New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-16
VAS THE DANCER HYPNOIIZED'
THE FARMERS DAUGHTER ECldrShp 'o'iHii
FOLK AT RICHFlELD UNTIL SHE
FELL. TO THE FLOOR.

FOLK AT RICHFlElD iNliL SfiG
FELL TO THE FLOOR
p,o,ee,d Strings. Aug 10 lspecaD.-At the mrs.
Grand ball of the season in the Darlington ho
here to-right Miss Abigail Spates the daush.ei "a
wealthy farmer of East Springfield township iau
~ ovnerence which illustrates the folly OF the hyp
motto craze Since Mss Jennie Louise hoM"iu
daughter of Vice-President Howard OF 'ne rou,
,eenth Street Bank of New-lork Cl'y' "aS az"
dentally hypnotzed In an amateur performance "a
.~rrilbv" the young people or the ehtlre county ~
and the hotel guests have talked OF little else To-
rIoh, tho Three Hundred Of Rchfeld assembled at
bali in the Darlington Hotel, the first genera' en-
tertainment OF the season. only guests Vi '''
hotels and well-known cottagers were lnV"ea
Noboav recognized the exceedingly beautiful sTi
who walked into the ballroom, soon after 'ne
music began. on the arm OF Starr Keller, hand-
sorna voung Richhelder James Gascoine. presi-
don't of the Peope's Bank of Brooklyn; p. j. Ken
radv a New-York publisher George w. smith,
adopted son OF George +. Gilman. the miilonlre
tea importer Of New-York; ex-Judge A. B "oou-
ward, Charles Morris Smith and Nice-fresideht H..
Reer OF the Peoples Bank, who were members OF
the Floor Committee, asked the Identity or this
lady who entered the main dining-room, and prom
ensded c,owly around through the arcades OF smilax
and roses but received no satisfaction The wealth.
and fashion of half dozen great American
cities were represented bur matrons and debutantes
were all eclpsed by the unknown guest, whose deep
blue "A strange look OF dDstrdclion dS
she walked without speaking or turning to the right
or left.
Mr. Keller who was smiling when re brought
his beautiful companion into the hall, looked wor-
rad a. they passed the orchestra AS they turned
the band struck up Ben Bolt set TO waltz time,
and in the dance in which 200 couples joined, the
fair unknown was conspicuous for her grace ana
abandon. The merriment was at It's nelSnt, wneh,
as the music fell into minor key and the strains
of "Au Claire de la Lune echoed plaintively down
the hall the unknown guest uttered a piercing
shrek and fell a, full length on the ballroom moor.
In an instant all was confusion. Her apparently
Iifeless body was borne speedily out Of the crowd
DR. Borland the postmaster. who is also physi-
clan was hurredly called In, and diagnosed tne
case as catalepsy The girls form was rigid and her
pupils set a., -- =, =
inquiry developed the fact that the young girl was
the victim of hypnotic suggestion. that she nad
never read "Trlby. had never been 70 ball before
and actually had waltzed before In her HE;
that her father Spates is OF the ricnest
farmers Of East Springfield ana tnat sne nad oeeti
persuaded o come to the Darlington Dali, altnough
She had not been in evening dress in her ilfe, oy
a man who went off fishing excursion IN mat
vicnitv recently and whose name Is not now given
becass criminal proceedings are to be begun against
him II was he who introduced the farmer daugn-
Ter who turned out 20 be the belle Of the Earring
ron hall to Starr Keller her escort. and who, having
hvpnotized the girl early in the evening. drove her
., the hotel in a closed carriage ana borrowed the
inerv in which she was dressed.
When the facts became known IN tne paiirooiii
great Indignation expressed otner"lse tne
Entertainment was unusually brilliant and success
full.