Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1895 — A Hypnotized Town. [ARTICLE]

A Hypnotized Town.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The town of Abingdon, 111., has been forced to protect herself from hypnotism. What would have finally become of the good people of Abingdon if the Town Council, backed by’Mayor Helderfast, had not passed an ordinance prohibiting the practice of hypnotism under a penalty of $25 fbr each’offense, it is difficult to say. All the trouble came of a series of lectures delivered in the town, the lecturer telling his hearers that every one had hypnotic power, and advising its general practice. It is asserted that the people became crazy. Many acted as if bewitched; others believed themselves under hypnotic control; people religiously inclined suffered from spiritual exaltation; and, in fine, business was largely suspended in Abingdon and hypnotism flourished. One of the worst features of this Abingdon hypnotism was the scapdalous conduct of the young men and women of the place, who, pretending to have been hypnotized, threw off all restraints and behaved in the most shocking manner. The method resorted to by the Illinois TownOouncil to stamp out hypnotism is worthy of consideration. Hypnotism threatens to become a dangerous fad. Every offender, to prove his innocence, has only to put in the plea that he has been hypnotized. By prompt application of law to both hypnotizer and hypnotizee, no doubt the delusion will soon pass away. He who is hypnotized into violations of the law will have to be unhypnotized by legal process. He willsoon be taught to so exercise his will as to defy the hypnotizer.