The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-10-04
LITERARY
A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
From the Diary Of New York Physician

| recently made the acquaintance
of gentleman who has rooms at the
hotel in Boston at which I am in the
habit of stopping when in that city.
He is a merchant bachelor, about
forty-fve years of age, and very
intelligent and pleasant gentleman.
There seemed to be an affinity between
us, hence we very soon became fast
friends. We often dined together in
quiet way in his apartments, spending
the time pleasantly, in intellectual
conversation.
I very soon discovered that he is
philosopher of the metaphysical sort,
and having sat at the feetof the great
masters, myself-metapho rically-our
discourse often turns upon the specula-
tions of Plato, or the doctrines of
Pythagoras. Plato is his ideal phil
osopher; he worShips him and
discourses with great eloquence upon
his beautiful doctrine of Reminis-
Scence.
But" said he, as he concluded one
of his most charming speeches,
during our last interview, ''while
Plato solves the three great problems
of origin, duty and destiny, there are
exceptional experiences, of which he
was doubtless ignorant, at least l find
nothing corresponding to them in his
writing"
'sTo what sort of experience do you
refers'' asked.
Il scarce know how to answer your
question, which having provoked l
feel under obligations to do" he
replied.
Il freely release you from all obi
CATION" l responded ''yet | should be
pleased to hear any new views, or ex-
ceptional experiences, you may choose
to present.
Il believe you have confidence in
my veracity," he began, ''nor do |
think you doubt my sanity"
/ assured him that had the utmost
confidence in his integrity of charac-
ter, and Soundness of mind.
you will have that confidence, put
to the severest possible test" he
replied. 'sby the relation of an expert
ence, which up to this hour, has
remained locked in my own heart.
and which / have guarded rs a
treasure too sacred to be exposed to
the possible ridicule of my dearest
friends, much less the public, who
would without doubt treat it with
derisiOn.'
His manner was SO sincere. and I'M
pressive, that | again assured him OF
my faith in his trutsfulness, however
improbable the revelation he was
about to make, should appear.
.swellIwill tell youmy story making
the single condition. that should you
repeat it, you will not use my name IN
connection with it.
| readily accepted the condltlon.and
he gave me the following wonderful
narrative, which wrote out at length
from memory. before l slept. and
which now with my friend S permls
sion give to the public. Some will
doubtless laugh. others scott. but
few will. Ihope. treat it with respect
and If not able to explain 1t. Will al
least accept it as an additional proof
that There are more things in heaven
and earth than were dreamed OF by
the ancient philosophers.
when a young man of twenty-five
I visited for the first time my grand
parents. who resided at q lovely
country seat, few miles from Macon
Georgia, and while there l met the
first and only woman | had ever loved
She was the daughter of aneighborins
planter, and the family were intimat,
friends of my grand parents, henc,
nv opportunities for cultivating he
acquaintance were excellent. Sh
was four wears nv Junior. hayin