Worcester daily spy., 1860-08-29
From the Atlantic Monthly for september.

VISION OF DIR De WETTE.-It is constant
ly urged, among other objections to the cred.
lbllty OF supernatural apparitions, that the
names of the witnesses have singulary and
suspiciously disappeared, that you find them,
upon investigation, substantated thus A
very worthy gentleman told another very
worthy gentleman who told a very intelligent
lady, who told somebody else, who told the
individual who finally communicated the in
cldent to the world. There are however as
Just intimated, instances in which such am
biguityais altogether wanting. Among these
is one so well authenticated by well known
witnesses of undoubted veracity, that, having
never before been published, l venture to re-
late ii here.
My informant was Prof Tholuck, of Halle
University, the most eminent living theologian
in Germany, and the principal ecclesiarch of
the Prussian Church. He pretaced the ac.
count by assuring me that it was received
from the lips Of De Wette himself, immediate
ly after the occurence,-that De Wette was
an intimate personal friend plain, practical
man. of remarkably clear and vigorous intel
lect, with no more poetry and Imagination i'll
his nature than just sufficient to keep him
allve,-ln word that he would rely upon his
GOODNESS of judgement and accuracy of obser-
walton, under any possible combination of cir
cumstances, as confidently as upon those OF
any other man in the world
Dr. DeWette, the famous German Biblical
critic, returning home one evening between
nine and ten o'clock, was surprised, on arriving
opposite the house in which he resided to see
bright light burning in his study. In fact,
he was rather more than surprised ; for he
distinctly remembered to have extinguished
the candles when he went out an hour or two
previously, locked the door, and put the key
i'll his pocket, which, upon feeling for it, was
rtiIl I
by what means and for what purpose any one
could have entered his room, he perceived the
shadow of person apparently occupied about
something III remote corner. SuppoSing it
be burglar employed in rifng his trunk,
he was on the point OF alarming the police
when the man advanced to the window into
full view, as if ior the purpose of looking out
into the street. II lCaS De Vate himself! the
scholar, author, professor, his height, size,
figure, stoop,-his head, his face, his features,
eyes, mouth, nose, chin, every one, skull leap,
study gown, neck-tie, all, every thing there
was no mistaking him, no deception whatever :;
there stood DR.. De Wette in his own library
and he out in the street, Why, he must be
somebody else The doctor instinctively
grasped his body with his nds, and tried
himself with the psychological tests of self
consciousness and identity, doubtful, if he
could believe his senses and black were not
white, that he longer existed his former self,
and stood, perpeXed, bewidered, and con
founded, gazing at his other likeness looking
out of the window. Upon the persons retir-
ing from the window, which occurred in a few
moments, DeWette resolved not to dispute the
possession of his study with the other doctor
oeiore morning, and ringing at the door of a
mousse opposite, where an acquaintance resid
eu, ne asked permission to remain over night.
Inc chamber occupied by him commanded
full view OF the interior of the library. and
from the window he could see his other self
engaged IN study and meditation, now walking
up and down Immersed in thought now sit.
ting down to his desk to write. now rising IN
search for u volume among the book shelves
and initiating in all respects the peculiar hob'
its OF the great doctor engaged at work and
busy with cogtations. AT length, when the
cathedral clock had finished striking through
first four and then eleven strokes, as German
clocks are wont to do an hour before twelve
DeWette Number Two manifested Sims ot
retiring TO rest-took out his watch, the iden.
tical large gold one which the other Doctor in
the other chamber felt sure was at that moment
safe in his wastcoat pocket, and wound it up,
removing portion of his clothing came 10
the window, closed the curtains, and in a few
moments the light disappeared. DeWette
Number One, waiting little time until con.