MODERN HYPNOTISM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 83, 2 January 1919, Page 7

MODERN HYPNOTISM

AN' AMUSING ENTERTAINMENT. Professor Anderson 'entertained a holiday a\idience-in the Grand Opera House last night with an exhibition of "mod* era hypnotism." His subjects were eight' ' young men . drawn from the-, audience, and after he had placed them under con- • trol- in the • usual manner he made them provide a 'great ;deal of amusement for the more fortunate or adventurous people who remained' in possession of. their senses. He., first directed them to clasp their hands, | and informed ■ them •thnt they, were unable to loosen the grip. The subjects made 'frantic' but unavailing efforts to separate their, hands, even to the' extent of trying to. farce them , apart with knees lind feet. A. few moments later the professor had the whole eight fighting with an imaginary swarm of bees on the stage, and performing the wildest antics' in their efforts to escape the attentions of the non-existent insects. Two of the young men played a game of draughts, with an imaginary board and pieces. One of them, by suggestion, was :hard of hearing and the other stutterer), so that their attempts to converse added to the merriment; of the spectators.. A .man suffered noisily and dismally, with toothache until relieved of his pain by, the hand that had inflicted it. Another man, convinced that he wo a a wife and a mother, nursed a rag- baby assiduously, and attended: rather too intimately to its imagined needs. The whole group took' part' in the sale of invisible bottles of ."cure all" ointment to the audience, some of the salesmen developing real fluency as they, made their way through the audience, handing out . bottles and collecting money; that nobody could see but themselves. Another amusing scene was provided when the subjects entered whole-heartedly into a suggestion that' they .were a troupe and proceeded to provide jest, song and dance. Professor Anderson persuaded four members of the audienco to stand on the rigid body of a hypnotised man who rested_ with his heels on the back of one chair, and his neck on the back of another. He pr6ved himself to bo a master of the science that he was demonstrating, and, by proxy, an entertainer of rear merit. The professor was supported by jßfadim© Cate, whose pleasant soprano voice was heard to advant- . age; Miss .Tones, contralto; Miss Simpson, flautists and Miss Violet Johnston, who contributed a dramatic recitation. Miss Elsie Dick, a talented • juvenile dancer, provided an attractive itom, and Mr F.' Andrews contributed a clog dance. Mr. A. Blight gave a clever exhibition of club and sword swinging, and . proved his ability to cut in half with a Bharp sword- an apple held on the extended hand of an attendant. The entertainment will be repeated each evening this week.