Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-07-05
HYPNOTIZED.

"There isn't anybody living who can
hFpnotize me-. "
''Don't be too sure, Leonora," said
her husband. "You cannot afford to run
tilt against science"
"But l deny that it is science. What
has ever been proved by hypnotism? 1t
is foolish to argue about it, for 1
will not even admit that there is such a
thing The shrewd people who go about
the country giving exhibitions OF their
power are always in collision with some
one in the audience-you know that
yourself, Ned. -
Nothing of the kind, " retorted Ned,
as Mrs. Darl called her husband cit is
science that is yet in its infancy, and
there are only few individuals who
have the hypnotic power and are able to
throw less positive subjects into a trance.
But have seen it done, and it is won
derful-wonderful.
''What did you see?''
ST saw young man climb walls like
a cat, drink milk out of saucer, catch
a mouse, and then wash his face and
hands as a cat does. And when he came
out of the trance he had no idea that he
had done any Of these things or that he
had even lost consciousness. -
"Hum!" said Mrs. Darl incredulous-
ly, II don't believe word Of it. If he
did all that you said he did, he was sim
ply conspirator. And what good can
such a faculty bring to science, should
like to know? Where is the scientific
value in acting like a cat Or monkey?'
"Why, don't you see, dear, it is the
verifcation of theory?'
"No, do not see. And am not sure
that I would believe it if I did see it.
The whole stock in trade of these hyp-
notizers is the power Of producing an il
lusion I defy any Of them to hypnotic
me.
81 had intended asking you to go
with me to the exhibition tonight"
''And be transmogrified into a cat?
No, indeed! If [ make sacrifice of my
self in the cause Of science, it must be
for something worth while. You have
yet to convince me, Ned, that what you
call the hypnotic sleep is not assumed
to help carry out the plan of the hypno-
tier or as a means of creating a sensa-
ton. There is no one living who could
by few ridiculous passes, stare OF
pressure of my thumbs make me do any
thing did not choose to do. 3"
''But you acknowledge, do you not,
that strong will can control a weak
one:''
''Yes, and always could, but that is as
old as the days Of Adam, who was evil
IDENTIFY in subsection to Eye. I suppose
some one will say that deep sleep which
overlook our first father when his rib
was taken from him was hypnotic. 1t
would be just about as sensible. -
81 have an idea," said Mr.. Darl sud
denly. "Suppose, since Mohamned
won't go to the mountain, that the
mountain comes to Mohammed. The
hypnotist can come here after the enter
tainment, and we will invite a few
neighbors in, and he can give an exhibi-
ton of his powers. How does that idea
strike you?"
''Favorably, Ned. There are the
Rusts, and the Pebbles and DR.. Smithly
and his wife, and Cousin Fanny and her
husband You can let them know, and
I will order refreshments, and we will
have an evening Of hypnotism. It will
begin late, but we can find other amuse-
ment until your hypnotic operator
comes. -
Mrs. Darl had everything arranged
her house in beautiful order and herself
gorgeous in dress of ruby velvet,
which was far too fine for the occasion,
but was worn as a piece de resistance,
she having read that velvet resisted hyp-
motto influence.
The neighbors and relatives came, a
merry company, and the time passed in
an animated discussion upon the power
Of hypnotism, one friend going SO far in
research as to visit the library and look
up that wonderful story, the "House of
Seven Cables" and read aloud to at
tentive listeners passage from the
weird history Of Alice Pyncheon.
"He spoke, and Alice responded with
a soft, subdned inward acquiescence and
bending of her form toward him, like
the flame OF torch when it indicates a
gentle draft of air. He beckoned with
his hand, and rising from her chair the
proud Alice approached him. He waved
her back, and retreating Alice sunk again
into her seat.
'''She is mine, said Matthew Maule
Mine by the right of the strongest spir-
oh, that was mesmerism,' said
Mrs. Darl as the reading ceased
''And what is mesmerism?'' asked
one Of the company. 81 think that it is
as unexplainable as hypnotism, if it is
not the same thing. Oh, here they arc
now! Let us hold on to our chairs, or
we may be spirited away to China. I,
for one, am afraid -
ST am not, " said the queenly hostess
as she swept forward in velvet and dia-
monds to meet her husband and his
guest.
A pale, composed looking man accom-
panied Mr.. Darl, and he did not seem
surprised by the elegance Of his hostess
Or flushed by the critical gaze of the
company.
AIUor Inc lEiI9siucLlOnS were mace ana
conversation became general, Mrs. DarI
slipped into the hall and beckoned to
her husband, who Immediately joined
her. Then she whispered in his ear:
"f-if-by any possibility he should
be able to hypnotic me, you will not let
him make me do anything ridiculous!"
'My dear Leona, how can you i'm
agine such a possibility? But if you have
any fear"-
''Fear!' echoed his wife scornfully
in a stage whisper. ''You will see that
he cannot make the slightest impression
on me- And she went back to the par
lor and found one Of her guests climbing
the piano to escape an imaginary bear
that was pursuing him. A few. passes
and he was restored to his normal con-
6ition, looking very foolish.
There were some amusing and some
perplexing exhibitions Of the professor s
power, then the company followed host
and hostess to the dining room, where a
generous spread awaited them Mrs.
Darl was rather silent. Her test would
be the next one. and she watched the