The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-05-21
OF HYPNOTISTS
AND HYPNOT|SM
An Inmate of the Clinton, New York Pris-
on Tells Of His Experience on the
Road With Professional, and Declares
it is All a Fake.
UNDER THE INFLUENCE

say that hypnOtism, or mesmerism
as it is universally practiced upou
the American stage today, is fraud
from beginning to end.
DR. Mesmer of Paris, France. gets
the credit for having brought the
subject to the attention of the
scientific world. Mesmerism was sc
called in his honor. He believed
so thoroughly in it himself that he
demanded an investigation. A COM
mittee composed of physicians and
members of the Academy of Sciences
of which Benjamin Franklin was q
member, investigated. They con-
cluded that DR.. Mesmer was fraud
Later on Mesmer was driven into
exile.
Next in order came DR.. Braid OF
Manchester, England. followed by
DR.. Chaicot of Paris. The latter
founded a school of hypnotism
called the Paris Schoo, of Hypno-
tism. DR.. Braid named it-what-
ever it is-hypnotism.
However it is not my intention to
write a history of hypnotism. |
merely wish to explain a few things
about present day hypnotists that
everybody does not know, aud that
/ believe are interesting. Because
1 have played the game, both as a
hypnotist and as hypnotic subject
l believe that 1 know a bit about it.
And in spinning this yarn" l shall
confne myself to what really
know, and have personally expert
enced.
Ignorant Themselves
There are many hypnotists tour
ing the country who are blissfully
ignorant of the fact that they never
could, or never will, be able to place
even harmless little house cat
under the influence of hypnotism.
Let me now tell of an instance
where the enthusiasm of one hypno-
tist came near breaking up happy
home. The person in question was
a lady, and received all her lesson
in hypnotism from certain pro-
fessor'' in New York City. l was
in the employ of that gentleman and
happened to be the first person this
lady placed under her influence
she believed.
She was so delighted with her
success that she Immediately went
home and attempted to hypnotise
her loving hubby. The husband OBJ
jected and, learning from someone.
about us. he stalked into our domain
intent upon hopping up the place
as we'll as wiping out the whole
room with the body of the pro-
fessor.
where's that hypnotist?" he
shouted.
Now. the professor was man
about six feet tall and weighing al
most two hundred pounds.
The sight of the professor cooled
him somewhat and he explained.
"Oh,-er-oh," he stammered, Il
just called in to explain about my
wife. She has been taking lessons
in hypnotism from you and is
making my life miserable At first
| slammed it to please her. But,
sir, this morning she told me l was
a monkey and should act like one,
and 1 baked. Now, if she persists
in this crazy work, I'll have to leave
the house and sleep in the wood
she'd"
After we had pacified him. he left
to seek out the person who informed
him that the hypnotist was small
and weak.
How Fakes are Worked
Occasionally the newspapers con-
tain story of a victim of asphasia;
that is, of person who suddenly
loses all remembrances of his pre-
vious life. Asphasia has been used
as an advertising dodge by some
hypnotists. l will relate how one
hypnotist carried out the deception.
The company l was with, was
playing through Pennsylvania, stop
ping one week in town or city.
Accordingly, one of our troupe
would be week in advance, and
would start the ball a-rolling at
whatever town or city might be the
hypnotist's next stopping place.
Arriving at the most prominent
hotel in the town. he would inquire
as to rates. etc. Being satisfied, he
would pick up pen and make a