Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-12
1T w AS A Bl AN X
Professor Carpenter Has Fun With His
Many Subjects
Mesmerfsing Young Lady and whas
She Did-Picking Flowers
and Boat Riding,

Prof. Carpenter preached and practiced
mesmerism tefore throng of folks last
night at Grand Army Hall. Some Of those
present were Investigators and others just
fun hunters. The latter found It. At first the
audience was formal distant and non-com-
initial Things warmed up. What had
been soberly gloomy became vehemently
gay. Serious-visaged people perpetrated
antics of exaggerated absurdity. There was
a general getting together under the in
spiration of the hour-of the two hours
skeptics believed that psychology was phe-
nomena and admitted that there was
something in IT," Some thought that the
work was done with the aid OF accom-
plices. but this theory, SO far as The Star
man could discern, was unjust. In the be-
ginning the professor discoursed on hypno-
tism- The hypnotic state was the dream
state. hypnotic was dreamer Some
people were psychics. others were not.
Some people were SO susceptive that they
believed anything which anybody told them.
These were rare ana unhealthy cases. Hyp-
notism and catalepsy, under proper re-
strlctions. Were beneficial to the nerve sys-
TEN. They were tonic Susceptibility to the
influence was not indicative of soft-head-
edness, nor was superiority Of will indI-
Gated by ability to withstand the influence.
hypnotism In crime was an absurdity
Scientists might swear to the contrary but
by practical acquaintance with the BUSH
ness the professor viewed that he knew
whereof he spoke. The French Judge who
denied the admissibility of expert testi-
mony tending to show that Bonpard was
hypnotically actuated by Eyeraud was q
right and righteous judge. In dreams peo-
pie did not commit even fancied atrocities
III they imagined that they had a hated
rival by the throat and were in the act on
huriing him over a precipice they would
wake up before that rival went to glory
Thought They Were Policemen.
If they dreamt hat they were a member
Of the metropolitan police force and had
got the drop on an alleged slasher, that
gun would hang fire; il they had an az
elevated above the neck of an enemy,
that Gladstonian chip-splasher wouldn't
work They couldn't do II. Thus IL was
With subjects of hypnotism. No extrane-
Gus influence would persuade a man to do
murder unless murder was in that subjects
heart. Great secrets could not be ex-
trected by means of hypnotism People
DID not tell treasured secrets in their sleep.
because their brain was pregnant with the
Idea that IL must not be told The pro-
fessor then called for subjects from the
audience. Several recruits were mustered
Ihey at first were ranged on the front row.
ne would intently scan an intended victim.
n
sage regime, grip him by the nape of the
neck, Just where the peak of the spinal
column colllces with the bump of anna
tiveness. and yank him in all directions OF
the compass at the same time. Then IL the
conditions were favorable the victim would
pass into the dreamland sphere, the operator
would snap his fingers in the face Of the
operatee, cry ''all right ana then the
patient, with a start. and perhaps a shout
would drop back to earth. He selected the
most promising candidates and led them
to the stage. He waved his hand at q
sensitive" in the audience and that indi-
vidusl obeyed his beck. and kept his nose
SO close TO the hand Of the professor that IL
almost seemed as though he was being led
by ms oifactorial organ One OF the cam
didates for experimental purposes was Q
young lady, very gentle. sweet and pretty.
Believed She Was n Bird.
The operator took her handkerchief. and,
after waiting her into hypnosticity told
her it was a bird. She believed IL. She
took the folded handkerchief tenderly, ca
ressed ii, fondled IL with girlish affection
and cooed to il with a maidenly delicacy
that made the Star man buzz. 'Oh. would
i were a bird" and CAUSED him almost to
forget his vow to i've q bachelor. Then the
little lady was told the alleged bird was q
mouse. A vivid shrek of orthodox intens-
ity ensued. and the charming maiden climb
ed chair, displaying lust enough ankle
TO make the reporter sigh like the exhaust
pipe OF locomotive ana his heart to thump
like a pile driver. She and an older lady
were then led forward into what they were
told was a floral Eden. They were invited
TO swipe all the flowers in sight. They did.
They knelt and plucked their laps full OF
nothing, hu. OF what thew thought were
flowers. The young lady eyed them with O
rapturous glance of dreamy distancy and
remarked, "Oh. aren't thew lovely? Oh,
how much / should Ike 10 paint them"
Then other non-eNisting things were shown
them and they saw them lust clearly az
though they did The professor said IL was
cold. They buttoned up to the ear-tips.
breathed on their fingers. stamped their
tees and beat their hands TO keep up the
circulation. Then the operator led them
down into the audience and pointed out q
man, saying that il Ohe mani was a stove.
Imaginary Heat and Cold.
They lowered around him. warmed their
hands over the top OF his head raked him
with a poker. and otherwise professed to
get more consolation out OF that man than
vas hitherto believed to exist in the entire
species. Then hey were invited to take q
BOAT ride. They were shown a boat that
wasn't even substantial a mirage.
They got in and behaved exactly as folks
do under marine conditions. One man took
off his coat and pulled with a clock-like
stroke that showed him not to have been
In the Potomac's crew at the last regatta
In imagination the craft sprung a leak
They pulled for the shore. the keel touched
the beach the men took of their coats and
shoes. rolled up their trousers and lifted
the girls to land. Other sensational features
were developed during the evening Laugh
ter laughter. laughter. After the perform
ance the reporter assaulted the Young lady
for an Interview. She felt though she
had been sleeping She recollected nothing
that had transpired. mo, really. ala act
so? oh. j can't believe Il. Tell me all
about IL. 1t is all a blank TO me-" The re-
porter sighed, went out and got something
and then wrote this