The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-22
A SCARED SVENGALI.
foUNo HYPNoTisT WAS NOT ABLE
TO REMOVE HIS SPELL.

In Reality the Operator Was the viotim
Of . Hosx--suhiect Cievoriy Feigned
Deep acknowledgements Now Says He
Will Give Up His Fad.
William Hartwell Webb, student of
Northwestern university, aspires to be
q Svengali. His fellow students do not
place much confidence in his hypnotic
powers, and thereby hangs tale. For
eight hours Oh recent day Webb labor
ed under the impression that he had
produced hypnotic spell and was un-
able TO break it. More than q score of
students gathered around tho subject
and feigned the utmost fear. When the
subject, S. A. Tyndall. scholar in the
preparatory department at the univer-
sity, finally "regained consciousness,
Webb was almost frantic with delight.
He now declares that he will no longer
delye into the mysteries of hypnotism.
Webb is member of the junior class
and is 81 years old. In all Of his stud
les he bears an excellent record, but his
averages in the class Of psychology have
particularly been irreproachable. He is
the prime favorite of Professor q. A.
Coe, the instructor of this class, and
great things have been predicted for
him in the hypnotic line.
Not long ago Webb announced that
he would give al exhibition Of his hyp-
motto powers. The date was set, and at
the appointed hour the hall in the uni
versity where Webb was to hold forth
was crowded to overfowing. The ma
jority of those present, however, had
not come to witness startling feats. In
fact, there were a few who were envi-
ous of Webb's heralded ability in psy-
chology, and they had premeditated his
downfall.
When Webb advanced to the rostrum
in the hall, he announced that he was
ready for all Corners. Tyndan volun-
teered himself as subject and was
promptly accepted. The hypnOtist first
made number Of passes about the face
Of the subject, and then he snapped his
fingers in Tyndall's face. The latter
did not bulge.
Nov, then," announced Webb in
unooncealed glee, "the subject is in q
condition of passiveness He will do
just what tell him."
Then he told Tyndall to chase cats,
dodge cannon balls and look at airships.
all of which the subject did with the
utmost earnestness.
It was few minutes after 1 o'clock
when Webb commanded Tyndall to
awake. There was no response. Webb
snapped his fingers, rubbed Tyndall's
forehead and resorted to every con-
ceivable method of restoring the sub
ject, but without success. Then the
real exhibition came.
Gentlemen, said Webb, "there is
something wrong here. This subject
cannot be brought out of his SPELL"
Exclamations of anger burst from the
students present. and they urged, threat
ened and begged Webb to do something
before Tyndall became bereft Of his fac
ulties.
Webb trembled visibly, while perspi-
ration rolled from his forehead profuse-
ly. Finally he declared that only one
measure could be resorted to, and that
was to summon Professor Coe.
''Then, go get himr' yelled one of
the students.
Webb rushed from the hall to sum-
mon the professor. As soon as he had
disappeared Tyndall suddenly "came
to, and, lighting cigarette, perched
himself ON the edge Of the rostrum and
joined heartily in the merriment Of the
jokers. -
During this time Webb was running
excitedly about Evanston searching for
Professor Coe. He was unable to find
even the slightest trace Of his instructor,
and with q last hope that he would be
able to restore Tyndall he returned to
the hall. Again he worked on the sub
ject, who by this time had thrown
away his cigarette and resumed his
trance" Webb went through every
formula known to the art Of hypnotism
until Tyndall became exhausted from
his sleep" and returned to conscious
ness. Chicago Inter Ocean.