The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-16
PROOF OF HYPNOTIC POWER.
A Washington Mans story of an Adj
venture in the French Capital.
From the Washington Post.

IN AAt "a
From the Washington Post
The following curious story of hypno-
tism was related by a weH-known citizen
of Washington who was recently in Paris.
He has Travelled extensively and devotes
much time in the study of ocultism and
kindred subjects. He says:
Il was in a cafe situated near the
Grand Opera House, a few weeks since,
lunching. An English gentleman occu-
pied the same table. At the adjoining
cratic bearing, plainly but elegantly APP
parelled. She had clear-cut, regular fea-
lures, light olive complexion, jet black
hair, large, luminous, scintillating eyes
of inky darkness, and with but a trace
of white around them. The pupils con-
tracted and expanded like the eyes of a
cat. Her eyebrows were delicately traced,
symmetrically 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 appar-
entity elegantly formed and appeared
about 80 years of age. Attending her was
servant In livery.
II was converslng with the English
gentleman. who had just returned from
India, where he had passed several months
investigating eastern oCultism. During
our discussion Charcots wonderful mes
merle or hypnotic abilities and expert
ments in the hospital he was connected
with were referred to, when l expressed
the opinion that only nervous. delicate
sickly, and weak-minded persons were
fully susceptible to hypnotic influence,
and no one could hypnotic 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
me, saying, in substance, Pardon me, a
stranger, for interrupting you, but the
statement just made by you is erroneous.
There are many persons who are capable
of hypnotizing you; in fact, I'm certain
that l can easily do SO, and if you will
give me the opportunity l will convince
you of your mistake. | perceive you
doubt my ability also that you misin
pref my intentions, and entertain suspi-
cions not creditable to me. To prevent
possible. loss to YOU l suggest that you
place your valuabes in care of a friend
and submit to a test / replied, Madam,
you have aroused my interest and GU
rosty, and l will at once adopt your
suggestion by going to my hotel where
l will leave my valuables and soon rejoin
you.
ION my return l found the lady where
had left her. The Englishman, who had
not participated in the conversation be-
tween the lady and myself, had left
accompanied her to an elegant private
carriage, with liveried driver and foo5-
man, that was awaiting her in front of
the cafe. After a brisk drive of about
twenty minutes we reached a fine three
story residence, one of a row exactly
alike to external appearances. We en-
tered a large luXuriously furnished par
lor on the first floor, with fortune in
bric-a-brac adjoining it, The lady re-
moved her hat and wrap, handed them to
a female servant and invited me to q
seat on a large Turkish ottoman. back
of a portiere that partially concealed ono
end of the parlor.
II asked her if she was a professional
hypno1st. She replied she was not that
she inherited the faculty from her mother
and occasionally practiced it for amuse-
ment and pleasure. l enQuired wherein
the pleasure consisted, if mental or phys
ical, and she replied BOTH but principally
physical, and declined further explana-
ton She took seat in front of me, lt-
tached a metal mirror to her forehead by
a rubber band passing around her head,
grasped my hands with a firm strong
pressure, and requested me TO remain
mentally passive gaze steadily into the
mirror, and take inspirations of breath %
the full capacity of the lungs.
Il followed directions, and after an IN
terval of perhaps ten minutes began 20
experience a calm, gentle soothing in
fluence stealing over me, similar to the
effects induced by full opiate. l was
fully cogniZant of my surroundings and
position, although dreamily wondering II
1t was hypnotical influence that l was ex-
periencing. The mirror appeared to pull
safe and enlarge, and a dim, shadowy
mist began to form over it, which gradu-
ally assumed the distinct form and fea-
lures of the lady. The last recQllect was
a clock striking 3. When 1 recovered
consciousness the following morning at
s o'clock awakened by a servant knock
ing at the door, l was in bed in my room
at the hotel.
Except for dizzy feeling, and a ti-ed.
languid, physical condition, no i'll effect
followed the seventeen hours suspension
Of my reasoning faculties. I inquired Of
the door Porter the time of my return to
the hotel the evening before, and ne
stated that I came in a private carrIare
a few minutes after midnight For SOW
eral days | attempted to locate the house
without success"
-BrOwn-But why do YOU sion 81 ofta, .