Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-05-30
HYPNOTIZED.

"There isn't anybody living who can
hypnotize me.
Don't be too sure, Leonora, said
her husband lyon cannot afford to run
tilt against science.
''But deny that it is science. What
has ever been proved by hypnotisrn? 1t
Is foolish to argue about it, for l
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 collusion with some
one in the andience-you know that
yourself, Ned. "
Nothing of the kind, (" retorted Ned,
as Mrs Darl called her husband ''It 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 trance.
But have seen it done, and it is won
derful-wonderfuL 7
tWhat did you see?''
Il saw a young man climb walls like
cat, drink milk out of a saucer, catch
a mouse, and then wash his face and
hands as a cat does. And when he came
ont of the trance he had no idea that he
had done any of these things or that be
had even lost consciousness. .
''Huml" 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 faculty bring to science, l should
like to know? Where is the scientific
value in acting like cat or monkey?'
why, don't you see, dear, it is the
verifcation of a theory"
''No, | do not see. And | ann not sure
that would believe it if / did see it.
The whole stock in trade of these hyp-
notizers is the power of producing an il
lusion. l defy any Of them to hypnotia
me. "
II had intended asking you to go
with me to the exhibition tonight. =
"And be transmogrifed into catI
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-
tizer or as a means of creating sensa-
ton There is no one living who could
by a few ridiculous passes, a stare or
pressure of my thumbs make me do any
thing | did not choose to do Z
But you acknowledge, do you not,
that strong will can control a weak
one:n
Yes, and always could, but that is as
old as the days of Adam, who was evil
IDENTIFY in subsection to Eve. l 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 =
II have an idea, :" said Mr. Darl sud
denly. Suppose, since Moham1ned
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 exhibit
tion 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. YoE can let them know, and
l will order refreshments, and we will
have an evening Of hypnotism. 1t will
begin late, but we can find other amuse-
ment until your hypnotic operator
comes =
T1arl ha1 ~ II
her house in beautiful order and herself
gorgeous in a 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 Gables, y and read aloud to at
tentive listeners passage from the
weird history of Alice Pyncheon.
''He spoke, and Alice responded with
a soft, subdued inward acquiescence and
a 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-
it,.
"Oh, that was mesmerism, said
Mrs. Darl as the reading ceased
''And what is mesmerism?" asked
one Of the company. II think that it is
as unexplainable as hypnotism, if it is
not the same thing. Oh, here they are
nowl Let us hold on to our chairs, or
we may be spirited away to China I,
for one, am afraid "
II am not, said the queenly hostess
as she swept forward in velvet and dia-
monds to meet her husband and his
guest.
A pale, con posed 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.
After the introductions were made and