The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-11-16
Sing ular Visions.

j. is constantly urged, among other oh.
jeclions 10 the credibility Of supernatural
appariions that the names Of the wit
ncsses have singu,arly and liouSly
ppealed-that you find ihem, upon
investigation, subs,anlia,ed thus: A
very worthy gentleman told another very
worthy gentleman, who told a very intel
, ligent lady, who told somebody else, VII o
told the individual who finally communi-
Gated the incident to the world. There
are, however, as Just intimateL. instances,
In which such ambiguity is altogether
wanting. Among these is one so well
authenticated by well known witnesses Of
undoubted vetacily. that having rever
before been published, venture 10 relate
it here.
My informant was Professor TEoluck,
of Halle University, TIE most eminent
living theologian in Germany, and the
principal eccicsiarch o! the Prussian
church. He preiaced the account by
assuring me that it was received from the
lips of DeWette himself. Immediately
after tie occurrence that DeWelte was
an intimate personal friend, a plain, prac.
tical man. of remarkably clear and Wig
orous intellect, with no more poetry and
imagination in his nature than is Just huf.
ticient to keep him alive-in word, that
he would rely upon his GOODNESS of judg.
ment and accuracy Of observation, under
any possible combination of circum.
stances, as confidently as upon those Of
any man in the world.
DIR. DeWette, the famous German
Biblical critic, returning home one evening,
between nine and ten o'clock, was sur.
priscd, upon arriving al tie house in
which he resided, to see bright light
burning in his study. In fact, he was
rather more than surprised for he dis.
tinctly remembered TO have exinguished
the candles when he went out, an hour or
two previously. locked the door, and put
the key in his pocket, which, upon feeling
for ii was still there. Pausiug momen nj
10 ascertain by what means and for what
purpose any one could have entered the
room, he perceived tie shadow of per.
! sen apparently occupied about something
in remote corner Suppo>ing it to be a
burglar employed in rim"s his trunk. he
was on the point Of alarming tIIe police,
when the man advanced to the window,
into lull view, as if Tor the purpose OF
looking into the street. IL ,Oas DR.. De
HtAe himse!f the scholar. author. pro.
lessor--hs height. siz", f cure, stoop--
his head, his face, his features, eyes,
mouth. nose, chin, every one--skull cap,
study gown, neck tie, all. every thing a.;
there was no installing him--no decep.
lion whatever there stood DR.. DeWelle
in his own library, and he out on the
street why, he must be somebody else
The doctor inslinctively grasped his body
with his hands, and tried himself with the
psychological tests Of self. consciousness
and identity, doubtful il he could believe
his senses, and black was not white, that
he longer existed his former sell. and stood
perplexed, bewildered and conrounded,
gazing at his other likeness, looking out
OF the window. Upon the persons re-
firing nom the window, which occurred
in few moments, DeWette resolved not
to dispute the possession OF his study with
the other doctor before morning, and,
ringing a, the door Of house opposite,
where an acquaintance resided, he asked
permission TO remain over night.
Tho chamber occupied by him commanded
full Wow of tho interior of his library, and
from the window he could sec his othor self
engaged IN study and meditation. now walk
ing up and down the room, immersed in
thought, now sitting down at his desk to
write, now rising to search for a volume
among tho book shelves, and initiating in
al! respects tho peculiar habits of the great
doctor. engaged at work aud with cogita-
tions. At length, when the cathedral clock
had finished striking first four and then
eloven strokes. as German clocks are wont
to do an hour before twelve. DoWette, mum
Der two, manifested signs of retiring to rest
took out his watch, tho identical large
gold ono the other doctor in the other cham.
ber felt sure was at that m oment safe in his
waistcoat pocket, and wound il up. removed
portion of his clothing, camo to tho win
dow, closed the curtains, and in fow min-
utes the light disappeared. DoWette. num-
ber one, waiting a little till convinced that
number two had disposed himself to sleep.
retired abo himself to bed, wondering very
much what all this could moan.
Rising the next morning, he crossed the
street and passed up stairs to his library,
The door was fastened he applied the key,
opened it, and entered. No one was there;
everything appeared in precisely the same
condition in which no had left it the even
ing before-his pen lying upon the paper
as he had dropped it on going out, the can.
dies on the tables and mantlepiece evidently
not having been lighted, she window cur