tic entertainments, and even those given at the
hospitals in Paris, would be quite impossible if trained subjects were
not at hand; and in the case of the public hypnotizer, the proper
subjects are hired and placed in the audience for the express purpose of
coming forward when called for. The success of such an entertainment
could not otherwise be guaranteed. In many cases, also, this training of
subjects makes them deceivers. They learn to imitate what they see, and
since their living depends upon it, they must prove hypnotic subjects
who can always be depended upon to do just what is wanted. We may add,
however, that what they do is no more than an imitation of the real
thing. There is no grotesque manifestation on the stage, even if it is a
pure fake, which could not be matched by more startling facts taken from
undoubted scientific experience.

CHAPTER II.

AMUSING EXPERIMENTS.

Hypnotizing on the Stage--"You Can't Pull Your Hands Apart"--Post Hypnotic
Suggestion--The News boy, the Hunter, and the Young Man with the Rag
Doll--A Whip Becomes Hot Iron--Courting a Broomstick--The Side Show.

Let us now describe some of the manifestations of hypnotism, to see
just how it operates and how it exhibits itself. The following is a
description of a public performance given by Dr. Herbert L. Flint,
a very successful public operator. It is in the language of an
eye-witness--a New York lawyer.

In response to a call for volunteers, twenty young and middle-aged men
came upon the stage. They evidently belonged to the great middle-class.
The entertainment commenced by Dr. Flint passing around the group, who
were seated on the stage in a semicircle facing the audience, and
stroking each one's head and forehead, repeating the phrases, "Close
your eyes. Think of nothing but sleep. You are very tired. You are
drowsy. You feel very sleepy." As he did this, several of the volunteers
closed their eyes at once, and one fell asleep immediately. One or two
remained awake, and these did not give themselves up to the influence,
but rather resisted it.

When the doctor had completed his round and had manipulated all the
volunteers, some of those influenced were nodding, some were sound
asleep, while a few were wide awake and smiling at the rest. These
latter were dismissed as unlikely subjects.

When the stage had been cleared of all those who were not responsive,
the doctor passed around, and, snapping his finger at each individual