The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-12-16
THEHYPNOTIC INFLUENCE.
Prof CarpenteriEntertains a Large AUDI
enee, .atEthe IVendOme.
TFromsthe American.

Prof. A. f.. Carpenter began
weeks engagement at the Nendome
last night under encouraging clrcum-
stances. For rainy bad night the
attendance was phenomenal, and
would have been considered big, even
on pretty evening.
The entertainm was not OF the
kind ordinarily seen on the stage. 1T
Was a demonstration of the hypnotic
powers of the lecturer, and amused
and entertaiLed the audience as well
as instruct them.
Prof. Carpenter is man of massive
build, and OF keen, piercing eye, ana
had no difficulty with his subjects.
He first gave a general lecture,
though brief, on hypnotism and the
hypnotic condition, pointing out
some of the uses TO which 1T had
bsen put in medicine and surgery
MANY experimenters, he eaid, put
their subjects through experiences
that left after ill Effects; he would
not do so, as the meaning and pur-
nose of the art could be just as fully
given by experiments that left only
p'easuTable sensation.
At the end OF the brief lecture vol
unteers were called for, those being
preferred who would come with AL
entire Willingness to become hypno-
tized. Some TWEEN y-five or more re-
sponded to the call. These We're all
tested by the ctureT and those show
ing the greatest susceptibility tn the
inf Ieuce were selected aud went 10
the stage.
+, We were ch osan aud b 'Einning
with simple performances tney were
gradullly brought und-r complete
control, with one exception. one
gentleman was only paTUiuly obe
a., -
however, were easily controlled, and
VO of these SO readily thaJ the
slightest suggestion of the Professor
at once became their ruling idea.
Told that they We're cold, they
shiVered and shook aud their teeth
chattered; they warmed themselves
at an imaginary fire, and rubbed
their hands cheerily together when
told they were getting warm.
Touched with stick they had used
in punching this fire OF the tancy,
they started as il scared with a red
hot iron.
Sitting down, the Professor told one
there was pin in the chair, and he
started up with shrek Others,
told they were fastened to the chair,
used all their strength in vain, for
they could not rise. Told to go to
sleep, they nodded first, then Tell of
20 The floor and slumbUred peacefully
Toe Professor told them they were
ho~EPs funny story, and from a
aml P5Asy went into broad laughter
and then rOared and struck each 9th
pr i'm MAD mirth. Suddenly removed
from the influence, they stared va
cantIy about the stage and wondered
how they got there and what they
were doing.
Then, holding up n stick, Prof
Carpenter said lac would change II 10
a serpent. Advancing on them they
fled, and one, when corGeTed, drew
chair. Then the Professor retired
Yelling them they could not take
their eyes from the stick, they 1oI
lowed IL about the stage until lie re
leased control for an instant. They
would keep their gaze steadfasUly
fixed on the Professors hand in th'
RanIe way.
Then he made one of the subiect
believe some one was throwing
spoiled eggs at him and striking him
He tried TO brush the egg OFF with hit
handkerchief, but failing, removed
the coat and threw it away. The YES
also being apparently very odorous
it was also taken of, and the suspend
ers were being lOosened when th'
Professor interfered. and the suhjec
rushed off the stage in dismay.
one man was told his shoes Wer
gone and wandered vaiuly about tn
stage seeking them, picking quar-
rel with another whom the PrOfesso
had suggested had ON the shoes
though they we're all the time on hi
own feet At last they were found
and he went through every motion
of putting them on, not in the best O
huiuor, and wondering how they hat
gotten off his feet.
Tnen all the subjects were made t
dauce wildly about the stage, AN
brought to consciousness wondere,
how they had gotten into such at
titudes.
THESE were but few of the man.
experiments made, and all were botI
interesting and amusing to the entif
audience.