The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-29

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244xs&> Capital c N y
- II company, having
T%&A one summer 8
months vacation,
decided to I'LL it
in with q ssstock
season. worked
on the joint-stock system at Reach
ingtOn- We extended the common
wealth principle from the stage to
the home, and took furnished house,
wherein we all resided with more
comfort and at less expense than Is
possible in seaside lodgings. We fell
lows had smoking billiard-room for
our amusement. the girls had q bou-
doir for their gossip, and the married
ladies kindly looked after the con-
sumable properties and the prOprie-
ties A very good company we voted
ourselves
Ny sister We're and her husband, Ed
mond Hatherleigh, were in the
crowd" and their special favorite
was a young Spanish girl who had
taken to the boards-the Senorita AL
cida Velasquez- She was my special
favorite, too; but 1 mustn't anticipate.
Being seriously in love with the fair
Spaniard who was dark, by the bYe),
my Jealous eyes noted all things az
fecting her in any way, and it seemed
to me that my brOther-in-law admired
her just q little too much. He was
most polite and attentive to his wife,
but every now and again caught him
looking al Alcida with more admira-
ton in his impressive eyes than was
good for him, or for the object Of it,
either.
One evening. after the performance
at the theater the ladies having re-
tired for the night, we gentlemen ad-
Journed to the smoking room for
weeds and whisky. There the desul-
tory talk somehow veered round to
hypnotism and such phenomena,
whereon most of us, being ignorant of
the subject, expatiated with force
and volubility-
Hatherleigh, however, who had been
a medicO before he became a mum
mer, spoke about it as one having au-
thority, and we were all astonished-
though 1 was by no means convinced
by the arguments he advanced and
the evidence he adduced in support Of
the theory of hypnotic suggestion,
especially in its relation to crime.
7''But do you mean to say" said in
credulously, ''that if you suggest a
crime to a hypnOtized subject he will
commit it?'
Certainly" Hatherleigh replied.
''When in practice hypnOtized several
patients and by suggestion relieved
them of diseases which had hitherto
been considered incurable."
$50 you have frequently said, re-
turned; ''but for my part L doubt if
there is any such thing as hypnotism
at all You may possibly obtain infiu-
ence over weak minded persons, and,
by working on their credulOus mag
nations, effect cures of nervous dis
orders; but, well, I should like to see
the man who could hypnotic mer
Would you?" Hatherleigh inquired.
with a smile that was half a sheer
''What do you say to allowing me to
make the experiment."
sob, I'm game, if you're willingr'
! re Orted, rather warmly.
very WE'LL" said my relative,
coolly. when shall we begin?''
Nov" 1 answered boldly.
Thanks" said Hatherleigh, with
another sarcastic smile. s'Now, gem
misunderstanding to the others may
ask you to leave US alone for few
minutes. -
For answer the fellows went SOL
EMMY out of the room, adjuring me
to bear up, and promising me a really
handsome funeral should the ex-
pertinent prove fatal As for
me, 1 now felt pretty much as a man
feels when he's going to have a tooth
out.
Now, Sir Doubtful" said my
brother-in-law, ''just throw your cigar
away and look me full in the face. "
did So Looking up into the mans
face, began to realize that it was q
serious matter for him, and that it
might be serious for me also. For 3