River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-10-03
PHENOMENA OF VISIONS.
Graphic and Interesting Sketches
Man Who had a Concert In His Brain.

Clarke, of this city, whose essays entitled
"Sex in Education" and ssThe Building OF
Brain" provoked more or less sharp an
tagonism, left unfinished an ESSAY entitled
"Visions: A Study of False Sight
(pseudopia)." His nearest friend, DIR.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, to whom DIR.
Clarke left the manuscript and its dis
position, had no hesitation in deciding
that, imperfect as 1t was, it should be
given to the public. Ingenious and in
teresting as are the speculative portions
of the essay, the numerous hitherto I'M
recorded cases will be found its most per
manentlv valuable contribution to science
and herein may possibly be found an
explanation of the visions of the enthusi-
asts and seers of all nations and ages, as
well as those of modern spiritualism,
whenever the latter are not the result of
sleight- of hand or other deception.
Tie sixth case cited by DIR. Clarke is
an extraordinary account of the abnormal
action OF two senses-pseudopia and
pseudotia-simultaneo which finally
proved fatal.
The subject was Mr.. A, over eighty
years of age. He was retired merchant.
Possessing an ample fortune, he devoted
more time to intellectual aesthetic pur-
suits than to business. He was passion
ately fond of music, was familiar with
the works of the great composers, and in
Europe listened to artists who interpreted
them. He was also endowded with the
rare gift of good common sense. Few
persons could be found less likely than
he to be led astray by their imagination
or superstition. Armed with an active
tempe, amept, good habits and strong
physical organization, he had good health
until year or two after he became an
octogenarian. Towards the close of life
he was troubled with severe cerebral dis
ease. Its precise character, however, was
not ascerlained by post mortem exami-
nation. The account, as given below, is
in his own language, with the exception
Of changing the first to the third person !:
ale had retired, on the night renter
red to, at his usual hour and in his usual
health. Nothing had occurred for the
day previous or for several days previous
to disturb him in any way so far as he
could reccolect. He had partaken of
| his usual diet, and followed his Gus
| tomary mode of life. Soon after retiring
he feel asleep, and slept we'll until about
2 A. NJ, when he was awakened by the
sound of music, which seemed to come
| from the street near the house. Thinking
a serenade was going on, he got UP to as
certain where it was, but discovered moth
| ing. The sound ceased when he arose.
On returning to bed, he heard the sound
| of music again, and was at the same time
sod g
persons standing near each other in his
| chamber, opposite the foot of his bed.
1t was his habit TO sleep with the gas
light burning feeEly near the head of his
bed. He turned the gas on to its full
power and inspected the intruders. They
appeared to be musicians, who were hum
ming and singing, as if in preparation
for a musical performance. He rang
bell which summoned his man servant.
John soon arrived and was ordered to
put the strangers out.
There is nobody here sir was Johns
reply to this order. For moment Mr..
A. was not only amazed, but alarmed
'Whatp he exclaimed, do you see no one
there? No one, said John. Go where
those chairs are, and move them, was
Mr.. Al next direction. John did so. The
strangers stepped aside. but did not 60
out. by this time Mr.. A. had gathered
his wits about him, and was satisfied thai
he was the victim of hallucination; and
be determined to observe its phenomena
carefully. Accordingly he bade his serv-
ant depart, and prepared to watch his
visitors. But they were so life like and
human that he was again staggered, and
recalling John told him to 90 to the
housekeeper. She soon came, and on be-
ing interrogated, confirmed Johns state
ment, that there were no strangers in the |
chamber, and no sounds to be heard
Convinced by the testimony of two wit |
nesseses, Mr.. A. yielded TO the decision
Of his reason, an again resolved to go |
on with the investigation of the strange |
phenomena. The musicians had now re
sumed their position near the window
and opposite the foot of the bed.
Mr. A. turned the light ofthe gas full up
on them. He looked at MS watch, which |
marked the hour o! balf-past-two. He |
then arranged his pillows, so as to sit |
almost upright IN bed, and waited for the |
next scene of the play. He was able to
note the size, form, dress, and faces of the |
performers, One was large mar, who bore |
some resemblance to BrignolI. The two |
others were of less size and shorter statue
than their companions. All were habited |
in dresscoats, and white waistcoats, and |
wore white crdvats and white gloves |
After little time spent in coughing and |
clearing out their Threats, they began to |
sing They sang at first a few simple |
airs Sweet Home among others. They |
then attempted more difficult music, and |
gave selections from Beethoven and Mo |
Fart. Between the pieces they chatted |
with each other in foreign language,
which Mr.. A. took to be Italian, but they |
did not address him. Occasionally |
they changed their position, turned in
various directions and part of the time
sat down.
Mr. A said the singing was excellent: |
he had rarely heard better. After the
first feeling of surprise and amazement
had passed away, he enjoyed the music
exceedingly. The performance continu-
ed in this way for some time, when it
suddenly came to an end. The singing
ceased and the singers vanished. He
looked at his watch and found that the
time was four o'clock. The concert in
his brain had lasted nearly an hour and a
half, almost the length of an ordinary
concert. He reflected for a while upon
this strange occurrence, but, not being
able to arrive at any satisfactory eXplana-
ton of it, he turned his gas down and
went to sleep. The next morning he
called al my office, as previously stated,
to ascertain, if possible, what FRANKS his
brain had been playing. aud if he should
regard them as awarning of his approach
ing departure"
The most mysterious part of her ex-
perience while wandering in the woods
is the fac that when she felt faint and
thought that she could 90 no farther and
would lie down to rest, singular as it may
seem, a little chipmul,k or squirrel would
Jump into her face; then she would
arouse, get up and walk piece farther.
Again she would become almost exhaust
ed with fatigue and lie down, only to be
disturbed with another chipmunk. This
being repeated every time,she attempted
to reconcile herself to her fate, produced
the impression upon her mind that that
was presentiment intended to stimulate
her TO move ON, n she did in each
instance till she discovered by Mr..
Clemmens. Str though it be, yet
there must ha, peen something more
than ordinary ge that enabled her
to overcome nan weaknesses till
she cane into resence of her human
savior.