The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-02
PR0oF or HYPNOTIC POWER.
A Washington Mans story of an Adventure
in the French Capital.


The following curious story Of hyp-
notism was related to the Post py Well
known citizen Of Washington, who was
recently In Paris. He has travelled ex-
tonsivelv and devotes much time IN the
study Of occultsm and kindred subjects
He says
Il was I'm a cafe situated near the
Grand Opera House. a few weeks since,
lunching. An English gentleman occu-
pied the same table. Al the adjoining
table WAS a lady OF str1kingly aristocrat-
ic bearing plainly but elegantly apparel
ed She had clear-cut, regular features,
light olive complexion, jet black hair
large. luminous, scintillating eyes Of irLky
darkness. and with but trace OF white
around item. The pupils contracted and
EXPANDED like the eyes OF cat. her
eyebrows were delicately traced. symmet-
really arched, and continuous, without
a break between them. Her mouth was
rather large, with full, red lips, and small
even. white glistenine teeth. she wa
tall slender and apparently elegantly
formed and appeared about thirty-nye
years of age Attending her was ser
want in livery.
Il was conversing with the English
gentleman. who had just returned from
India. where he had passed several
months I'm investigating Eastern occult
ism. During our discussion Charcots
wonderful mesmeric or hypnotic abili-
ties and experiments In the hospital he
was connected with were referred TO,
when | expressed the opinion that only
nervous. delicate, sickly and weak-mind-
ed persons were fully susceptible 10 hyp-
motto influence, and that no one could
hypnotic me while IN normal condition
Of health.
THE lady. who was closely observing
as and listening 10 our conversation with
apparent interest. in excellent English
with a slight foreign accent. addressed
me. saying in substance. Pardon me,
stranger. for interrupting you, but the
statement just made by you Is erroneous.
There are many persons who are capa-
bic OF hypnotizing you; in fact am
certain that / can easily do go, and II
you Will give me the opportunity ! will
convince you OF your mistake. / perceive
you doubt my ability, also that you mis-
Interpret my intentions. and entertain
suspicious not creditable TO me. To pre-
vent possible loss OF you. ] suggest that
you place your valuables IN care OF
friend and submit to a test l replied.
Madam. YOU have aroused my interest
and curiosity. and / will at once adopt
your suggestion by going 10 my hotel
where ! will leave my valuables and sool
rejoin you
ION my return I found the lady where
/ had left her. The Englishman, who
had not participated IN the conversation
between the lady and myself had left, |
accompanied her 10 an elegant private
carriage. with liveried driver and foot
man, that was awaiting her in front OF
the cafe. After a brisk drive Of about
twenty minutes we reached hne three
story residence, one OF a row exactly
alike 10 external appearance. We en-
tered a large. luxuriously furnished par
Tor on the first floor. with a fortune IN
bric-a-brac adOrning IL. The lady re-
moved her hat and wrap, handed then
to a female servant, and invited me TO
a seat on a large Turkish ottoman, back
of a portiere that partially concealed one
end OF the parlor.
Il asked her If she was a professional
hvpnotlst She replied she was not. that
she Inherited the faculty from her moth
err and occasionally practiced II for
amusement and pleasure. l inquired
wherein the pleasure consisted. If mem
tai or physical, and she replied both.
but principally physical. and declined
further explanation. She took seat In
front Of me, attached a metal mirror 10
her forehead by a rubber band passing
around her head, grasped my hands with
firm, strong pressure, ana request
ed me 10 remain mtNldily passive gaze
steadily into the mirror. and take In.
spirations OF breath TO the full capaci-
~ OF the lungs. Il followed directions
and after an interval Of perhaps ten min
utes began 10 experience a calm, gentle.
soothing influence stealing over me. SINH
lar TO effects induced by a full opiate. /
was fully cognizant of my surroundings
and position although dreamingly Won
dering IL IL was hypnotic influence tina
| was experiencing The mirror appeared
10 pulsate and enlarge. and dim, shad
owy mist began TO form over It, which
gradually assumed the distinct form and
features Of the lady. The last l recollec
was a clcck striking 3. When l recovered
consciousness, the following morning ar
S o'clock. awakened by a servant knock
ing at the door, ] was in bed In my
room at the hotel
Except for a dizzy feeling. and tired
languid, physical condition. no III effect
followed the seventeen hours suspension
OF my reasoning faculties. / inquired
OF the door porter the time Of my return
to the hotel the evening before. and he
stated that / came in privte carriage
a few minutes after midnight For sew
eral days | attempted to locate the house
without success"