Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-12-22

Josephine S chamber opened. There
; she rename patiently watching NOR,
more than an hour No one appeared
the clock struck twelve, and Julia bcgar
to grow very tired. She was on the
point of giving up the adventure, wher
! she was attracted by slight noise in Jo
sephinc's room.
She softly pushed open the door, ant
by the liglf of her lantern, she saw 10
scphine diess herself i'll her morning
gown, walk directly to her table, arrange
her painting materials, select her colors
seat herself before the glass, and begin
to paint at her own miniature. What
was more astonishing of all she worked
I without light! After watching her for
a few minutes, Julia took her lantern,
and watched behind her chair, us she
painted; and she was astonished at the
ease and skill with which she guided her
pencil, asleep and in darkness.
Julia Dorival was twenty years old,
and with large fund Of general intor-
nation; she was not, of course, Ignorant
Of the extraordinary phenomenon OF
somnambulism, and of the most rcmarka-
BILE and best authenticated anecdotes of
slecp-walkers. But among all she
had ever heard or read OF on the subject,
| she recollected none more surprising than
the case now before her. She knew,
also, that persons under the influence Of
this singular habit should never be sud-
denly awakened, as the shock and sur
prise have been known to cause i'll them
Commissions, or delirium. She therefore
carefully avoided disturbing Josephine I;
and glided quietly out of the room, she
looked at her for some time from the
passage, and then gently closing the door,
she left her to herself and retired to her
own apartment.
Next morning, Julia excited great
surprise in her mother and sister, by in
Il forming them of what she had seen.
1 They agreed to witness together tins IN
terestlng spectacle on the following night.
When Josephine innocently inquired OF
Julia the result Of her watching, she was
told that she should know tomorrow.
At midnight, the three ladies repaired
to the chamber door Of Josephine. The
| walker was putting on her gown. They
saw her seat herself at the table, and be-
gin to paint They approached close
bching her without the smallest noise,
vcnturing to bring their lantern into the
room; OF its dim light Josephine was en-
tircly unconscious. They saw her mix
her colors with great Judgment, and lay
| on the touches of her pencil with the ut
most dclicacy and precision. Her eyes
were open, but she saw not with them;
though she frequently raised her head, as
as If looking i'll the glass.
| Somnambulists see nothing but the OBJ
| iect on which their attention is decidedly
| fixed; yet their perceptions of this object
! are ascertaincd to be much clearer and
more vivid than when awake. Ii ad-
dressed, they will generally answer CO.
herently, and as if they understood and
hearcd 1t is possible to hold long and
very rational dialogue with sleep-walk-
er; but when awake, they have no recol-
lection of any thing that has passed.
Julia ventured to speak in a low voice,
| 'Wcll, dear Josephine" said she, you
now know who it is that paints III the
night al your pictures. You know that
it is yourself. DO you hear mc' Yes,
Does my presence disturb you' NO.
Miss julia But to morrow, Josephine,
you will not believe what shall tell you.
Then it will be because l do not re-
member it, 'Will you write something
that | wish to dictate to you" Certain
Iy.'
Josephine then took up pencil and
wrote as follows, prompted by julia;
/ 'Midnight-talking with Miss Julia
Dorival, and painting at miniature OF
myself
4 JOSEPHINE NERIcouR.'
Next morning, Julia had trouble II
convincing Josephine of the fact; bu'
her own hand writing was undenlable
! evidence.
As there is something strange and aw-
ful, and frequently dangerous IN the hab'
it of somnambulism, no one wishes t'
possess it; and Josephine was anxious tt
! oct rid of it as soon as possible, although
it enabled her to paint much better than
/ when awake.
She would not trust her painting ap'
paratus in her chamber, and she dismls'
scd all thoughts of her miniature from hc'
mind, as soon as she went to bed; con
] scqucntly she was enabled to rest there
as TRANQUILITY as any of her school-matcs
who were all much amazed when they
heard this singular explanation of th'
| Mysterious Picture.
Madame Dorival strictly forbade 1T