New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-18
THE HYPNOTIZER.
RELATED BY CAPTAIN PEPPERDAI.


Captain Pepperday sat in the reading-room of the
/ Liverpool Arms. smoking refectively This room
was on the second floor in the corner directly above
the barroom and below that of the captain. In whch
he had detailed the seismic disturbance which tore
New-York a few years ago. The fact that IT was a
! reading room made known In red letters pdint-
ed on the door. which could just be made out ny
the light from the lantern az the other end OF 'he
hail; otherwise II would never have been suspected
since read In 1t the last use which any or
the guests OF the Arms ever put 1t TO- Though
T theoretically the reading room, II was IN actual
: practice the talking room. a fact which may nave
had some more or less remote connection with the
sign the wall to the effect that Gentlemen VIII
not indulge in conversation in this, reading-roon
/ Al least. there was something about the room
which caused every to burst. as II were INTO
/ conversational bloom Immediately upon entering H..
\ dlngy window opened IN the end on the side
street. anu two others gave out upon Nest-st. To-
geher with the river rolling and tossing about in
/ the sunlight and the Jersey coast beyond Inc
street seemed only a haIf-dozen feet below the win
dow. and a less busy thoroughfare would have
made the room noisy for conversation, ana
perhaps have driven the occupants to read
/ ing: but West-st. Is always too crowded for much
noise everything must proceed slowly: besides the
pavement is forever well padded with mud and
moreover. what noise there Is has II good chance ID
escape above the piers and lose Itself in the silence
which hangs over the water. Above the mantei
was a steel engraving OF Washington CROSSING the
| Delaware" the noble Father standing up In the
| stern OF "A boat very shallow and very wide re-
sembIing somewhat the crown of a derby hat. His
head bare. and he was scanning the far-off
horizon for the loathed enemy, while the hat-crown
propelled BY men with bare breasts ana starting
eyes. bumped against floating cakes Of Ice, which
bringing the scientific fact to bear that only one
eleventh OF the bulk Of ice Is above water showed
that the Delaware River had been frozen 10 the
mean depth OF twenty-five feet that winter. afford
ing firm and reasonably safe skating while 1t lasted
/ There were also wOodcut Of the Great Eastern
Autograph OF a ships crew boat-race In New-fork
| Uarbor In the era Of slewheels. framed auto
graph letter Of Dewitt Clinton. and modern steam
/ ship advertising Autograph Of vessel coming out
/ Of the wall at such rate that II was "A source OF
wonder where the artist found the wind TO follow
fast and fill the long frill of white sail which tugged
| at the foremast 1t seemed only question OF time
when the vessel would shoot out into the room and
/ play havoc with the furniture and the unsuspectng
/ Captain Pepperday.
This individual I found acne. except that Mag
gle the hired girl Of the Liverpool Arms. had just
brought him a mug Of some sort OF fluid which II
was reasonable 10 suspect was less subject 10 con-
gelation than the Delaware River. and was about
to withdraw.
Peprerday liz his pipe. and appeared solemnly
thoughtful
"You promised TO tell me your sti friend An
drews story. about how somebody .ypnotiz"d the
/ ! |
"Ycs. a chunk OF history according to Andrew.
answered the captain. and he took a long swallow
from the mug which Maggie had brought. as II 10
refresh his memory. "A personal remittance, as
he called Il. well IL was some time ago. Andrew
didn't mention the date. but judge IT was sev'ral
years back. cause Andrew has been fOlleriug the
sea mostly lately. and this when he was living
here and had the Niger 10 black his boots az !
told YOU II seems there Frenchman named
Professor Bassette come TO town who was hypno-
tier. The fel,er could hypnotic an elephant. or a
mouse. or a horse or a-or "a messenger boy. or
anything IIis speciality was long distance hypnotic
INK That H. II You lived out In Jersey somewheres
AMI wanted 10 be- hypnotized YOU just dropped line
90 the professor. and he sockel II onto You by air.
kinder somehow. He had wonderful hypnotic
reach. as Andrew said. Well-blow the luck. there
~ comes" and the captain struck his leg such a
slap that the bone in all probability was fractured
who? The professor
no. Uncle Usher. Hear him lacking down the
stairs The stairs are pretty bad to-day but he'll
make Il. Hes coming in here to II he hasn't
missed last weeks paper and he'll want to read
US about In Michigan that has two"
Further conversation was stopped by trench
dous thump the outside OF the door. Then 1t
opened god-headel cane came In and stabbed
the floor. ANA Uncle Usher followed. Uncle Usher
impressed the beholder In the neghbor
hood OF seventy years Of and ne was tall and
thin. His eyes a mild blue and his face
cleany shaven. while his gray hair. though fairly
abundant somewhat struggling. He wore
blue swaow-taed coat with brass buttons and
under his arm carried "A cigar-box with long piece
OF faded red tape wound many times around II.
Take him all In all. he seemed like cherry old gem
tleman who found life worth cllnging TO. lie shut
the door by punching IL with his cane az II II was
a sovedoor and very hot. and he did he
caught sight OF Captain Pepperday
Hello. my boy. hello. Glad to YOU" pIped
the old gentleman In high key.
MY boy'i' groaned Pepperlay) "IIello.' he
added in n loud that II startled me.
Hey" said Uncle Usher. pausing and boring his
cane into the floor. What is It? No Whispering
captain"
Pcpperiay stood up and advanced step or two
and roared Hello" again in a stIll louder voice.
Yes yes catch you now, my boy; catch YOU
And you're quite right. too. quite righ-lt Is cold
But were all snug In here by the fire
"Yes' answered Pepperday I'm a full. rolling voic.
Hey. my boyy'
IL said yes" returned the captain. in a voice
fuller and more rolling.
And you said quite rght-yes. ! thought you
said yes at first Now | want to read you and
your friend "A little piece here that found In The
Essex County Post Boy" and he hooked the head
OF his cane into "A large chair and drew II up tow
ard the fire. The captain sighed. and murmured
IN a low voice. II told you So" The old gentleman
sat down. placed his cane between his knees and
began to unwind the tape with good deal OF
alacrty. Then he took out n clipping two-thlrds OF
IA column long. and said
ITS about II remarkable case OF rheumatism that
happened at Port Byron-most remarkable on rec
ord. Did either OF you read about it,"
We both shook our heads.
Il thought not-few read the papers closely
as do. I'm surprised sometimes to find what folks
overlook. Hut "A good many haven't got the eye
sight that have-you know. captain. your eyes
aren't what they used to be. hey?'
Pepperlay shook his head dsmally.
Seventy seven the Sth of January" said Uncle
Usher turning To me- 'dnd never wore glasses I'm
my life. Well, here IL the article. taken by The
Post Boy from The Port Byron Intelgencer
with a picture OF the man. and affidavit from
the druggist who sold him the medicine. It's as
tonIshing the enterprise the newspapers display
nowadays-they didn't do II when | a boy
But they don't for expense nOw-they get the
at any cost Competition. suppose Now. jus
listen to this: Suffered Eighteen Years. Wonders