davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01
HYPNOTISM-By H. S. w., M. D.

disturbed in any other way. She re- turned to conscious life as abruptly as she had left it, but retained no recollec- ton of her abnormal condition, all mo- tion of time had failed her and thus she faneied that it was only the day follow ing her nightly slumber; slumber which in this case had been transformed into lethargic sleep of more than three months duration, without any regidity Of limb or any conTulsions. In this case the cataleptio phase of hypnosis was absent.
 It is easy, however, to induce both the cataleptio and lethargio phases of hypno- tism in the same subject After the sub Ject has entered Into the hypnotic trance the second or lethargic stage-one eyelid may be lifted and that side alone will enter into the cataleptic phase of the hypnotic sleep. As evidence of this fact, If the arms are uplifted, one Con the lethargic side) will fall down again heav- fly. while the arm on the cataleptic side will remain up in the air. The eye on the cataleptic side will remain open while the other eye on the lethargio side will remain shut.
 Cases are on record where people that have been vaccinated on the left side would have a well developed case of smallpox on the right side. That is, the eruption would appear on the right side only. but the fever of the disease would be general. This phenomenon is observed in many diseases that sometimes attack only one side of the body.
 Very often a person suffering with an
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

has an extraordinary talent for organiza- ton that amounts to positive genius. When 9 he was chosen to the city coun- cil and thenceforth was a leader of the democratic party of the second city and the second county of Kentucky. He was the most capable as he was the most valuable, of all the lieutenants of that extraordinary man, William Goebel. Though a young man for the place Rhi- nook was seven years mayor of Coving- ton. Politics is like war in this, that without organization and discipline the election is never assured. Hence 1t was that Rhinock created the Jefferson Dem is the most powerful political force of the old commonwealth, and he is yet exeeu- tive head of that organization, that al- ways sees to 1t that every democratic vote in Covington and Kenton county is boiled.
 In 1904 the democrats of the Sixth dis trict nominated and elected Joe Rhi- nook to Congress, and he was reelected in 1906 and 1908. He was now in the prime of life a poor youth, he had wrestled with the world and thrown it. He had succeeded and he would have succeeded In any community in which his lines were cast. He is one of the most popular members of the House, and with that indomitable persistence. for which the German race is so notable, he never fails of an end that 1t Is possible to attain, and most things are possible to the indefatigable congressman if the exigencies of politics do not interpose.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

under the observation of pr. F. de Cour- melles, a French physician of integrity and renown. few years ago he exam ined at the hospital In Mulhouse (Alsaoe) a most interesting case. A young girl, 22 years of age, had been asleep for the last 12 days; her complexion was rosy. her breathing normal and her features natural in the repose of sleep. No organ seemed to be attacked, all of the vital functions apparently being performed as naturally as in the waking state. She was fed with milk, broth and wine, given to her in a spoon Her mouth would open at the contact of the spoon, and she swal- lowed without the slightest effort
 The whole body was insensible; the fore head alone presented, under the action of touch, or bricks of needle, some faint sensibilty. However, by a curious pe- cularity, her persistent horror for ether or chlorogorm seemed to show that she retained a certain amount of conscious ness. If a drop of either drug was placed before her nostrils, her face contracted and assumed an expression of disgust. At the same moment her arms and legs be- came violently agitated, as would be the case in a child who was made to swal- low a hated dose of medicine. In the inc tellectual relations the brain was not ab- solutely obscured; for on her mother com- ing to see her the subjects face be- came highly colored and tears appeared on the tips of her eyelashes-her lethargy un-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

thought of a person to make that muscle work,
 For example, if you want to walk you must give the muscles of locomo- ton the suggestion that, you want to walk, oth erwise this group of muscles will remain passive. The best illus tration of an involuntary muscle can give is the heart. This organ Is controlled by nerve known in anat- omy as the pneumogastric, and 1t works continually, and being involun- tary we do not have to think of mak ing the heart muscle work in order to keep our hearts beating. If we had to keep our minds on the action of this organ we would die the moment we ceased to think of it. That the heart action, as well as the action of all the involuntary organs of the body can be controlled by suggestion, or hypnotism, the writer Is willing at any time to prove.
 I have never dared to stop a subjects heart entirely, but the thing has been done numberless times by the Yogis of India, who are, without doubt the most expert hypnotists in the world. The hyp- notic trance may be induced by a multi tude of processes. Frequently people been buried alive. They have, in such cases, been In such deep hypnotic trance that all animation was suspended, and to all appearances and all tests they would seem to be dead. In such cases
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

~ INCE writing my last Sundays article on the above subject, I A> have received several letters from skeptics who question the truth of what I wrote. In regard to the surgical operation I describe. I am ready to prove to the doubtful ones the truth of my statement. I have an ex
 cellent hypnotic subject who Is very susceptible to the hypnotic influence of suggestion, and at any time I am able to influence his heart action. The heart action, be 1t understood, Is con- tro1led by an involuntary muscular ac- tion, and cannot be controlled by what is termed will power" If person wishes to open and close hls hand he must think of the fact that he wishes his hand to open and close. When a person Is asleep the voluntary muscles of his physical being are at rest, but the involuntary muscles are active. For instance, when person sleeps the heart beats, the lungs act, as do all the organs of his body. Tn ese organs, the heart, the lungs. the liver, the spleen, the kidneys, In fact all of the organs of the throasac and abdominal viscera are active. and it does not re- quire a. thought (such as opening and closing the hand requires), to keep these organs in action. The action of voluntary musles requires the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

It is doubtless true that Rhinock never failed in passing pension bill that he introduced. Personal popularity, good fel- lowship, resolution, common sense, good judgment, persistence-these make the practical legislator and Rhinock is rich in all of them.
 The theatrical profession has always had wonderful fascination for me, and only last winter l reread Shakespeare from lid to lid and never enjoyed it 80 much. The lives of Garrick. Kean, Sid dons, Matthews and other actors I have devoured. Only few days ago I read Ellen Terry's delightful book, and pre- viouely I had read Clara Morris and Mary Anderson. I love the. theatre. and thank God, I have a bit of imagination that enables me, for the moment, to view the thing as real and I have laugh or tear, as is appropriate, for every play I sec. It is @ great educator, the theatre. It teaches both heart and mind, and those preachers in the pulpit who as- sail 1t would be better shepherds if they encouraged their flocks to see every de- cent play that comes along. I would rather have the place in history that Garriclk fills than that of many a Pres ident of the United States. How I would love to be a Garrickl
 Congressman Rninocl1 is one of the most powerful factors in tho Shubert theatrical combination that has 100 theatres, strteoh- ing from ocean to ocean and from lake to gulf and that finances and puts on the road moro flrst-class theatrical com
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

attack of humps will develop the disease on one side of the body only Under the influence of hypnosis person may be put into the second stage Che lethargic), and instantly transferred into the third stage, the cataleptic.
 In this phase of the trance the plastic mass of bones and flesh that to ali ap- pearances is a corpse. in which all mind is absent, will immediately obey the sug- gestion of the operator and become per- fectiy rigid. The subject can then be placed upon two chairs, only the head while the subject Is in this rigid posi- ton he can sustain the weight Of heavy man. or a largrs rock may be placed upon his breast and broken to pieces with sledge hammers.
 While in this stage of hypnosis sub Ject is extremely susceptible to any ob- jective or auto-suggeston.
 Suggestion is the implantation of the hypnotizers will on his subject an inn plantation which in the somnambulistic state is made by word of mouth, and in the cataleptic state by gesture or mim- icry.
 If lively or sad tune is played or a lively on sad song is sung, or amusing or sad pictures are shown, the subject, like a mirror. at once reflects these impress sions. It Is in the third or cataleptio stage of hypnotism that the heart &C., ton as well the action of all the in- voluntary muscles or organs of the sub Ject can be controlled.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

the county seat, that Joseph L. Rhinoclx was born. When lad of six his parents moved to Covington, in Kenton county, and there Joe Rhinock was immediate ly more than self supporting. He was "newsy," and sold more papers than any other boy in town. Bright, alert, hand some, active, courteous, athletic, accom- modating, energetic, indefatigable, he was a fayorite of thousand customers, men and women, and his natural genius for affairs was thus quickened and set on the road of rapid development. He was edu- cated in the greatest of democratic instf- tutions, the public schools, where the children of the rich and poor, powerful and weak, meet on a. plane of exact equal ity. While l. that write this, am firm in the conviction that the old-feld log school of 50 years ago, where Alexander Ford thrashed a little larnin' into me. was. all fin all, better than the present common school, yet would not return to that now impossible system.
 manhood, Joe Rhinock was a successful business man, and the first thing he did was to provide a home for his parents. furnish the home with necessities, com forts, and even luxuries, and make them a deed to the property. That was the flial thing to do, even the natural thing to do, but it takes much of a man, and ell of a gentleman, to do it. Every since I heard of 1t have had a high respect for Joe Rhinock, as all who hear of 1t must have.
 Rhinock was born for leadership. He
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

mon were the real, if not the only thing worth attending to A man who like the trea surer, has just been really and personally engaged In worship will be a more promising reader, as well as a more hopeful nearer of Gods word.
 It is a noteworthy fact that the treas urer was reading the scriptures aloud. Philip heard him reading Isaiah the prophet Now, I do not pretend to say that this statement was intended to teach that our private. devotional read ings of the Bible should be done In an audible voice; but, at the same time I am satisfied that no small advantage may often be derived from just this ex- ercise. When we read aloud 1t Is much easier to fix our attention upon what we read What solitary and silent reader has not frequently found himself at the bottom of a page without having really taken in any part of the substance of that page? And then, reading aloud often lends realness to the exercise.
 | once said to that very able and thoughtful man. A. M. Poindexter that sometimes found 1t difficult to pray with any satisfaction; that even in pri- vate devotion l found 1t hard to be
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

age and presented very marked emacia- ton of the abdomen and lower limbs. Her sleep, during this long lapse of time, had never been interrupted. Her eyeids, when raised, showed her eyes convulsively turned upwards and blowing upon them called forth no movement of the lids. Her jaws were tightly clinched and sev
 eral of her teeth were broken off in the vain attempt to force open her mouth.
 The muscles contracted at the least touch, or even breath-a symptom char acteristic of lethargy; the arms, when uplifted, remained in that position; a symptom of catalepsy. This subject, a very nervous, irritable girl, had suddenly fallen into this state as the result of an intense fright, and here we have the hypnotic cause of her condition. She was nourished by liquid food poured into tho mouth. During the 15 years of this girl 8 hypnotic sleep Qnduced by fright, she was seen by many of Europe's leading physicians, but none of them could suc- ceed in waking her, and at last she died without coming out of her trance.
 There are on record large number of cases of spontaneous lethargy, called auto-h hypnosis, and without mentioning those cases supposed to have been buried alive, either while in a state of lethargy or catale psy-such cases most frequently occurring during an epidemic-we find many such cases on record that have not ended fatally. I will quote here the de- scription of peculiar case that came
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

hHE successful career of man who
 began life a poor boy must al-
 A ways appeal to the right thinking and generous hearted. Who but loves the story of Dick Wilmington and his cat who of us that does not rejoice that he became lord mayor of London and was master of Guild hall? A son of an ob- scure and struggling actress became prime minister of England, then, and even now, the very first civil station on earth. Benjamin Disraen, without a drop of Gentle blood in his veins, by sheer force of will and prodigious genius, became the first stateman of his generation, and repeatedly he was the successful rival of William E. Gladstone. One of his aphor- isms was that a man could be whatever he willed to be: but he realized the vast difference there is between a wish and a resolve. Charles Dickens was a poor boy who struggled for living when he should have been at school, and Sam Johnson, the autocrat of English letters of his day. many a time went supperless to bed.
 The like cases may be cited in our own country Benjamin Franklin, who came to be tho personal friend of Edmund Burke and the favorite of the politest and most brilliant political and literary so- ciety of France. was a tallow candle makers son who toiled for a living and ate the bread of poverty. Andrew Jack son was the son of a poor Irishman who left his native land to find home and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

liberty in the colonies Tn 1864 the men chosen President and Vice President of the United States had been children of poverty and toll. These men filled the highest civil station In our country by reason of the fact that nature had inn planted in each an indomitable will that would not be denied and that found a way. Take the rolls of our 61 congresses, and it will be found that the vast ma jority of each house were of obscure origin and poor parents. In every grand inquest of our nation, the jury is com posed of men-senators and representa- tives-who serve to illustrate the sound- ness of Emersan's admonition:
 Cast the bantling on the rock.
 SuclSle him with the she-wolfs teat."
 About the middle of the last century a young German left his native land. where town and country were crowded, and came to our shores where population was sparse, lands cheap, wages high, demand for work abundant, and oppor- tunities limitless. He found his way to Lincoln county, Kentucky, In that para disc, the blue grass region, and there he met Eliza A. Short a Kentucky girl of that day, courted her, and they were wed.
 Soon thereafter they took up their abode in Owen county, and there was born to them son, January {, 1863-Joseph La Fayette Rhinock, who has represented the Sixth Kentucky district in Congress since March 4. 1905. Owen countyl The
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

however, decomposition will not set inr as the vital spark of life Is still pres ent. animation being only suspended. Sus- pended animation is often seen in the lower order of animals.
 For instance, when bear goes into his winter sleep. he suspends the action of all vital organs of his body with the exception of his heart and lungs. Other members of the animal kingdom, how- ever, go as deep into a hypnotic trance that to all appearances life Is extinct and does not reappear until the warmth of spring restores animation to their ap- parently dead bodies.
 Many of the North American reptiles who inhabit the northern regions of the United States and Canada suspend anil nation entirely when they take their long winters nap.
 Cases of suspended animation in the animal called human being" are legion. Every one who reads this article will probably know of such a case. l will, however, here mention what is probably the most celebrated case on record.
 A few years ago the whole village of aThanelles (France) was in a state of wonder and amazement over a young girl who had been in unbroken slum- Der for 15 years.
 The fame of this strange phenomenon was noised abroad till the report at last reached Paris and some celebrated physi- clans who were interested in hypnotic phenomena decided to investigate. This subject was, at that time, 25 years of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

be bothered in the least by this destruc- tive pest.
 As was said in the beginning of this article, the spirit of diversincation is abroad in the land and a new era is dawning in Alabama agriculture In some parts of the state the people are turning to friut raising, in others to trucking, everywhere to diversified crops. Here in west Alabama it has been alfalfa hay, for thousands of acres have been found as suitable to its growth as tho very best lands in the golden west It Is simply a question of common sense, q plain business proposition-E5 to go an acre in alfalfa, s8o an acre in cotton. with the expense attached to the latter three times as great as that attached to the former. Hay, corn and stock. with just enough cotton thrown in to fill out the edges, are cutting the gordian knot for the blacls-belt farmers lifting mortgages that seemed to heavy to ever be lifted, making these planters Independent and mustering the most formidable army against the invasion of the boil weevil from the west that any section can com mand.
 A study of present conditions and fu- ture possibilities; a sight of rolling prni- ries as far as the eye can reach. fertile enough to grow crops as fuxuriantly as the valley of the Nile g mixing and minglfng with the people and an Insight into the spirit of education and progress that is working nightly among them. All these things lead one to exclaims God has blessed Alabamat'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-01

opinon: Alfalfa is the greatest thing God Almighty ever made"
 At Livingston, Mccain Bros. have maintained large warehouse for several years, and on their farm about eight miles out of town, they have erected a good, substantial barn for every 40 acres. This firm has put in several hundred acres. and sells thousands of dollars worth of hay every year. Near them and almost In the same beat Cobb & McMillan have combined stock-raisng and alfalfa growing with the only logical result, a splendid profit every year. They use gas- oline engines at their barns, and all the latest improved machinery for baling and packing. They recently made a record run of 85 bales, weighing 12o pounds each, baled and packed in 80 minutes
 The farms of Ramsay & Smith, and c. s. Bayless are located at Sumterville. seven miles away from the railroad town of Epes. in the heart of a rolling prairie. There is one piece of land out there that rented for $10o year under the negro and cotton system. It was seeded in alfalfa. and this year ssoo worth of hay had been sold from the field by the first of August, with a return of over 800 per cent on the investment. Ten years ago the road to market from Sumterville was impossible except in the summer months. The citi- zens of the community aroused them- selves. raised several thousand dollars as a bonus and went before the county com-
 nissioners for help. This body believed in helping those who were willing to help themselves, and as a result. after the expenditure of some $30.00Q those people have as pretty a pike as can ne found in the state. The market. by means of this road, has been carried almost to their very doors. The old winter trip of three and four hours under the most fav- orable of conditions has been changed into a 3o-rninute drive behind pair of good trotters. And the best part of 1t is that the trotters are there, too, on al- most every farm.
 Tn Greene county, the section known as the Fork, from Eutaw down to where the Warrior and Tombigbee have their con fiuence. has always been the richest mart of the county Not far from the Tombisbee and in proximity to the De- mopolis market and the Birmingham dis trict via Eutaw, around Watsonia post office, can be found some of the largest growers in the state. Messrs Frank Inge, Ennis Thornton, Stiles Ulmer and others are giving almost their whole time and attention to the alfalfa crop. Mir. Thornton alone lost at his first cutting this year, owing to the wet spring, some thing like $4O00 worth of hay. Lands sub feet to overflow are being planted in corn, and under such a regime there will be money in the farmers pocket all the year round. Judge Thomas w. Cole man, statesman, 5urist. and all-round man of affairs, has about 100 acres in that hs says proves valuable aid to him in the working of his plantations He never sells ths hay. but uses it as a corn-saver on his other plantations.
 Over in Hale county. Col. W. O. Tun- stall, ex-raflroad commissioner has turned his attention away from common car