The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-03-14
a CRAZE


Take. Possession of the City of Hazlcton,
Pa, and Threatens Serious ResuIts-The
Somriferous Art Practiced by Many New
Disciples, ) ,me OF Whom Are Unable TO
Call Their Subjects Back to Conscious
ness.
HAzLEToN, Pa, March "a hyp-
motto craze has taken hold of the
city and threatens 10 develop serious
consequences. 1t is already alarming
and has attracted the attention OF the
authorities. DIR. j. W. Cole has felt
constrained to sound a warning
through the newspapers, and Saturday
Prof. Bierly found it necessary to issue
an edict making any attempt among
the pupils of the public schools to
practice it sufficient cause for eXpul-
sion. The city authorities are consid-
ering it, and the mayor is Inclined to
issue a proclamation making it punish
able by a fine or imprisonment to eX-
pertinent
Prof. and Mrs. Sage three weeks ago
concluded Il two-weeks' engagement in
the opera house here, giving lectures
on hypnotism and practical illustra-
lions with local subjects. Crowded
houses greeted them each night dur
ing their stay and they took 5000
away in profits. The impression
which they created remained. Men
and boys became students of hypnO-
tism; and the feats hat some of them
have since performed excel ever the
professors. Among the most prOmi-
nent of the disciples is George Markle.
He was n of the first to master the
study. He has exercised the power
in a medical way only, and
some astonishing cures have
been made by him. One ease
law of William Dershuck, an editor,
who was taken home from a hospital
pronounced incurable. She was suf-
fering from abdominal trouble, and,
being unable to retain anything, she
swallowed, was slowly starving to
death. Mr.. Markle. after placing her
under the hypnotic spell, administered
nourishment to her, and under the
treatment she has since been able to
take food. \ patient at the State hos
pital, whose leg resisted all efforts OF
the doctors to bend, was moved with
out any apparent difficulty after get
ting the man under Markie's influence.
Many other experiments of like char
acter nave been made by him, but IN
fortunately all who have studied it do
not confine their powers to acts OF
beneficencc. In the parlors, store
rooms, schools and in the streets men
and boys find subjects susceptible to
the influence. 1t is not an uncommon
thing to see Il dozen men and boys
moving half dazed along the streets,
searching for IN imaginary article
said to be placed by the performer.
William German. a pupil at tn e pub
lie school, created the widest alarmin
the schoolroom Saturday while per-
forming with several pupils. One boy
was told that a snake wa in his shoe,
and started through the room yelling
at the top of his voice, creating 4 PAM:
in the building.
Prof. Bierly was obliged to issue an
edict prohibiting the amusement. In
several instances the subjects have
suffered seriously from the effects.
Margaret Dolan, Il waitress at a res
taurant. was thrown into Il stupnr,
and when the operator attempted to
arouse her he was unable to do 50.
The several experts about the city
we're called, but despite their efforts
the woman could not be revived and
she was left to sleep it off.
Prof. Dutton. in the business col
lege, in practicing on two pupils, was
unable to revive them, AMI they re-
manned in that state for four hours.
The entire city has gone daft, and
leading citizens are discussing means
to discourage the practice.