The orientals employ various ingenious devises. Among their favorites is a mirror upon which are fastened strips of paper and on these strips of paper are written various characters said to be the names of powerful genii whose influence is to be invoked in producing the desired effect. Upon those who believe in genii and in the powers of the magicians the effect must be very marked, and upon those who are skeptics or absolute unbelievers the result is produced by the sight of the polished surface of the mirror partly concealed by the strips of paper, while the signs, being impossible of interpretations, constitute the mystery.

This young lady thinks she is Mme. Patti singing before the king.

Drawing the subject backward by magnetic influence.

The Egyptian Sheiks, as a rule, use a polished white plate, upon which various designs and mysterious symbols may be drawn in black ink. While the subject gazes intently upon the plate, he gradually distinguishes darkness in the center, which soon becomes a dark spot and then changes into various fantistic figures. When this occurs he is under hypnotic influence, and so profound a condition of hypnosis can be obtained in subjects who implicitly believe in the operator's powers, that clairvoyant ability is readily manifested.

The fakirs of India sometimes rivet the attention upon snakes which they permit to stupidly move about a circle. They also use jars or dishes into which they pour incense, which, being ignited, produces slowly ascending smoke and an oppressive and not unpleasant odor, at the same time they chant unintelligible words in a monotonous voice. In this manner they employ three of the senses - sight, hearing and smell - all in a modified manner.

Some hypnotists command the subject to stare vacantly into space until a dark spot appears before the eyes, and then to watch that spot develop into various shapes and sizes.

Another plan is to place in the subject's hand a large, glass marble, inside of which has been blown some object. The marble is held at arm's length until the eyes and the arm become weary.

A grotesque Chinese idol was used with great success by a famous operator. The fact of its being an actual idol and its peculiar workmanship rendered it mysterious and valuable.

A bright metal disk, preferably of silver, with a bright, copper button in the center, is used by many. Some believing that the contact of the two metals produces an electric influence that aids hypnosis. Hut the same effect may result from a disk made of hard black rubber with a circular piece of white or red paper fastened in the center.

A lighted candle, not too brilliant, is sometimes employed by hypnotists. The candle should be held about two feet from the head and just far enough upward to compel the eyes to be held in an unnatural and consequently a tiresome position. Gazing upon this light for about five minutes will greatly aid whatever other efforts are made.

The operator's hands held above the level of the subject's eyes will often answer the purpose of an object to fix the attention upon. Indeed, a great many hypnotists prefer this method, elevating their outstretched arms and allowing the hands to droop from the wrists while the fingers are separated.

These hypnotized subjects believe themselves to be a newly-married couple sitting for a photograph.

Assuming a position close to the subject, the operator with his hands thus placed moves backward six or eight feet, commanding the subject to keep his eyes intently fixed on the fingers. Some subjects will declare that they can experience the magnetism from the tips of the ringers drawing them forward. A slight trembling of the hands will often add to the effectiveness of this method.

The author uses with exceptionally good sucess a specially contrived instrument. It consists of a black circular disk of polished hard rubber, in the center of which is fastened an artificial eye. The back of the disk is fastened to a small metallic rod about two and a half inches in length and the thickness of an ordinary lead pencil. The subject is instructed to hold this instrument by the small rod, at arm's length, at a height slightly above the level of his head, with the front of the disk facing the subject, who is told to keep his eyes constantly upon the eye on the disk for ten minutes. It seems a longtime and is longer than necessary. The operator sits directly in front of the subject in the position mentioned under the heading of "Position of the operator." In about five minutes he says: "Keep your eyes steadily on the disk, but your hand is growing so tired that I will hold the disk for you." This conveys the idea of weariness, which is fully appreciated. Then the subject is told, "Your eyes are growing tired looking so steadily at the disk, wink them if they are tired." In every instance winking quickly commences and the first stage of hypnosis is realized.

It is natural next to state that "the eyes are so heavy you can't keep them open," and then they will close and the rest of the performance is comparatively simple.