The Portland daily press., 1895-06-03
PROOF OF HYPNOTIC POWER.
A Washington Mans Story of an Adyen-
ture in the French Capital.
(From the Washington Post. }

(From the Washington Post }
The following curious story of hypno-
tism was related by well-known citizen
of Washington who was recently in Paris
He has travelled extensively and deyotes
much time in the study of occultism and
kindred subjects. He says:
81 was in cafe situated near the Grand
Opera House, few weeks since, lunch
ing. An English gentleman occupied the
same table. At the adjoining table was
lady of strikingly aristocratic bearing
plainly but elegantly appareled She
had clear-cut, regular features, light
olive complexion, jet black hair, large,
luminous, scintillating eyes of inky
darkness, and with but a trace of white
around them. The pupils contracted and
expanded like the eyes of cat. Her eye
brows were delicately traced, symmetri-
cally arched, and continuous, without a
break between them. Her mouth was
rather large, with full, red lips, and
small, even, white, glistening teeth. she
was tall, slender, and 35 years of age. At
tending her was servant in livery.
II was conversing with the English
gentleman. who had just returned from
India, where he had passed several months
in investigating Eastern occultism. Dur
ing our discussion Charcot's wonderful
mesmerie or hypnotic abilities and ex
periments in the hospital he was connect
ed with were referred to, when ex-
pressed the opinion that only nervous,
delicate, sickly, and weakminded per-
sons were fully susceptible to hypnotic
influence and that no one could hypno-
tize me while in normal condition of
health.
''The lady, who was closely observing
us and listening to our conversation with
apparent interest, in excellent English,
with a slight foreign accent, addressed
stranger, for interrupting you, but tho
statement just made by you is erroneous.
There are many persons. who are capable
of hypnotizing you; in fact I'm certain
that can easily do so, and if you will
give me the opportunity will convince
you of your mistake. 1 perceive you
doubt my ability, also that you mistrust
my intentions, and entertain suspicious
not creditable to me. To prevent posi-
BILE loss to you, / suggest that you place
your valuables in care OF a friend and
submit to test replied, Madam, you
have aroused my interest and curiosity,
and / will at once adopt your suggestion
by going to my hotel, where will leave
my valuables and soon rejoin you.
"On my return I found the lady where
I had left her The Englishman, who
had not participated in the conversation
between the lady and myself had left.
accompanied her to an elegant private
carriage, with liveried driver and foot
man, that was awaiting her in front of
the cafe. After brisk drive of about
twenty minutes we reached a fine three
story residence, one of a row exactly alike
to external appearance We entered a
large, luxuriously furnished parlor on the
first floor, with fortune in brie-a brac
adorning it. The lady removed her hat
and wrap, handed them to female SER
want, and invited me to a seat ON large
Turkish ottoman, back of a portiere that
partially concealed one end of the parlor
II asked her if she was a professional
hypnotist. She replied she was not
that, she inherited the faculty. from her
mother, and occasionally practised it for
amusement and pleasure. I asked
if mental or phsyical, and
she replied both, but principally
physical, and declined further ex-
PLANTATION. She took seat in ftont of
me, attached a metal mirror to her fore
head by a rubber band passing around her
head, grasped my hands with a firm ,
strong pressure, and requested me to re-
itienAAA PeN''A ~ StpN'S SeSthJ 1heN
the mirror, and take Inspirations of breath
to the full capacity of the lungs.
81 followed directions and after an in
terval of perhaps ten minutes began to ex-
perience calm gentle, soothing influ-
ence stealing over me, similar to effects
induced by full opiate was fully
cognizant of my surroundings and posi-
tion, although dreamingly wondering il
it was hypnotic influence that was ex.
periencing. The mirror appeared to
pulsate and enlarge, and dim, shadowy
mist began to form over it, which grad
ually assumed the distinct form and feat
ure Of the lady. The last recollect was
clock striking g. When / recovered
consciousness the following morning at
s O'clock awakened by 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 ill effect
followed the seventeen hours suspension
of my reasoning facilities. l inquired OF
the door porter the time of my return to
tbs hotel the evening before, and he
stated that came in a private carriage a
few minutes after midnight For several
days I attempted to locate the house
without success. F"