The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-12

An Evanston Girl Paints Away During a
Church Service.

An Evanston Girl Paints Away During
Church Service.
CHICAGO, Sept. u.-Church music has
a strange effect upon the sensiblities OF
Miss Bessie Ayres, of Evanston Dur.
ing the service at the First Congrega-
tionaI church In that suburb sunday
morning Miss Ayres was completely hyp-
Noticed by the strains OF the organ, ana
she finally went into hypnotic trance,
from which she was resuseitated with
the greatest difficulty. Miss Ayres was
sitting in the very centre of the church
and her peculiar actions created the
greatest excitement.
Rev. Or. J. f. Loba. the pastor OF the
church. had returned during the week
from his summer vacation, and the
church was filled with an unusually large
assemblage OF worshippers. Many who
had been rather derelict In their church
duties during his absence concluded 70
make a fresh start, and encourage the
pastor by their seeming zeal. and among
this number was Miss Bessie Ayres.
AS soon as the strains of the organ
were heard those sitting near Mss Ayres
noticed that she half rose In her seat as
If 10 change her position. Then she
seemed to think better OF H. and sat
down again. in a moment those in the
twitching nervously and that her face
had become so red as TO he nearly purple.
II was evident that something was
wrong A kindly disposed lady sitting in
the pew behind asked Miss Ayres n she
could give her any assistance. She turf.
ed 10 reply 10 the well-meant inquiry. but
no words came from her lips. She seem
ed 20 be making a desperate struggle with
some emotion. and her whole body was
now twitchlng as II she were the vic
tim Of ST. Nitus' dance.
Suddenly the blood left Miss Ayres' face
as II had come. and left her as pale as
death itself She made an attempt to
rise, wavored, tried 10 catch herself on
the pew in front. and fell headlong into
the aisle with a Jar which startled every
one on that side OF the church
IT. VI. Walker. one Of the ushers, who
was taking up the collection, was within
a few feet of the PROSTATE woman. and
at once rushed to her assistance, throw
inr his contribution plate unceremonious-
L. into the lap Of a lady who happened 10
be sitting near. He attempted 10 raise
her 70 her feet but she had stihened un-
III every muscle seemed strained 10 the
highest tension. Her eyes were wide
open. with a fixed and CLASSY stare and
those around for a moment feared She
had been the victim OF a sudden at
tack OF heart disease. She was carried
out Of the audienceroym TO the open air.
where il was thought, she wOuid an once
recover, but she was still as insensible
as when first picked up Ails 4 u.
Sanders ordered some camphor brought
and with II bathed her temples ana
hands. After few moments OF vigor-
Gus work she slowly began 70 revive,
much to the relief Of her nurses. The
usual question Of where am u" was
asked by Miss Ayres as soon as she
had recovered consciousness sufficiently
TO become aware Of what was going on
about her.
Il have not the first memory" she went
on. of anything that happened after 1
heard the first strains of the voluntary"
When told Of the circumstances which
had bropeht her where Sc was, Miss
Ayres said Il have been taken that way
before. The doctors say It IS pressure
of blood on the brain" After making
this admission Miss Ayres suddenly re-
lapsed into silence. declared that she
felt all right now" and walked unaidod
out Of the church.
DR.. Loba. the pastor Of the church
when questioned about the occurrence,
said that after the service Miss Ayres
came to him TO informed him that she had
been uninjured by her experience, ard eX-
planned TO him the cause of her re
markable actions.
1t would seem," said Or. Lola that
Miss Ayres has for a long time been
suffering with brain trouble but that 1t
does not affect her unless she happens TO
hear the strains OF a church organ. For
long time she stayed away from churS.
on this account, for her spell to-day was
but a repetition or former experiences
There appears 10 be something unconge-
NAL, or else too congenial. between her
peculiar nervous temperament ana the
sound. Of an organ, and she can never
hear that class Of music without feeling
the effects OF it. During these TITS, OF
frances. or spells. or whatever they may
be called. she remembers nothing. but
usually. as to-day, suffers no III aiter-ef-
fects from them. The peculiarly is d
UNIQUE metaphysical phenomenon