The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-06
AN EVENING OF MYSTICISM.
The Lees Entertain n Large Audi.
ence at the Theater.

The Lees Entertain a Large Audi
ence at the Thenter.
The Lees, hypnotists, opened their en-
gagement of three days at the theater
last night in an suspicious manner The
house was well filled, and the audience ap-
peared to be both well pleased and great
ly mystified. Whatever one may think
Of hypnotism, considered in itself, it can
not be questioned that the entertainment
was highly amusing. To students of
phenomena of the mind it was no doubt
highly edifyinZ. 1t was noticeable that
there were many physicians in the house,
and they evinced considerable interest in
some of the tests, notably that in which
the pupils of the eyes of a subject were
made to contract and dilate at the COM
mand of the professor. Another test in
which the doctors were interested was the
one in which local anaesthesis was produc-
ed and hat pins were thrust through the
cheek and the arm of the subject, without
causing pain or being followed by flow
of blood or soreness. This test, it was an
nounced, will not be repeated tonight
owing to the reluctance of ladies to wit
ness an exhibition which even apparently
causes suffering. The subject who was
perforated with the pins in now in hyp-
motto sleep in Adler's window, where he
will remain without food or drink until
Wednesday evening at 1890 o'clock. He
was put under the influence at that hour
last night, and Is to remain there unoer
forty-eight hours.
Among the volunteers on the stage last
night were several well known Savannah
ians, 1t was observed that Prof. Lee
did not get complete control over sew
eral of them. He explains, however, that
it is hard to hypnotise an unwilling SUB
iect: that in order to obtain best results
the subject must permit his MIND TO ne
perfectly passive. When one fights against
the influence it takes too much time %
bring him under it, and the performer has
no time to waste.
An interesting feature of the perform
ance last night was the act in which Mrs
Lee submitted to the influence. AT the
word of command, after a few passes,
she became as rigid as marble, and with
her shoulders upon the back of one chair
and feet upon the back of another sus-
tanned the weight of Prof. Lee. Another
subject, similarly treated and similarly
suspended, sustained the weight Of four
men.
The amusing features were numerous.
Prof. Lee sent his subjects fishing in im-
aginery rivers, running imaginary bicycle
races with chairs as bicycles, and doing
similarly ridiculous things. Frequently
the audience was convulsed with laughter.
The hypnotists influence, by the way,
did not seem to be confined to the stage.
A man in the gallery following the ac-
tions of the subjects on the stage. clasped
his hands and couldn't unclasp them une
til Prof. Lee saw him and told him to
let go.
The Lees will hold the boards again to-
night. A change Of programme is prom
Used.
Prof. Lee will give private exhibition
of his hypnotic powers at the Young Mems
Christian Association at 5 o'clock this af-
ternoon. The members of the association
and of the ladies auxiliary are invited to
be present. Those who saw Prof. Lee in
Atlanta speak very highly Of his ability.