The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-28
HYPNOTIZED.

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 hypnotism? 1t
is foolish to argue about it, for I
will not even admit that there is such o
thing. The shrewd people who go about
the country giving exhibitions of their
power are always in collision with some
one i'll the audience-you know that
yourself, Ned"
Nothing of the kind, " retorted Ned,
rs Mrs. Darl called her husband. lit is
science that is yet in its infancy, and
there are only a few individuals who
have the hypnotic power and are able to
throw less positive subjects into IL trance.
But have seen it done, aud it is Won
derful-wonderful 5"
''What did you see?'
saw young man climb walls like
a cat drink milk out of saucer, catch
mouse, and then wash his face and
hands rs 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
Hunt said Mrs Darl incredulous-
", 81 don 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 i'll acting like u cat or a monkey"
why, don't you see, dear, it is the
vcrification of theory?"
No, do not see. And I am not sure
that l would believe it if I did see it.
The whole stock i'll trade of these hyp-
notizcrs is the power of producing an IL
fusion. I defy any of them to hypnotic
me"
II had intended asking you to 20
with me to the exhibition tonight"
and be transmogriled into a cat?
Nc, indeed! If [ make a sacrifice of nv
self Ill 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 means of creating a sensa-
ton. There is no one living who could
by few ridiculous passes, Il stare or
pressure Of my thumbs make me 90 any
thing did not choose to do. /"
But you acknowledge, do you not,
that a strong will can control weak
one:"
Eyes, and always could, but that is as
old as the days Of Adam, who was evil
IDENTIFY in subsection to Eve. 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.'
Il have an idea, said Mr. Darl sud-
denly Suppose, since Mohammcd
won't 20 TO the mountain, that the
mountain comes to Nlohammed. The
hypnotist can come here after the enter
tainmcnt, and we will invite few
neighborS in, and he can give an cxhibi-
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
l will order refreshments, and we will
have an evening of hypnotism. 1t will
begin late; but we can find other amuse-
ment until yonr hypnotic operator
comes"
Mrs. Darl had everything arranged
her house i'll beautiful order and herself
gorgeous i'll dress of ruby velvet,
which was far too fine for the occasion,
but WAS worn as piece dc resistance.
she having read that velvet resisted hyp-
motto influence
The neighbors and relatives came. q
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, and read aloud to at
tcntivc listeners IL passage from the
weird history Of Alice Pynchcon.
Hc spoke, and Alice responded with
soft, subducd inward acqucsccnco and
Il bending Of her form toward him, like
the flame Of Il torch when it indicates a
gentle draft of air. He bcckoncd with
his hand, and rising from her chair the
proud Alice approached him. He waved
her back, and rctrcating Alice sunk again
into her seat.
She is mine, said Matthew Maulc.
Mine by the right of the strongest spir-
| it.
oh, that was mcsmcrism' said
Mrs. Darl as the reading ceased.
| And what is mcsmerism?" asked
one OF the company. Il think that it is
as uncNplainablc 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,
Tor one, ann afraid. y
L
am not, " said the quccnly hostess
as she swept forward in velvet and dia-
monds to meet her husband and his
| quest