Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-11-02
A Singular Vision.

A Singular Vision.
II is constantly urged, among other objec-
tions to the credibility Of supernatural ap-
partitions, that the names Of the witnesses
have singalarly and suspiciously disappear
ed-that you find them, upon investigation,
substantiatcd thus A very worthy gentle-
man told another very worthy gentleman,
who told very intelligent lady, who told
somebody else, who told the individual who
finally communicated the incident to the
world. Among these 10 one so well authen-
ticated by well known witnesses Of undoubt-
ed veracity, that, having never before been
published, I venture TO relate it here.
My informant was Professor Tholuck, Of
Halle University, the most eminent theolo-
gian in Germany, and the principle ecclesi-
arch Of the Prussian church. He prefaced
the account by assuring me that II was re-
eeived from the lips of DeWette himself,
Immediately after the occurrence-that De
Wette was an intimate personal friend, plain.
practical man, of remarkably clear and Wig
orous intellect, with no more poetry ami
imagination in his nature than just sufficient
to keep him alive-in word, that he would
rely upon bis coolness of judgement and
accuracy Of observation, under any possible
combination of circumstances, as confidently
as upon those of any man in the world.
DR. DeWette, the famous German Bibli-
cal critic, returning home one evening
upon arriving opposite the house where he
resided, to see a bright light burning in his
: study. In fact, he was rather more than
surprised; for he distinctly remembered to
have extinguished the candles when hs
went out, an hour or two previously, locked
the door, and put the key in his pocket,
which, upon feeling for it, was still there.
Pausing moment to wonder by what means
and for what purpose any one could have
entered the room, he perceived the shadow
of person apparently occupied about some
thing in remote corner. Surprising it to
bea burglar employed in rifling his trunk.
he was upon the point Of alarming the po-
, lice, when the man advanced to the window
into full view, as if for the purpose Of look
, ing out into the street. IL ras De WeNe
himseJ!-the scholar, author, professor
his height, size, figure, stoop--his head, his
, face, his features, eyes, mouth, nose, chin,
every one-skull-cap, study-gown, neck-tie,
, all, every thing; there was no mistaking
him, no deception whatever; there stood
DIR. DeWette in his own library, andhe out
on the street; why, he must be somebody
else! The doctor instinctively grasped his
: body with his hands, and tried bimself with
the psychological tests Of selfconsciousness
' and indentty, doubtful, if he could believe
: his senses, and black were not white, that
he longer existed his former self, and stood
perplexed, bewildered, and confoundcd, gaz-
i ing at his other likeness looking out Of the
window. Upon the persons retiring from
q the window, which occurred in few mo-
! ments, DeWette resolved not to dispute the
t possession Of his study with the other doc
n tor before morning, and ringing at the door
of house opposite, where an acquaintance
l resided, he asked permission to remain over
night.
The chamber occupied by him comman-
: ded full view of the interior of his library,
a and from the window he could see his other
? self engaged in study and meditation, now
/, walking up and down the room, immersed
e in thought, now sitting down to the desk te
e write, now rising to search for volume
among the book-shelves, and initiating in all
n respects the peculiar habits of the great
J, doctor, engaged at work and busy with cog
d itaiions. At length. when the cathedral
o clock had finished striking through first
e four and eleven strokes, as German clocks
are wont TO do an hour before twelve, De
! Wette, number two, manifested signs Of re-
y firing to rest--took out his watch, the iden-
d teal large gold one the other doctor in the
n other chamber felt sure was at that moment
It safe in his waistcoat pocket, and wound il
/, up, removed a portion of his clothing. came
q | 10 the WiifuOW, ciOSeu Tue curialns, and IN D
e few moments the light DISAPPEARED. DeWe,te,
d number one. waiting little time till con-
:, vinced that number two had disposed him
: self TO sleep, retired also his-self to bed,
e wondering very much what all This could
o mean.
Rising the next morning, he crossed the
Il street, and passed up stairs to his library.
d The door was fastened; he applied the key,
c opened it, and entered. No one was there !;
everything appeared in precisely the same
o condition in which be had left it the evening
d before-his pen laying upon the paper a.
he had dropped it on going out, the candles
i on the table and mantlepiece evidently not
e having been lighted, the window-curtains
J, drawn aside as he had left them; in fne,
It there was not insle traces of any person
a having been in the room. @Had he been
2 insane the night before? He must have
y