Title:  Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 103, October 8, 1892

Author:  Various

Editor:  Francis Burnand

Release Date:  March 23, 2005 [EBook #15441]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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PUNCH,

Or the London charivari.

Vol. 103.

October 10, 1892.

AT A HYPNOTIC SEANCE.

Scene—­A Public Hall in a provincial town.  The Hypnotist—­a tall, graceful, and handsome young man, in well-fitting evening clothes—­has already succeeded in putting most of his subjects to sleep, and is going round and inspecting them critically, as they droop limply on a semicircle of chairs, in a variety of unpicturesque attitudes.  The only Lady on the platform is evidently as yet in full possession of her senses.

First Female Spectator (to Second).  Maria mangles do take a time sending off, don’t she?

Second F.S. (also a friend of Miss MANGLES).  Yes, that she do—­it gives her such a silly look, sitting there, the on’y one with her senses about her!

First F.S. It’s all affectation—­she could shut her eyes fast enough if she liked!

Second F.S. The ’Ipnotiser’s coming round to her now—­she’ll have to go off now. (With a not unpleasurable anticipation.) I expect he’ll make her do all manner o’ ridic’lous things!

First F.S. Well, it will be a lesson, to her against making’ herself so conspicuous another time.  I shan’t pity her.

The Hyp. (after a brief colloquy with Miss MANGLES).  I see I am not likely to succeed with this Lady; so, with many thanks to her on behalf of myself and the audience for coming forward, I will detain her no longer.

[Illustration:  “I do.  Lovely creature!”]

    [Applause, amidst which Miss M. descends to her seat in the
    body of the hall, with a smile of conscious triumph.

First F.S. (disappointed).  I don’t see what she’s done to clap their hands about, myself!

Second F.S. Nor I neither—­taking up his time all for nothing—­depend upon it she wouldn’t have gone up if he hadn’t been so nice-looking!

First F.S. I wouldn’t like to think that of her myself; but, anyhow, she didn’t get much by it, did she?  He soon sent her packing!

Male Spectator (to a Woman in front of him).  Evening, Mrs. MIDGELLY—­I see they’ve got your good man up on the platform.