 FIJI his vision, clothed the
incOfpoTa substance" with all the terrOrs OF
tAe grave. aud was thrown into such an hys-
tncal and conyul5ionary state, that becoming
seriously alarmed, / speedily removed the iIn-
preston aud restored him 10 his normal con-
dltion.
A member Of my family also became CON-
petely subjected 10 this influence, and af-
yer repeated seances | could dominate her
VIII even against her wish, and despite every
t1ertion Of her will-power. One of the most
interesting and long-continued experiments
was causing her 10 enact, with life-like fdeli-
", the fairy tale Of Cinderella" from the
m.oping Of the dreamy drudge in the cinders
- Ne visit Of the princes messengers 10 try
~ the fairy glass slipper. The startling ra-
patty with which she glided from the ball
room when the bell tolled the fated hour was
PROOF conclusive how completely her mind