The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-03-30
BOWEN, HYpNOTIST.
Marvellous and Amusing Were the
Demonstrations Given by This Clever
Artist at Cooper Opera House Last
Week

Henderson was in the hands of the
hypnotists last week. Nothing has
provoked more amusement or caused
more comment.
Bowen. the hypnotist. held the
boards at Cooper Opera House from
Thursday night to Saturday He did
many remarkable things and demon
strated his powers as hypnotst and
entertainer Of high order. Many
persons were completely satisfied as
to the reality Of the thing while others
still refuse to be convinced.
Mr.. Bowen impressed his audiences
as being honest and straightforward.
He does not profess to be able to per
form the impossible and frankly con-
fesses that he can do nothing without
the consent and aid of the subject to
be operated upon. He does not claim
to be able to hypnotic body
He says he can hypnotic no one who
resists it. He first called for volun-
teers to go upon the stage, some
twelve or fifteen responding, and after
putting them to sleep under his
strange power he was able to make
them perform any antics he chose:
but we cannot enumerate. Many
wonderful as we'll as amusing feats
were performed and the audience was
kept in roar of laughter all the while
Without undertaking to say what
hypnOtism is-to account for this
subtle force which changes ones en-
more creature Of suggestion doing
the will Of another at the word of
bidding-we simply deal with it as
we see it. To quote from the an
nouncement of Mr.. Bowen:
"Not only is hypnotic phenomena re-
markable, but it can be very amusing
There is no end to the strange perfor-
mances which may be called forth A
few quiet suggestions, and the subject
unhesitatingly obeys your every wish.
He cannot remember his name he is
made to stammer: he becomes insensible
to pain and can be burned, cut, or stuck
full of pins without suffering; he is made
very bashful and in an instant more is
delivering an eloquent address; he is
made SO weak that he cannot lift hand
karchef from the. floor the next moment
he is so strong as TO sustain the weight
OF several men while stretched out on
two chairs, with no support but at head
and foot. No matter how absurd the
idea, the hypnotized subject accepts it as
genuine and with naive simplicity. He
is tight-rope walker. an acrobat, a
bareback rider, he juggles with balls, or
makes love to n companion under the
supposition that he is his best girl
Ind Of hn,r
fOrmances. Force and earnestness are
put into all they do. They apparently
become another person, do things which
they ordinarily could not do, and see
things which in a normal condition they
could not see"
All this and more MIR. Bowen made
his subjects do. Time and space will
not admit of naming each feature
separately. Friday morning he put
young man named Kearney who came
with him from Louisburg to sleep
and had him on exhibition in the
window at Parker's drug store
throughout the day. That evening
he was taken to the Opera House and
aroused from his sleep in the presence
of the audience, after which he went
to the hotel and partook of hearty
supper.
Mr.. Bowen showed himself not
only very clever in his work but a
most engaging and agreeable gentle
man withal, courteous and accom-
plished, affable and obliging, always
ready to give private as we'll as public
demonstrations and enlighten and
entertain those interested as far as
possible. He made many friends in
Henderson who will be pleased to see
him here again.
Cali and see that beautiful line OF
ladies' Oxford ties, at WATKINS.