The Halifax Comet. — 1893-04-01 (Halifax, West Yorkshire, England)

IMMIMMININIE.  APRIL 1, 1893.  I was dealing with an honest man. Space will not permit my giving our oonversation in full, but in effect it amounted to this: My friend fully admitted the danger. He does not believe that cases are frequent, but he is satisfied that there are many instances of persons using - for their personal ends. He has frequently been applied to by persons ready and willing to pay liberally for lessons, "and I am satisfied,' ` said the Professor, "that most of them meant no good." "Could you make one of those boys steal anything?' I inquired, referring to the la& he had employed for his challenge experiment. " trndoubtdly ; but if the subject were honestly inclined I should have to use as much persuasion as if he were awake." "Then the subject's will is not absolutely at the disposal of the mesmerist." "Certainly not; and that is the greatest safeguard against the dangers you suggest. All, in such a case, depends upon the relative strength and wkness of the mesmeriser and subject. Gen an :extremely powerful mesmeriser and abnormally weak subject, and I should not like to say where his power would stop—not even at murder; but, fortunately, these conditions are very rare." "Have you known any cases of strong control P " "Yes. I know a man who can send his wife to sleep by a mere effort of will, no matter what she may do to resist him. Another will order a lad, when in the mesmeric state, to do some act at, say twelve o'clock the next day. Without knowing how or why the boy will be impelled to do as bid, although he has not the slightest knowledge of the command. I have known a girl mesmerised in an omnibus by, a very powerful operator, sitting opposite her; but that was an exceptiopal of course. English people are not at all susceptible to mesmeric influence. In the Southern States of America, where I have been, I can always safely rely on getting seventy per cent of my subjects under control within five minutes. The proportion would be greater in India, where I believe every native is susceptible. In conclusion the Professor gave me some startling illustrations of the danger of tampering with the subject. He is particularly down on experiments by amateurs unaided by competent advisers, and he is honest enough to decry public exhibitions as at present given. His own excuse is that of the apothecary in "Romeo and Juliet." He also gave me two simple rules for testing whether a person is under control or susceptible. Tarn back the eyelid; if the pupil does not contract on exposure to the light, the subject is not shamming. To ascertain whether one is susceptible, place your hands lightly against his shoulder-blades, and mentally will him to fall towards the right or left, backwards or forwards. Of course the subject must not resist or know what is required of him.  " THERE will have to be some new rules made, or something like that, or else I shall have to quit," said the young lady in the telephone-office to the chief clerk. "What's the trouble ? " "Some of the things that are said over the wires are exceedingly- disagreeable, and not proper for me to hear." "Oh, that's all right," was the reply. "You can't expect to work around electncity and not get shocked."  . Road  -4-