The morning times., 1896-05-03

Wilton Lacknye Was Placed Under
the Mysterious Influence.

Wilton Lackaye Was Placed Under
the Mysterious Influence.
Santanelli hypnotiZed Svengali on Tues
day nlght-tbat is. be succeeded Ill putt ing
Wilton Lacka ye under the mysterious influ-
eDce, which is, perhaps, the same. Mr.
Lackaye has had widespread SUCCESS as the
impersonator of Du Maurier's weird ruff
flan in -TriIby,'' and when il vas pro-
posed that ne should make a personal test
of Santaneliis hypnotic gift ne lauShingiy
agreed. The suggestion was made at
supper party In the restaurant OF the MARI
borough Hotel about midnight. The COM
pany present, i'll addition to Mr.. Lackaye
and Slntanelli, included William A. Brady
Maurice Barrymore. John E. KelleTd, An-
son Pond, Ed A. Stevens, Frederick AZ. Nc
Cloy and Mr.. and Mrs. Leander Rictla s,ison.
After supper the party adjourned to
room 800, and the hypnotic proceedings
began. Mr.. Lackaye sat upright in a chair
in the center of the little parior, and the
other guests were ranged around the sides
of the room The subject was told 10
assume an entirely easy position placing
his hands together in front of the BODY.
with all the finger tips touching each
other. Santanei then stood beside Mr.
Lackaye and held out his forefinger above
the actors head III such a position that
he was obliged to assume the attitude OF
man sleeping in a chair with his head
thrown back In moment Santanelli id:
You are drowsy; close your eyes"
Mr.. Lackaye Immediately followed these
instructions, and his head slowly bent for
ward until his chin rested upon his chest
Sleep, sleep, sleep, deeper; sleep.
deeper, deeper" repeated the hypnotist
over and over again. The subjects face
took On noticeable paIlor and his breath
Ing became heavier and more Regular
SantaneIli continued:
your hands are growing heavy-oh. so
heaTy-heayier, heavier. Now they Dull
apart and fall upon your lap
Mr.. Lackaye's fingers remained station
airy for some. time, while the hypnotist
kept on supplying the suggestion under
which they would ultimately fall Fl
nally the hands drew lightly apart, then
came together again, then pulled a little
further away from one another, and. in
the end, they descended slowly until they
barely touched his thighs
Further, further apart,' commanded
santaneli. Further, further, until they
fan, they fall, by your side
After moment the sleeper's hands re-
sUmed their way. until they hung at his
sides. Santanelli then took Lacka yes head
between his pa Inns, and moved it from side
to side. The neck was as supple as india
rubber.
He is ninety-seTen per cent asleep,''
commented the hypnotist
SO far Us the watchers could see the
stage Svengali was completely under the
spell. No attempt was made, however
by Santaneiii to induce his subject to do
anything further. The spectators were
entirely satisfied, and Santanelli clapped
his hands together beside Mr.. LaCkaye's s
ear, exclaiming:
"All rghtr'
Lackaye strai ightened up, his eyes opened
with slightly startled expression, and
he glanced first around the room, then at
Santanelli, and then once more over the
faces Of the little company of friends
When asked what his sensations had
been he said he had felt an oppression
across his chest, followed by a greater
and greater inclination to sleep. He did
not believe he had been ut any time ut
terly unconscious, but very nearly so.