HOW HIS ENTERTAINMENTS WERE WORKED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 6, 9 January 1899, Page 3

HOW HIS ENTERTAINMENTS WERE WORKED.

THE STORY OF TWO OF HIS

ASSISTANTS

On October G and 8 last the Sydney 'Evening News' published the following about Kennedy:—'A visitor to Sydney of mesmeric fame, and who has been at one time or other placarded throughout Australia, has departed for the 'Pacific Slope.' leaving n number of his paid 'subjects' stranded here.There is but little hope of their reaching their homes in the other colonies, as they are without the wherewithal in the shape of the steamer fare. The mesmerist, who came here from West Australia, where he had been touring successfully, was no stranger to Sydney audiences, and his^ supposed wonderful hypnotic influence over 'subjects' was the wonder. if not the admiration, of scores who had made hypnotism a life study. Even medical practitioners marvelfed at the magnetic will force that- could compel a man to eat candle under the belief that it was candy or cake, and drink a nauseous decoction of colza oil, kerosene, cayenne pepper and mustard under the assumption that it was a liquid refreshment of a very palatable kind. He opened in Sydney at the beginning of last month' and'showed for three w^eeks. Then arrangements were made, so the employees were led to understand, for a tour in Newcastle and afterwards in Brisbane; but this proved to be but a little hypnotic bluff on the part of the professor. On the following Monday the American mail steamer left. The professor went down to see his brother off and ended by going himself.

When he opened his season here he brought with him a staff of seven subjects. These were his permanent hands, who travelled round Australia with the show. One hails from Adelaide and the others from Melbourne. These were the oil-drinking, candleeating gentry, wdio underwent horrible suffering nightly, in order that the spectators of the performance mig-ht applaud the professor's extraordinary power of will. The story of two of his duped 'subjects' should prove interesting. The men hail from Melbourne. One is an engineer by occupation and the other a painter and paperhang-er. Seen by a 'News' reporter, they were, as might have been expected, exceedingly wroth at having been deserted by a man for whose financial benefit nightly they were in the habit of going through some fearful ordeals. Their pittance was a miserable one. The first, E C -, is a tall, well set up young fellow. Both he and the other unfortunate subject, R- M •, hail from Melbourne. C joined the show in Melbourne about Easter last, when the professor was at St. George's Hall. He happened to be out of work, and his first introduction to the hypnotist, or rather to his property man, was made through a friend of his who was ekifig out an existence as a paid subject. C went to the theatre, and the result of the interview being satisfactory he was engaged at a salary of 15s. His instructions he received from the property man. They were simple. 'When the professor draws his hand down your face you are to go to sleep. He will indicate by pressure which side of the stage you are to fall.' C duly made his appearance in the role of a 'subject' drawn voluntarily from the audience. He and the others were supplied with tickets of admission beforehand, and took their seats among those who had paid for admission. The professor duly drew his hands over the new subject and off he dropped on the stage, apparently in a cataleptic state. 'You are all right now,' said the professor soon afterwards, and C ,as previously instructed, jumped up and began conducting himself as one who had been awakened from a long slumber, and was somewhat dazed in consequence.

'But did not the professor exercise any hypnotic power over you?' asked the reporter.

'None whatever. It was simply the man's bluff, and we were paid to do what he required.'

At the conclusion of the first night of the entertainment C had the satisfaction of learning that he was 'likely to make a good subject.' He was warned that he must never be seen hanging round the theatre, either before or after the performance, for, said his employer, sagely, 'that might give the whole thing away.' C agreed that it might, and promised to be careful. 'Never sit with any of the other subjects in the auditorium,' was another injunction given to Cand his fellow-employees. Tho Melbournite advanced rapidly to fame, if not to fortune. For the first week he was confined to the more simple tests of twirling his hands and making grimaces to correspond with the manual revolutions, in order to delude the audience into believing that once started he was unable to stop, unless

the professor willed it. In this, as in others, he acquitted himself to the satisfaction of his employer, and the second week he was promoted to eat candles. C— was not at all anxious to be called on to eat such unpalatable food, and also to look happy while doing it. A great deal depended upon the subject. The slightest feeling of repugnance at the nauseous compound would mean exposure for the showman, and loss of employment for the subject. The men never knew when their candle-eating turn came, hence they were always prepared for emergencies, whether they appeared in the shape of colza oil and mustard or sperm candles. Rarely, however, was a new subject given the candle test. Some weeks were generally allowed to elapse in order that he might gain confidence. C passed through the candle-eating stage successfully, and soon afterwards the professor tried him with a needle. The professor, as those who have seen his performances will recollect, after having handled his subject for a second or two, sets forth that the man is completely under the influence of the mysterious power that he wields, and in order to prove that there is no deception, proceeds to stick a needle into the subject. This would be a trying ordeal for most persons. It proved so for C , but he gradually reached perfection. First the professor operated upon by pricking him gently about the head and body. This he stood with the imperturbability of a Red Indian, when tied to the torture stake. After some nights of this C could stand unmoved, his body rigid and his face unrelaxed, while the professor drove the needle all over his body to the bone. But one of his .severest tests was one that he was subjected to unexpectedly, and at other than the professor's hands. One night while showing in Melbourne a doctor, who was somewhat sceptical as to the professor's reputed power, came upon the stage, and began operating upon C with a needle. The attack was so sudden that the subject's first impulse was to yell with pain. By an almost super* human effort he stood this fearful' torture unflinchingly, and the doctor went away convinced of the genuineness of the exhibition.

After concluding a fairly successful season in Melbourne, he opened in Adelaide at the Bijou Theatre. His staff of travelling subjects by this time included C and M , both of whom had become proficient in the various phases of the business of deception, and who could eat candles and drink oil as if they had been accustomed to such fare all their lives. While travelling, the company were on half salaries. The showman had promised to pay the members their steamer fare to Adelaide, but, on reaching the (ity of Churches, he professed to have forgotten this part of the agreement, and told C— — and hits mates that 'they could whistle for it.' Even half salaries were for a time 'off.' In Adelaide a number of new subjects were taken on. This was with a view of giving a little local colour to the performance, and in order that the audience might not become suspicious. They were paid 10/ or 15/ a week, and were given only the easiest of tests. The 'subjects' stated definitely, and without fear of contradiction, that Everything was sham, and that not one of the men was ever under any 'influence' whatever.