The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-19
CHAPTER I.

1t had been considered fine house In
ls9S when 1t was finished ready for oc-
cupancy. " was built OF brownstone,
II was large and commodious. II was
strictly modern, and it was surrounded
by handsome grounds. 1t was owned
by Harlow Winthrop, the wealthiest
man in the city. Winthrop was man
who always desired to be identified with
everything new, hoping that 1t might
prove to be the avenue down which his
name would travel to posterity. He was
not contented simply to be rich. He
had fine wife and as nice a family Of
chilsren as man need wish for, and one
of the children, his firstborn, was said
to be as much like his father as half
grown EngliLh pea is like the matured
specimen. This son was named Harold.
The family moved into the new house
on the third day of October, 1892, and
two weeks later grand bousewarming
was given by their friends and neigh
bors. 1t was at this housewarming that
Papa Winthrop decided to entertain his
guests by ON exhibition of his knowledge
of hypnotism, which was at that time a
subject beginning to attract attention
among ordinary people.
Winthrop had taken to = with tho
eagerness and enthusiasm which he had
always shown for speculative topics
and for weeks had been practicing on
every one whom he could coax, hire or
command to submit themselves to his
powers. His son Harold was proved to
be the most satisfactory subject and
therefore afforded his father more pleas
ure than be had since his birth, 23 years
before the new house was built. On the
evening of the housewarming he came
forward obediently at the call of his fa-
ther and seated himself in an armchair
in full view Of the assembled guests.
Now" said Mr.. Winthrop, who was
pleased beyond measure to have so large
an audience, "now am going to put
Harold to sleep for certain length of
time, at the expiration of which he will
awaken without assistance, but previous
to that time no one can arouse him."
Harold began TO stare at the shining
stopper of glass bottle placed between
himself and the light, while Mr.. Win
throp pressed firmly on certain spot on
the top of his sons head.
How long shall he sleepf' asked
Mr.. Winthrop when Harold began to
appear drowsy.
Until IL O'clock" suggested the
mischievous son Of the wealthiest fam
lily present.
Harold stirred as IL to protest, but
was too sleepy TO speak.
"Yes, make it III, I" echoed the moth
er of the mischievous son, not because
she cared, but because she always made
1t point to insist OH the qualification
of her sons wishes 30 long az they did
not conflict with her own. The son
knew that Lefty Mays must return to
her home at half past 10, and that Har-
old Winthrop expected to accompany
her. The recollection Of that expecta-
tion stirred Harold's drowsy brain and
prevented him from submitting to his
fathers hypnotic power with his usual
passivity. 1t is possible that that is the
reason why the exhibition did not ter
inmate according to expectation. There
were many reasons given during the
years which followed. for at last Mr..
Winthrop had succeeded in finding the
coveted fame. 1t was said in those days
and has been argued since that the oper-
ator in hypnotism must have full conf
dence in his own power in order to be en-
tircly successful. and the elder Winthrop
was certainly not lacking in that re-
spect. He had put Harold to sleep too
many times to have any doubts as to his
awakening at the appointed time. 1t
was afterward decided that in order to
have a successful exhibition il was also
necessary that the one who acted as the
subject to be operated upon should be
free from troubled thoughts when he sat