The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-12
R. B. GRIFFITH
= 80
CONFESSIONS OF A FLOP"
Secrets OF the profession as
Told by One Who Slept for
a HypnOtist.
D .
[Continued from Page 81

in some public place. usually a show
window. for from two to three days.
Whitlow was or the the latter
class. His contract called for alter
nate weekly maps of ffty-two to
seventy-two hours. Having Topped"
he would settle down surrounded by
placards and bills announcing the
divide his time telling about the re-
markable subject under the influence
Of the professor and the wonders
that were to be seen under the big
top during the following week.
OF course. the lecturer did not
mince words in trying to convince
crowds that the young "aopper" was
placing his life in the hypnotist's
hands every time he %intrusted him
possessor Of the hidden, magnetic
power. II the spieler could make
people shudder Eel the possibilities
OF the young man awakening.
he was happy. And Whitlow had to
listen to all this without ever rising
up to that he vas perfect
~ happy and for people no to worry
about his future good health. He
frequently desired to say a word in
his own behalf. especially when phys
icians would visit his side and grave
~ discuss his case. or country con-
stables would threaten to put a stop
to the brutal exhibition" by the
power invested in them by the state
laws.
Laughing when recognized a few
days ago by a mar who had witnessed
n of his slumber parties, Whitlow
said:
Eyes. I am an 'ex-fopper.' start
ed into that business down in Ken
t,,1lr1y Ta4 Ipn4ttct rvo IL S{N4
need Of ar assistant. and I took the
Job on IL hours notice. The first
'1op' was a short one. but it was the
most trying Of all aver undertook. I
lost five pounds in weight during the
fiftv-four hours I slept. The second
flop was much easier. and in a
month I could appear to be as much
asleep as a mummy.
"strange as it may seem. the hyp-
notist I worked for had me so COM
pletely under his control that he al
ways put me to sleep by talking to
me over a telephone. He would fire.
quently talk to me from a distance of
more than 100 miles. and I never fail
ed to flop at the count Of ten.
"Our advance mai always had a
committee of prominent citizens on
hand to see that I went to sleep in
good shape. After assuring the pro-
SkooA WV NttS III NlAS
ence Of the committee that I was in
excellent condition to pass under the
influence he would dole off the fig
ures from to ten. BY the time
he had counted sever I was wobbly
in the knees. When he reached ten
I would fall into the arms Of the COM
mitteemen. They would gently. lay
would he on
"I was alwavs covered nv a screen
Of mosquito bar. This prevented peo-
pie from touching me and protected
me from flies and other insects that
sometimes make sleep difficult in
warm weather. Some 'iops' event
usually get such complete control of
themselves that they need no cover
ing. and even permit people to stick
them with pins 10 prove that they
cannot be awakened. I never quail
fed AS a human pincushion. although
my employers were willing that ]
should.
Most people wonder how a flop
manages to get along without food
during these long sleeps They dc
not always do it. II all the specta.
hours Of the morning the subject
rises and disposed Of a meal and a
quart or W. Of cold water.
MANY times however. 1t was neces
sary for me to go through an entire
exhibition without food or drink. II
small towns. where most Of the peo'
pie go home early. l got more chanc
es to take nourishment than I did ii
larger cities where nighthawks wer'
wont to prowl. A flop is taking /;
long chance on arising II any either
is likely to see him. Even though
tho prowler keep his own counsel
which is almost unheard of-the flop
is liable to De fined. II not discharged
for being caught.
Fasting Is not nearly so dificul
as the majority Of the uninitiated i'm
iagine. When no energy is being ex
pended by the body less food Is re