The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-09-21
Searrt Stnrp.
AN EVENING AT EPPING.
From an Old Magazine.

l suppose that all persons given more
to reflection than to action have at times
been conscious of power undeveloped
far transcending all they have ever put
forth. In illustration of this assump-
tion,I propose offering plain statement
of facts. 1t may be that circumstances
equally remarkable occur within the
experience of most men; but, if IL be so,
l believe they excite unusually only a
transient observation.
Ten years ago 1 was spending the
summer in Epping-a quiet pleasant
country town in New England. Unus
ual demands had been made on my en-
ergies, mental and physical, the pre-
ceding year, and with scarcely sufficient
vitality to enable me to seek rest, I yet
thankfully accepted it when offered by
chance. A month of absolute repose re-
stored me to degree of vigor commen-
surate perhaps with that which before
possessed. but with difference. Prev
iously l had valued chiefly my uniform
ity of ability TO labor
Now had the ability in an equal de-
gree, but interruptedly. Gradually, 1
observed, too, that my own moods we're
precursors of meteorological changes, so
that became sort of conscious baron
etor. My experiences at this time were
not all equally agreeable, but the most
of them, think, was a feeling of ex-
treme buoyancy, accompanied by an
unusual clearness Of perception, appar-
emily coincident with, and, as l grow to
believe, dependent upon any extraordi-
nary augmentation of atmospheric elec
tricity. At such times, too, was con-
scious of recognition of traits of char
acter in the individuals around me
which | had never before Observed
their thoughts, the very words they were
about to speak, we're as clear to my
mind as at the moment of their utter
ance. l cannot better express what i
experienced in this respect than to say
that my own mind, like a mirror, re
fiected sometimes the consciousness,
memory and volition of another, and
this quite independently of effort on my
part other than to hold in allegiance dis
turbing forces.
One morning in the middle of July,
after protracted draught, and after the
failure of repeated prognostics of rain,
the temperature had suddenly descend
ed from little less than 100 degrees to
the vicinity of 80. The coolness had
braced my nerves to degree oftension
which / had rarely felt. was evolving
plan of action as 1 stood by the win
dow in the Office of my friend Wynn,
whose guest was then, and who, by the
way, was eminent in the brotherhood of
lawyers whose rare acumen and sterling
good sense form counter part to the
gigantic structure Of their own State.
While stood there, then, an individual
entered the Office whom, in spite ofmul-
tifarious diguises, such as dyed hair and
whiskers, false teeth and an assumed
name, 1 at once recognized as my fel-
low-townsman, and as arrant scoun-
drel as 1t had ever been my lot to en-
counter. He had an air of much pre-
tension, wore large seal ring, snowy
scarf pin and several crossings of a
bright gold chain over bright pattern
ed waistcoat, all of which decorative
trumpery served the purpose Of varnish
to very ugly picture, heightenIng the