The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-21
CAST INTO A TRANCE.
hYPNortzEo, THE BARBER SKILL
FULLY Piled HIS SHEARS.

| american medical STUDENT, VINO tOlQ me
that he was an exceptionally successful
man at hypnotism. One day I visited
him at his rooms.
This hypnotism that you mentioned
the other day said l, is more OF less
charlatanism, isn't it?
"Well, there are hypnotic charlatans,
he admitted.
"'Can you hypnotic anybody ask.
I'd him.
81 hardly claim as much as that he
answered. But can hypnotic mostly
anybody who hasn't set his will dead
against being hypnotized.'
"I'll bet you so francs that you can't
hypnotic my barber. even though he
doesn't set his will against being hypno-
tized-even though he doesn't know that
you'll attempt to hypnotic him. l said.
| "Tll take you, even though l don't
know how strong, minded an individual
he may be. I win undertake to hypnotic
him SO thoroughly that he will carefully
cut the hair Of a wig l shall wear, and
he shall fancy that he is cutting my own
hair said my confident student.
$50 we started for the barber shop,
which was an obscure but very clean lit
tie place in side street not far from my
lodgings. On the way we dropped into a
theatrical costumer's. where my friend
purchased, for couple Of francs, an en-
tirely barbarous red wig, such as the SUI
pers forming Roman populace' custom
arily wear. thought when he stuffed it
into his pocket that barber would have
TO be either exceedingly drunk or decid-
eddy hypnotized to mistake that fiery,
awry bit of theatrical property for the
hair on bona fide human poll.
my barber was not the proprietor Of
the shop, but the proprietor's single as.
sistant. He was middle aged man, with
strong, smooth shaved face, griszled
tain sodierly way about him. He had
served for many years with an Algerian
corps Neither he nor the proprietor was
busy when we walked in.
Emile l addressed him when we en-
tered, I have been recommending to my
friend your skill with the scissors. l am
nnsel6sh, and so l shall not claim your
attention. NJ. lie Proprietaire shall at
tend to me, while you may verify my in
dorsement by giving my friend hair cut
in your best manner
"'Oui, m'sieu,' said Emile, smiling cor.
daily ut my student friend. The latter
was sizing up Emile. Suddenly he drop.
ped something that tinked musically as
it ran along the tiled floor. He went aft
er it and picked It up. 1t was a small
and ancient Spanish coin of gold, worn
thin, with the head of the first Ferdinand
on its diverse side.
"'By Jove, ! wouldn't have lost that
for anything! exclaimed my friend the
student picking the little gold coin up
and holding it up before Emile, the bar.
Der, between his right thumb and fore.
finger. Emile gazed at the shining coin
In fascinated sort Of way. He bent his
head closer to trace Ferdinand's some.
what worn and vaguely outlined head.
My student slowly drew the coin back.
Emile took step forward, his eyes glued
to the coin. My student had Emile. II
was easy to see that. I wouldn't VEN
ture to say how it was done, but he sure.
ly had Emile. nudged the proprietor
of the shop, who was mystified.
"A little experiment. ! told him, to
decide wager between myself and my
student friend-one Of Charcot's lads
ale understood and nodded his head.
"Emile was still gazing with queer in.
tensty at the coin.
Look at me- said my student to
Emile, replacing the coin in his pocket.
Emile transferred his gaze to my stu
dents piercing eyes, and there was a
mournful expression, as Of whipped
dog, on his countenance-an extraordina-
~ change of expression.
"'Now, you may face the wall for q
moment, said my student, pointing to
the wall. Emile wheeled about and
faced the wall. My young Richmond
friend thrust his hand into his coat pock-
ct, drew out the atrocious wig and fitted
it over his head. 1t made him look su.
premely ridiculous-loutsh, like a yokel
in one of Millet's pictures. His black hair
bulged below the red wig at the back.
lie smiled at his reelection in the glass,
and then he walked over to Emile, who
was standing facing the wall with the ri.
cd him around.
Emile he said, tonight I wish to
look my best, for am to attend func.
ton Of state. I desire that no one hair
shall be longer than the other, except in
conformation TO the shape Of my head,
and trust to your art. Begin
Emile grinned with idiotic eonccit.
"'My best efforts, m'sieu, shall be
yours he replied in sort Of choked
voice, and he picked out his scissors and
proceeded. He worked with great care.
He stood off and examined my student
friends head from numerous points of
view. After he had taken rear view
a mystiiied expression stole over his
somewhat drawn features. He had no.
ticed the black hair protruding below the
red wig.
1.-The two quite different colors, m sieu,'
he said in a faraway sort of tone, are
they not
"a little hereditary popularity, Emile
said my friend in the chair. Proceed
"'Ah" exclaimed Emile, with an in.
drawn breath, and he proceeded. He
was surely rendering that barbarous wig
prcsentable. When he had almost fin.
ished, my friend, taking advantage of
Emies stepping back to obtain side
view, turned his head to me and asked:
"'Arc you satisfedT
"'Quite,' I replied. 80 thoroughly
satisfied that begin to doubt II you're
quite a safe nan to know
"He smiled contentedly, and then he
rose from the chair, Emile regarding him
with surprise.
"'Will not m'sieu waltz be inquired,
| looking hurt.
"'Come, Emile exclaimed my friend,
| swapping the tranccd barber sharply be-
hind the car. Emile shook his head from
| side to side two or three times his f-a.
| lures rela Ied the nstural CLEAN came iuto
. his eyes, and he looked around puzzledly.
| explained it all to Emile. He was ut
first trile disposed to anger A bit Of
absnth money soothed him and brought
him around. I paid my wager and w.
| turned from France q believer In hyppu