The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-03-07
OUR STORY TELLER.
THE Rat.
NEW York Sun.l


You know that when a man lives in a
deserted castle on the top of a great
mountain by the side of the River
Rhine, he Is liable to Misrepresentation.
Half the good people of the village OF
Schwinkenschwank, including the burg
omister and the burgomaster's nephew,
believed that / was a fugitive from
American justice. The other half was
Just as firmly convinced that / was
crazy, and this theory had the support
OF the notary's profound knowledge of
human character and acute logic. The
two pa ties TO the interesting controversy
were 81 equally matched that they spent
all their time IN confuting each other 's
arguments, and l wa, left pretty much
to myself.
As everybody with the slightest pre-
tension to cosmopolitan knowledge is
already aware, the old Schloss Schwink-
enschwank is haunted by the ghosts of
twenty-nine medieval barons and baron
ts.es. The behavior of these ancient
specters was very considerate. They
annoyed me, on the whoe, far less than
the rats, which swarmed in great num-
bers in evefy part of the castle. When
i first took possession of my quarters, !
was obliged TO keep lantern burning
all night, and continually to beat about
me with q wooden club in order to es
cape the fate of Bishop Hatto. After
ward sent to Frankfort and had made
for me wire cage, in which / was able
TO sleep with comfort and safety as soon
as | became accustomed to the sharp
gritting of the rats teeth as they gnawed
the iron in their impotent attempts te
get in and cat me.
Barring the specters and the rats, ant
now and then transient bat or owl,
was the first tenant of the Schlos.
Schwinkenschwank for three or fou
centuries. After leaving Bonn, where
had greatly profited by the learned anC
Ingenious lectures of the famous Cal
carius, herr professor of metaphysics
science in that admirable university,
had selected this ruin as the best pos
sible place for the trial of certain ex
pertinent in psychology. The Heredi
tary Landgraf Won Toplitz, who ownet
Schloss chwinckenschwank,s showed n,
signs of surprise when went to him an,
offered 81 < thalers q month for the priv
lege of lodging in his ramshackle castle
The clerk Of Broadway hotel coul,
not have taken my application NOR
coolly or my money in more business
like spirit. ,sg -il
:" 1t will be necessary to pay the frs
months rent in advance" said he.
"That l am well prepared to do, m
well-born hereditary landgraf," I re
piled, counting Que eight dollars. H
pocketed them and gave me receip
FOR the same. wonder if he ever trie
TO collect rent from his ghosts.
The most inhabitable room in tn
castle was that in the northwest tower
but il was already occupied by the Lad
ADELAIDE Maria, eldest daughter of tn
Baron Won Scotten, and starved to deaf
In the thirteenth cen ury by her affes
tionate papa for refusing to wed a one
legged freebooter from over the river
As could not think of intruding upo
lady, l took up my quarters at tn
head of the south ttrret strirway, wher
there was nobody in possession except
sentimental monk, who was out a goo
deal nights, and gave me no trouble a
any time. H"3
In such calm seclusion as enioyed i
the Schloss it is possible to reduce phy,
ical and mental activity to the loves
degree consistent with life. Saint Pedr
OF Alcantara, who passed forty years i
convent cell, schooled himself to slee
only an hour and hall day, and t
take food but once in three days. Will
diminishing the functions of his bod
to such an extent, he milst also, firml
believe, have reduced his soul almost |
the negative character of an unconscior
infants. 1t is exercise, thought, fri,
ton, activity, that brings out the ind
viduality Of a mans nature. Professc
Ca'carius's pregnant words RENAME
burned into my memory: What is th
mysterious link that binds the soul to th
living body? Why am | Calcarius, {
rather, why does the soul called Calca
ius inhabit this particular organism
(here the learned professor slapped b
enormous thigh with his pudgy hand
Might not i as we'll be another. an
might not another be /? Loosen tb
individualized Ego from the Heshy sui
roundings to which it coheres by fore
OF habit, and by reason of long contac
and who shall say that it may not be &,
PEELED by an act of volition, leaving th
living body receptive, to be occupied b
some nou-individualized Ego, worthis
and better than the old ?, ar,
This profound suggestion made las
ing impression upon my mind Whil
perfectly satisfied with my body, whic
Is sound, healthy, and reasonably beat
tifui, j had long been discontented wit
my soul, and constant companion of Il
weakness, its grossness, its inadequac,
had intensified discontentmept to di
gust. Could ], indeed, escape myself
could tear this paste diamond from i
fine casket and replace II with a genuir