Dangers of hypnotism.

Otago Witness, Issue 1920, 4 December 1890, Page 36

Dangers of hypnotism.

An amateur hypnotist had been badgered at a party to give an exhibition or his singular power, and selected as his subject a beautiful girl, the daughter of the hostess. After a few passes which placed the young girl under his spell, he sa d, " Now I will show that there is something in hypnotism." Turning to Miss S., he said : "Do what your brother does when he comes home at night." She arose from the chair, and, with a vacant look upon her usually bright countenance, walked across the room, opened a drawer, took out a pair of slippers, and, removing her own shoes from her dainty little feet, put on her brother's slippers. Then, without any further directions from her mental master, she went to the place where her brother's cigars were usually kept, and, .securing one of his choice weeds, deliberately lighted and puffed away in the most self-satisfied way. Shambling along in her brother's big slippers, she sauntered out on the portico. She sat down in a chair, tipped Kb back, threw her feet up on the balustrade in a most undignified way, just as she had seen her brother George do a thousand times. The thoroughly absorbed spectators fSllowed her every movement with breathless interest, deeply impressed with the awful possibilities for evil which this strange art of hypnotism possessed. All sorts of foolish things were done by the poor girl while labouring under the peculiar delusion. She finally wandered into the back part of the house, being followed by two or three of her friends.

The most remarkable part of the affair remains to be told. Either by accident or design the hypnotist left the house before restoring the girl to her normal condition, as he could easily have done, and Miss S. was still possessed of the idea that she was her own brother, and, as such, it was incumbent upon her to do as he usually did. It happened that he was not at home on that particular evening, or the subsequent mortifying events would never have come to pass. She remained awake in her brother's room that night, and shortly after daylight dressed herself in a suit of his clothes. He frequently went to business without waiting for breakfast, and this peculiar phase of conduct was followed by his sister. She passed out of the house, and soon jumped into an omnibus. Her awkward appearance attracted the attention of the passengers, and everybody was non-plussed to see a beautiful girl in men's clothes The curiosity and anxiety of one of her suburban friends was excited, and he followed her to the city. She passed back to the office, and, entering the counting room, opened the door of the safe and took out the books which were used by her brother in his work. The senior member of the firm stood with open-mouthed astonishment. It was seme minutes before he could speak. Then lie recognised the pretty sister of his trusted bookkeeper attired in her brother's clothes. He spoke to her, but she paid no attention, but continued to pore over the books.

Fortunately Mr S. came in a moment later and relieved the astonished partner of further embarrassment. He knew nothing about the previous night's experience of his sister, and was fcatfully alarmed, thinking she had lost her mind. The anxious brother ordered a closed carriage, and the fair girl, still oblivious oE what had occurred, was rapidly driven to her home. Her mother bad, in the meantime, discovered her absence, and had been sending all over the neighbourhood in search of her. A physician was sent for, and when acquainted with the circumstances, the young lady was given an opiate and put to sleep. She awoke after 10 hours' slumber, complaining of feeling very weak and tired. She has never been t old what a fool she made of herself, as she would almost die from shame. There will be co more hypnotic experiments in for forae timo to come — at least in good society. On account of the prominence of the young lady and her family, and from the fact that she was utterly irresponsible, her name has been withheld.