Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-28
alisesllaneuus Rsaaing.
CONFESSIONS OF A "FLoP."
Secrets of the "Profession"-One Who
Slept For a Hypnotist.

|
harder work than barbering, Elmer
Whitlow, PAPA Charlotte street, |!
back on the latter job.
For more than a year WhitloW
hypnotist. Then, emaciated and ner'
vous, he quit. Standing for Ions
hours on his feet and cutting hair 1!
play compared with lying on his back
and Stimulating sleep, says Whitlow
He is thoroughly at outs with al
forms of sleeping" jobs and he vows
that never again will he permit him.
self to be beguiled away from the sign
of the patriotic pole by the promise
of easy money in exchange for dozine
away his days.
Having their own interests at heart
"fops" seldom expose the secrets OF
their profession while working at it
The secrets of the game have been
carefully guarded. But Whitlow Is
positive that he is through with the
business, and he is not averse to tell
ing some of his experiences. Inas-
much as his exhibitions were always
free to the public, he being engaged
merely to advertise show, he does
not feel that his taking ever harmed
any one or fieeced anybody.
There are two classes of 'flops. "
One "goes to sleep" on stages and
amuses the audience by doing foolish
antics. suggested by the hypnotist. A
secondhand by the way, the real,
dyed in the-wool "f1op''-"sleeps" in
some public place, usually a show
window, for from two to three days.
| Whitlow was one of the latter class.
His contract called for alternate week
ly maps" Of 54 and 70 hours. Having
'hopped" he would settle down sur
rounded by placards and bills an
nouncing the coming show, and lee
turer would divide his time telling
about the remarkable subject under
the influence Of the professor and the
wonders that were to be seen under
the big top during the following
lweek
| or course. the lecturer did not
mince words In trying to convince
crowds that the young Hopper" was
placing his life in the hypnotist's
hands every time he intrusted himself
into the care of that marvellous pos
SCISSOR of the hidden. magnetic power
If the spieler could make people shud-
der over the possibilities Of the young
man never awakening, he was happy
And Whitlow had to listen to all this
without ever rising up to announce
that he was perfectly happy and for
people not to worry about his future
good health. He frequently desired
to say a word in his behalf, especially
when physicians would visit his side
and gravely discuss his case, or coun-
try constables would threaten to put
a stop to the brutal exhibition" by
| the power vested in them by the state
laws.
Laughing when recognized a few
days ago by man who had witnessed
one of his slumber parties, Whitlow
said:
Yes, am an 'ex-fiopper.' start
ed into that business down in Ken
tucky. The hypnotist was in dire
need Of an assistant, and 1 took the
job on II hours notice. The first
flop was a short one, but it was the
most trying of all ever undertook.
lost five pounds in weight during the
was much easier. and in month
could appear to be az much asleep as
a mummy.
Strange as 1t may seem, the hyp-
notist 1 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 frequent
ly talk to me from a distance Of more
than 100 miles, and 1 never failed to
flop at the count Of 10.
Our advance man always had q
committee of prominent citizens on
hand to see that I went to sleep In
good shape. After assuring the pro-
| fessor over the telephone in the pres
ence of the committee that I was In
excellent condition to pass under the
influence he would dole off the fig
ures from one to ten. By the time
he had counted seven l was wobbly
| in the knees. When he reached ten
would fall into the arms Of the COM
mitteemen. They would gently lay
me in the show window and the show
would be on.
II was always covered by screen
of mosquito bar. This prevented peo-
pie from touching me and protected me
from flies and other insects that some
times make sleep difficult in warm
weather. Some 'flops' eventually get
such complete control Of themselves
that they need no covering, and even
permit the people to stick them with
pins to prove that they cannot be
awakened. / never qualified as hu-
man pincushion, although my employ
ers 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. If all the specta-
tors have left along in the early hours
of the morning the subject rises and
disposes Of meal and a quart or two
Of cold water.
| Many times, however, it was nee
essary for me TO go through an en-
tire exhibition without food or drink
In small towns, where most Of the
people go home early. l got more
chances to take nourishment than
did in large cities where nighthawks
were wont to prowl A flop Is tax.
ing a long chance on arising II any
citizen Is likely TO see him. Even
though the prowler keep his oWr
lcounsel-which is almost unheard OF
the flop is liable to be fined, if moi
discharged, for being caught
Fasting is not nearly so difficult
as the majority of the uninitiated
imagine. When no energy Is being
expended by the body less food is re.
quired to keep the machinery going
Hence a flop can get along on a
small amount of food. Several times
after making exhibitions OF 72 hours
duration l have risen to find that
did not want anything to eat. Some.
| times it would be several hours after
the professor had awakened me be-
fore | would eat. But / was always
thirsty after each flop One time
unable to longer combat my thirst.
arose after 80 hours and drank q
quart of water. For doing this
was fined.
| Persons with an overdeveloped
sense of curiosity make life trying
for the flop. Oftentimes, usually ir
small towns. / have known persons
to remain in front of a show window
throughout the sleep to be on hand
in case the flop moved. Sometimes
= Il. ,.ls t.NFr 80