The New York herald., 1871-09-07
PSYCHOLOGICAL PHsNoMENA.
To THE Ep1roR OF THE HxnAID:-

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Aware that your world-renowned columns = al.
ways exponent of the foremost advance OF modern
civilization-are ever open to exposition OF the
startling wonders, as OF the more slow going com.
monplaces OF the latter, would with all becoming
humility bespeak a small space upon their distn.
guished page for the announcement OF the most
remarkable series Of Psychological phenomena that
has ever, perhaps, come TO the notice OF any one.
do not propose-as should be hardly equal 10 the
taskto embrace In the present statement the entire
sum of the said marves; nor ls it my purpose
granted that were able-t0 expatlate or phlOsO-
phize on the subject but simply to state the facts
as they are and can be substantiated by many OF
our citizens OF the highest position and respecta.
bility.
The young lady who is the subject OF this sketch
Is the daughter OF most estimabe tntleman, a
weto-do farmer Of this county-Mr J.7-er X. A..
She is in her seventeenth year. remarkabl, pretty,
Of graceful, though homely manners and sweet
disposition Moreover, she has for nearly three
years been member OF the Presbyterian communion
here At very early age she exhibited appearances
OF remarkable Intellectual precocty, albeit with her
increasing years there did not seem to follow the
looked-f0r corresponding large development OF her
mental faculties and at the present time her talents
and requirements are rather OF mediocre stamp.
Although her education has NOT been exactly neg.
lected yet 1t embraces but the simplest branches
OF ordinary American scholarship.
For the past eight months she has been subject al
Irregular intervals, to singular spells parakng at
nrst of The unmlstakable nature OF epilepsy, tnen
sabsiding quietly into the anomalous condition
denominated trance. And herewith are connected
the extraordinary features OF her case Ihave often
read and heard OF some points analogous to
this one, but never OF one SO wonderful nor so near
at home. The former have always p1rported TO
cumstaDces alike adverse TO investigation, aud I
nave usually regarded such stories as mere 10.
Rufh a caga 1v hin
ken, and Of such manifest trutnfuness that 1t Is
impossible to either ignore 1t or cry 1t down as hum
The spells come upon the young lady without any
premonltory symptoms whatever save that some
sionally amounting to slight headache; otherwise
they are quite sudden, and unattended by any
will lie down the bed ana apparently subside into
a gentle doze: In few moments she will begin to
murmur-somewhat lncoherenuy at frst-but pres
entity in now OF language beautiful indeed she
will sustain on her part most animated ana bril-
liant Conversation Min persons Known 10 De at
Of whom, probably, she has never heard Of
From the style and connection alone can 1t be de
termined who these personages are, and, after q
few minutes. 1t Is never difficult to recognize them
singuary enough. for :he most part she seems to
Thus She has several times ''Interviewed' the Sui
tan OF Turkey It being impossible for the pysanders
TO mistake who 1t was to whom she was speaking.
Local circumstances and conditions the most ex-
act; personal matters In detail so recognized by
ment especally T IL Connection with the recent
troubles between the Porte and the Knedive modest
illusions to the Serai and Its innares; the situation,
shrubbery, baths, occupation &C., OF certain
palaces and h0sks on the BOsphorus and Golden
Horn; tine conduct OF government officials you
never conceived, sir of anything to equal lt}-all
eloquent rhapsody III presence OF the sultan, toge-
ther with innumerable alusions TO little paren-
thetica trifies-a together, apparently would leave
no possible doubt as 10 her actual presence In spirit
III such thing may be- with the Sultan. the
strangest part OF 1t all is that, ordinary occa-
sons-at All times save when these Pythian insplra-
tons arc upon her-she appears not to take a
particle Of interest I'm any OF these things, and be-
yond the mere existence OF the Sultan OF Turkey
she cannot possibly nave any knowledge
whatever or him or his surroundings She
comes to herself always with q long drawn sigh
OF apparently supreme relief. And indeed, during
the entire weird interview there - an expression OF
earnest anxiety almost Of distress her FEATURES
as though In hurry t0 get through, yet obliged TO
abide the infection. The spell usually lasts from
three quarters OF hour 10 an hour and halt; and
after IL leaves her me seems entirely UNCONSCIOUS
that anything at oil extraordinary In her regard has
occurred, ana invariably sne Is hungry.
At other times-tnough His Paynim Majesty seems
TO be Gecidedly her favOrlte-she Will suddenly
divert from him 10 Prince bismarck or the Kaiser
Wilhelm ofen IN eloquent and pathetic depreciation
Of further humiliation to ''poor Fiance aud with
such natural tone and gestculation Is well nigh TO
impress the byStanders that those high personages
are really present, while the beautiful simplicity aud
courtly purity OF her language and address astOund
plain and retiring maidenlv creature who could
scarcely trust herself TO the enuucaton OF the SIM
plest Independent proposition In the overpowerlng
presence OF her father aud cousin WILL" ALEC
NEAR HUNTERS LODGE, Fluvanna county, Va,
September T. le7i