Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1891 — HYPNOTISM. [ARTICLE]

HYPNOTISM.

How the Science Was Demonstrated on a Georgia Train. A few weeks ago a well-known Philadelphian was traveling through Georgia in an exceedingly slow train. There were only two, other passengers in that car, and with one of these the Quaker City man engaged in conversation. After a while they got to talking about mind reading, and Mr. Blanke, of Philadelphia, expressed his disbelief in anything of the kind. “Maybe you don’t take any stock in hypnotism either?” suggested the young man. Mr. Blanke didn’t. “Well,” continued the other, “I am an expert hvpnotizer and can prove it. See that other passenger up in the corner?” Mr. Blanke looked and beheld a little old man, wearing a white felt hat, curled up in a seat, sound asleep. “Now,” said the young man, “I can hypnotize that old fellow so he will wake up when the conductor enters, knock him down, choke him, and throw his hat out of the window.” “I’ll bet SSO to sls that you can’t,” exclaimed the incredulous Philadelphian. The wager was accepted, the money was deposited with the solitary brakeman, and then the hypnotizer crept softly up to the sleeping passenger, waving his hands over the latter’s head and whispering the proper instructions. Then he took his seat beside Mr. Blanke. In a quarter of an hour the conductor entered the car and sang out, “Tickets!” The next second the elderly passenger awoke with a start and leaped into the aisle and struck the conductor under the left ear, knocking Mm flat to floor. Without wasting an instant he seized him by the throat, and before Mr. Blanke or the brakeman could come to the rescue the conductor’s hat was picked up and thrown out of an open window'. Suddenly the hypnotizer cried “Bight!” at the same time clapping his hands. The old man started, rubbed his eyes, and didn’t know what to make of the conductor’s anger until all was explained. The money was paid over to the hypnotizer and Mr. Blanke left the train at the next station. Then the old man and the conductor and the hypnotizer had a drink together and divided the SSO. “Worked him nicely, didn’t we?” observed the hypnotizer, as he whiffed the foam off his beard. “You bet!” ejaculated the old man. “I ll pick up my hat on the return trip,” concluded the conductor.—Philadelphia Press.