Percentage of persons capable of being hypnotized - Natural antagonisms - Discordant and harmonious vibrations - Who are good subjects - Feeble-minded not always easily hypnotized - Strong-minded persons may make excellent subjects - Concentration of thought - Laboring men - Following a leader - Mobs easily led by suggestion - Murat Halsted and the strikers - Farmers not easily hypnotized at home - The confidence man - Slaves and servants - Climate has an Influence - Susceptibility of men and women - Precautions necessary in hypnotizing women - Hysterical attacks - Emotional persons - Nationality - Dutch - Scandinavians - East Indians - French - Italians - Americans - Influence of age.

An expert hypnotist should be able to hypnotize ninety out of every hundred persons he may attempt to influence. Some of these will be affected much more readily than others, and with a few he will have great difficulty. The ten that he is unable to hypnotize may easily fall under the influence of other hypnotists.

It is a fact which we realize in our everyday life that there exist natural antagonisms between certain persons without any apparent cause. Very often we hear the remark: "I can't bear to be near her; she makes me feel creepy, and I don't know why." Some people declare such natural antagonisms are due to "discordant vibrations," and that the immediate friendships that sometimes spring up "on first sight," are due to "harmonious vibrations." These, pronounced likes and dislikes may be explained according to various theories; but the fact remains that they exist and they play an important part in the relationships of human beings. A person cannot readily hypnotize anyone who experiences personal antagonism; and he can, as a rule, easily gain control over those who "take a liking" to him.

Who Are Good Subjects?

It has often been asked, "What kind of persons are most readily hypnotized?" Some imagine that blondes succumb easiest to hypnosis and others have their reasons for thinking that brunettes make the best subject. But the question of light and dark or ruddy or pale complexion does not exert any influence.

As a rule, it is commonly believed that feeble minded persons are most easily influenced, and a great many think that anyone who has been hypnotized must necessarily lack strength of character. "Oh, no, you can't hypnotize me. I'm too strong-minded," is a remark often heard by the hypnotist. But let such persons beware how they accept a dare from the hypnotist. They may, under most circumstances, be able to "resist," but when all surroundings are right, they will yield as readily as others.

It is untrue that a good subject is always weak-minded and has no self-control. The fact is, a person who has absolute control over his own mind, and is able to render himself perfectly passive and enter into the full spirit of the phenomenon of hypnotism, always makes the best subject. But such a person cannot easily be persuaded to allow himself to be hypnotized. He usually wishes to perform the work of hypnotizing others.

When we consider the philosophy of hypnotism, and that it involves the principle of mental impressions being made upon a passive mind by causing that mind to concentrate all thought upon a single idea, we get at the key to choosing good subjects.

The modern factory hand, filling a subordinate position, has been accustomed to implicitly obeying the commands of his "boss." He has learned to concentrate his thoughts upon one idea, and to drive all other ideas from his mind while at work. He has learned these things through fear of "losing his job" and through the constant "driving" of the boss to get as much work from him as possible. Manifestly he makes a good hypnotic subject, and with no discredit to himself. It is his habit of life that renders him such.

Notice how quickly an army of laboring men can be swayed by the impressive statements of a leader, and influenced to perform acts that their cool judgment on reflection would not countenance. Jail deliveries, lynchings and the like, are examples of such influence. It is no indication of a lack of intelligence, but simply a natural result of training. Mobs look for a leader whom they may follow. The majority of those composing mobs are employes accustomed to obey; their rash acts are manifestations of hypnotic influence. 'With equal ease they could be influenced to desist from demonstrations of all kinds. Let a man of influence, accustomed to command and to have his commands obeyed, step forth and resolutely order quiet and a return to reason, and the tumult will subside.

A number of years ago, when the famous and venerable editor, Murat Halstead, was proprietor of the Cincinnati Commercial, a strike of considerable proportions occurred among the printers of the city, who met, and in angry frame of mind, surrounded the Commercial office and made ugly demonstrations and violent threats. It was a tumultuous mob on the verge of creating ruin. Suddenly the imposing form of Murat Halstead appeared, standing upon a chair in the doorway of the office, facing the mob. They were ready to destroy his whole plant; but with a wave of the hand he attracted their attention and with a resolute look in his eyes and the utterance of the single word "silence," in a commanding voice, he instantly hushed the violent demonstrations; the crowd respectfully listened to his short explanations and assurances and upon his order to go quietly to their homes and reason over the matter awhile, the mob quietly dispersed. All he said and more had been read by every one present in the morning's paper over his signature, without effect.

His presence, his actions and his voice and his mental power over minds accustomed to obey worked the change.

Farm laborers are not so readily placed under hypnotic control. The character of their work gives them more time to think and requires less concentration of thought. No one can guess what is passing through the mind of the boy on the farm as he drives the plow or performs his other work. He may be day dreaming or laying plans or scheming for the future. He is the boy who is apt to be heard of in after years as a great financier or general or statesman. There is a spirit of independence acquired on the farm that is denied the city factory hand. Farmers are not easily controlled by political bosses; they are usually independent voters. They are not easily hypnotized, because their habits of life have not limited their mental activities. Their tendency is to diffusion of thought and not to concentration. It is difficult to render their minds passive, but when the hypnotist places them under his control they become good subjects by practice.

It should be mentioned, that out of their natural environment the farmers are more readily hypnotized. For instance, in coming to a city, the unusual scenes and the multitude of sounds and objects to which they have not been accustomed, create confusion of thought in the mind which is then readily concentrated by hypnotic influence; such as the confidence man exerts upon his victim.

Persons accustomed to absolutely obey without question nearly always make good hypnotic subjects. Slaves are excellent examples of this fact. In our own country the African race are easily influenced; and this is especially true of those who were born in slavery. The wild scenes of "colored camp meetings" and revivals are one form of hypnotic demonstra-tions. Under the influence of religious fervor and the monotonous exhortation of the leader and the harmony of their musical songs they are swayed by the least suggestion, and in times of intense excitement about the altar many will contort their bodies or fall over benches without any apparent pain, or drop down in a state of catalepsy.

In India the native servants become good subjects on account of similar habits of obedience and the training of the mind to obey their master's commands.

Climate And Sex

Climate exerts a marked influence upon the susceptibility of subjects. Persons born and raised in the tropical regions are more easily hypnotized than those raised in cold climates; and in them it is usually an easy matter to induce profound hypnosis and the intense degrees of hypnotism.

Men usually make better subjects than women; although some men have a peculiar power over women, that is in reality a hypnotic control. Such men cannot usually control other men with any satisfaction.

In hypnotizing women, extra precautions must be taken to avoid unpleasant results. They are more emotional than men, and are liable to give way to their feelings in the midst of an exhibition. Instances are not infrequent where women have fainted while under the influence of hypnosis - some especially sad or harrowing sight having been suggested. Again, it is possible to throw women into hysterical conditions. They should never be suddenly awakened from hypnosis while in the midst of exciting suggestion, for they are extremely liable to "go into hysterics" and create a scene. Under such conditions, before awakening them, always make some pleasing suggestion, so that the mind will be calm upon awakening.

It may be mentioned here that women accustomed to spells of hysterics may be most appropriately treated through hypnotism. By mental influence a quietude of mind may be secured and by proper suggestions future attacks of hysterics may be averted.

Persons who are easily impressed by occurrences and rendered emotional by slight excitement, make good subjects. Their minds become accustomed to quickly concentrating their thoughts upon one idea to the exclusion of all others. Everything else is lost sight of while under the influence of some sudden joy or grief or unusual sight.

Nationality

Nationality enters into hypnotic susceptibility. The French, Spaniards and Italians make good subjects, and the large majority of these people can be easily hypnotized.

The Dutch or inhabitants of Holland are, as a rule, difficult subjects. They are stoical and unemotional and resist attempts at coercion - priding themselves upon their independence and their ability to maintain their steadfastness of purpose.

The Scandinavian laboring classes are excellent subjects, although in most of them it takes considerable practice to be able to induce profound hypnosis with ease.

The inhabitants of the East Indies are by all means the most desirable of subjects; their habits of life and dispositions and climatic and social influences all being most conducive to their susceptibility to hypnotic control.

Americans, as a rule, make good subjects when they agree to be hypnotized and aid the operator, but they can seldom be forced into the hypnotic state against the will, as their independence of thought and action must be regarded as unfavorable influence. Still, American girls who are of a romantic turn of mind prove to be most excellent subjects.

Age affects the qualifications of a subject. Between fifteen and twenty-one years of age persons are usually most susceptible to hypnotic influence. Although young children often yield readily to general hypnosis, they cannot always be used as subjects for the profound stages, such as catalepsy and lethargy. It is best not to experiment upon young children except under necessity, as parents and friends are apt to blame the operator for any subsequent sickness or peculiarities that might occur, which would in no way be a result of hypnotic influence.

THE GRECIAN MIRROR.