The late Mr Wakefield as a Mesmerist.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2922, 12 June 1888, Page 3

The late Mr Wakefield as a Mesmerist.

( As I believe it is pretty well known ® that the late E. G. Wakefield was a powerful mesmerist, tlie following little story may prove of interestl think it was in the year 1838 that mesmerism was attracting an unusual amount of interest in tlm social and scientific circles of London, A'lout this time Mr Wakeliekl was (lining there, with a small party of literary friends, It was on these occasions that his remarkable powers of fascination were displayed, and' all around delighted in his society, When the cloth was removed a "Wo was handed to him, which demanded immediate attention. He apologised to his hosts for leaving them for a short time, but promised to return soon, His friends noticed that, while lie left them in haste he appeared wonderfully tickled and amused by the contents of the note, so they were quito easy about him. In an hour or so he rejoined the party, and volunteered the following explanation of his absence "Two maiden ladies," said lie, " sisters, and friends of mine, who live not far from here, wore particularly jhLl anxious to have an illustration of my W powers as a mesmerist, which I accordingly gave by mesmerising the younger to the astonishment and delight of the elder lady. It seems that, this evening the elder sister must try her own powers upon the servant girl, who was brought into tho sitting room for the purpose. To her astonishment she succeeded perfectly, and soor. had the girl ina sound mesmeric sleep; but how to recover her she did not know; she tried every tiling she could think of but the girl slept on. Under these

circumstances it is not surprising that the lady became greatly alarmed, lost her head, and sent oil' a carriage and note for mo as you saw," " And did you succeed in rousing the girl from her trance?" " When I saw her" said he," I took the bellows and blew with them gently on her face a lew times, whereupon she at once awoke, to the great relief ot her mistress; but Ido not think

either of them will again try any mesmeric experiments, whicli they at M present look upon as being somewhat akin to the black art." I have given this story in nearly the words of onn who was present at the party named, and by whom it was repeated on more than one occasion in n.y presence,

Ax old Settleh.