The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-12-28
GEORGE W. FERGUSON.


Ferguson had 9, 600, and what the art in
structor has dono with his young subjects
places Du Mauricr's hypnotist in the no
sition of an amateur.
The ShcbOygan Svongali, it is common
ly believed, causes children unncuuaintcd
with tho rudimcnts of music to play Bee
thovon's symphonies, Won Suppc's operas
and tho most difficult piano music. Pupils
in tho schools, who know nothing of art,
were made to draw and to paint artistically
on first grasping the brush; teachers who
camo to their classrooms suffering from
nervous prostration were made vol; chill
drcn were cured of headaches drowsiness
and listlcssncss, and if dull were made
bright. But notwithstanding all that
Professor Ferguson claims to have done
for teachers, pupils and schools his services
were not appreciated and he has returned
to private life. His work, no claims, was
not for personal qualification, but for the
good OF mankind as pcrsonified by tho
pupils of tho public schools, and he will
continue his efforts to relieve the suffer
ings of tho race by establishing Il school of
hypnotism.
Professor Fcrguson's experiments in
hypnotsm as applied to school children
have been in progress nearly two years,
having begun when Inc became connected
with tho public schools two years ago Hc
is an artist of ability and derived a good
income from his brush and his acceptance
of position in the public schools surprised
his friends. Now, however, it is believed
he was inspired to abandon u great part of
ms art work to instruct tho young by tho
opportunity presented in tho position for
tho practice Of tho science of hypnosis in
the schools, where thousands Of excellent
subjects could be found, and where tho
experiments could DO conducted with the
greatest case. Pupils of the public schools
became his subjects from the day he ac-
copied the appointment of instructor in
drawing, and the experiments were CON
tlnucu until the exposure of his operations
IL short time ago
The discoveries that have been made
concerning Professor Fcrguson's cxpcri-
mcnts have astonished the school authori-
tics and aroused the Indignation Of parents.
1t has not been asccrtaincd that any child
has been wrongcd or has been improperly
treated, but it has been learned that in
every school in the city ana i'll every de-
partmcnt of each school and in all grades
this SvcnSali in real life has found sub
Jccts. They number not only the MAORI
ty or tho pupils in the schools, but many
of the teachers. While Professor Ferguson
has conducted scores of exhibitions. ms he
calls them, in which pupils formed the
subjects and other pupils wero spectators
these are but few instances, according to
the professors admissions, where hypno-
tlsm has been practiced in tho schools
If a teacher had headache, Professor
Ferguson made n few magical passes with
his hands, gazcd steadily in her eyes I'M
til the lids dropped, told her she was well
and snapped his fingers. and the pain
was gone! If q pupils memory was poor
the science OF suggestion was applied, and
her memory was made rctontiYc! If "a
pupil had "a lame wrist and could not copy
his exercises, the professors hand was
passed gently over tho crippled member.
and it became well! If i'll the school foot
ball scrmmagc q half back received kick
III the ribs and was apparently incapaci-
tatcd for school work, Professor Ferguson
drove away the pain, reduced the swell
ing and had tho boy in school tho next
day Hc was the conqucring antagonist
of carache, toothache, growing palms.
and all the little worrimcnts that boyhood
is heir to and was the children's friend.
Many of Professor Fcrguson's cxperi-
mcnts were amusing. One of tho NOM
bcrs of the school board is DR.. III. d.
Squire, leading physician and stub
born enemy of Professor Fcrguson's hyp-
motto experiments. He was at the board
meeting when the matter was taken up
and took u determined stand against the
practice. Yet DIR. Squire's charming
daughter is II stanch believer in the profess
or's powers and became believer
through her own experience. Miss Squire
attends tho Second ward school. and re-
Gently was indisposcd so seriously that she
could not continue her studies Professor
Ferguson was there and invited her into
the antcroom off the main hall. and by "a
pass placed her in u Hypnotic sleep and left
her by suggestion she was permitted to
listen to strains OF sweet music and to
smell the perfume of flowers and was per
mittcd to remain amid these surroundings
an hour, when she was awakened, fully
relieved OF her unpleasant sensations.
Scores of teachers have been relieved in
the same manner. They called it magnet
ism, and were astoundcd when they were
awakened to the fact that they had been
healed by hypnotism.
In experimenting with children tho pro-
lessons favoritc procedure was to take the
child under his influence without placing
her in hypnotic sleep and to order her to
close her eyes. After they were shut sho