THE CHARM THAT FAILED.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 21, 2 January 1907, Page 2

THE CHARM THAT FAILED.

A stranger was recently boasting in a Canterbury hotel of his powers of hypnotism. He declared that he was able to subdue the fiercest animals by will-power, and quoted several instances of marvellous escapes from wild animals. A man present offered to bet the stranger a sovereign that he had a dog which would defy his power. The bet was taken, and a number of men, including the hypnotist, proceeded to tho dog-owner’s residence. There stood the dog, a huge, black brute, on the front steps. It vas moonlight, and the animal appeared to be ready for a spring, when the stranger approached him, making mystic signs with his hands, and staring at the dog. After a few minutes the hypnotist declared that the animal was now in his power, to prove which he ordered the dog to come to him. The animal remained stock still, while the hypnotist cajoled, entreated, and finally threatened. “Well,” said he, “he’s the first dog that I’ve cast eyes on which, has withstood me ten minutes." “Yes,” said the owner, “and if you cast ten eyes on him for ten years you could not move him. He’s cast iron !”