The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-07-18

called transfer of her power to chill
dren I'M some cases caused them TO lose
CONSCIOUSNESS, and strong men tried in
vain to lift children upon whom she had
operated from q distance of several
yards. On one occasion she apparently
tainted, and while in this state her arms
could not be lifted by several whom she
had selected to make the attempt. A
long account might be given of the ex-
perienceS of different individuals, all
tending to show that at several exhibit
tons, all who We're experimental upon
We're, at some time or other, more or
less under what is commonly called the
hypnotic influence.
So far as l am aware, the voluminous
literature relating to this subject contains
no record of the experiences of one who
WAS able to trace the mental process by
which he was made to enter the realm
called hypnosis. As it was chiefly by my
own experience that j was led to the con-
illusions to be hereafter stated, l shall
now attempt 10 describe how | was hyp-
Noticed. During Annie Abbott's perform
ance l was at all times fully persuaded
that she was an imposter. Her state
ments concerning Lord Kelvin and Mr..
Edison were quite sufficient ITO convince
me of this. But from accounts given me
of previous performances | believed her
| to be a hypnotist of unusual power. |
had no definite idea of what hypnotism
is, save that it is generally believed to be
largely a matter of will power. In the
first experiment | was not greatly sur
prised to find that l could MT hold the
chair perfectly still at the moment when
she sprang away from 1T. But when a
lyoung friend could not prevent it from
following her across the stage, | was ut
terly at a loss to know how to account for
lit. When asked to try to put to the
floor a chair that she held at arms
length, / was astoniShed at the audacity
of the proposition. This was changed 10
utter amazement and confusion when |
found that | could not lower it. though
| had pulled so hard as to break one Of
the legs. That unsuccessful attempt was
the most complete surprise of my life. Up
to Nhat moment had not believed it pos
sible for any one to hypnotic me. | then
began to fear that this woman had dome
so. L could give no other explanation to
my failure | determined 10 watch my
self to see if / could detect any indica-
tons of this mysterious influence. When
| tried to push her over. and found that
could not. asked myself, care my mus
cles all in normal working order" | dis
covered that / could not maintain the pos
ture necessary TO give strong forward
push. This was really due 10 the inge-
nious mechanical advantage taken by the
woman; but at that moment | was fully
convinced that there must be something
the matter with my legs. Quickly turn
ing my attention to them | found that i
was as | had expected: the muscles were
all contracted TO such an extent that !
could scarcely bend my knees. Believing
that / had detected the real nature of her
power, and realizing my helplessness. |
made no further attempt TO push her over.
| was next asked to try to lift her. | had
said that / would. and determined to do
so though knew that number of strong
err men had failed Grasping her as direct
ed, | would not make the attempt till ]
had examined myself to see that my legs
were all right. just as | had predicted
to myself, found them again paralyzed
"This," said / to myself, sis certainly
hypnOtsm; but it shall not hold me; I
will throw it off and lift this woman"
With one mighty effort l wrenched my
self from the grasp of my invisible foe;
my strength returned and instantly
lifted with all my might The effort
proved failure, for the reason. as l at
once detected, that the position in which
| had bene forced to stand made it a
physical impossibility. Upon telling her
this, she allowed me to change. When