Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-08-08
4 CURIOUS PREsENTIMENT.
The Singular Experience that Befel n
st. Louis Man n Europe.
81. Louis Republlcan.

st, Louis Republican.
A few years ago there resided in st.
Louis two brothers-both now deceased
whose names were and are "as
familiar as household words" in this
community. Partners in large
and successful business which had
brought them in an ample fortune,
they were bound together by the closest
love was not the least remarkable fea-
ture of characters universally respected
and admired. At the time of which we
speak the elder was in the enjoyment
OF perfect health, while the younger
felt the necessity of the rest and recrea-
ton afforded by trip to Europe. He
was fortunate enough to secure the
company of well-known citizen, to
whom we are indebted for the following
facts They had travelled leisurely
through portion of the continent and
reached the little village of Chamouni,
in Switzerland, where they expected to
remain few days and then continue
their journey. Returning to the hotel
at night, after an excursion to the ice
fields around Mont Blanc, our inform
ant, whom we will call Mr.. D., said
to his companion; "Well, E =, let us
lay out our plans for tomorrow, so that
we can start right after breakfast and
do what we have to do comfortably"
E, contrary to his usual custom,
manifested no interest in the programme
of pleasure, and intimated that he was
about ready to go home. D ex-
pressed his surprise at this sudden
change of mind, but told him that
nights sleep was all he needed to re-
vive his spirits and restore the enthu-
siasm which had so unexpectedly
evaporated. The other did not think
so, but was willing to retire early and
try the experiment. Next morning
E announced his intention of re-
turning to America as soon as possible.
Profoundly astonlshed at this resolve,
D. inquired the reason. II am"
said his friend, Impressed with the
idea that my brother is i'll, very i'll,
and ! must go to him at once" In
vain was he reminded that the last let
tiers received from home justified no
such supposition; that the brother was
then we'll, and that there was absolutely
no ground for believing his health inn
paired in the least. E admitted
the force of the argument, but was not
convinced. He declared that some
thing told him his brother was seri-
ously indisposed; that the impression
came upon him the day before and had
deepened ever since, and that he must
and would go home. Finding his pur-
pose interchangeable, D. of course
yielded to it, and within twenty-four
hours they were homeward-bound.
Arriving in New York F. found let
tiers informing him that his brother had
been smitten by the disease which
finally ended his life. We think a
comparison of dates showed that the
fatal attack came on the very day
E had the presentiment in Cha
mount, 5000 miles away.
1t is hardly necessary to say that such
things are not uncommon. Books
treating of this branch of the so-called
Supernatural" are full of cases APP
parently as we'll authenticated the
one we nave given. Usually, however,
the presentiment is conveyed in
dream, or in the wakeful hours ofnight.
In this instance it appears to have
come when all the senses were awake
and active, and amid scenes extremely
unfavorablc to the operations of a
morbid fancy. Moreover, E was a
practical, common-sense man in the
world, sound in mind and body, and if
anything defcientin imaginative power.
The presentiment was literally driven
into him, and its verifcation makes
the mystery complete. He probably
would have been the first to laugh at
such an idea in another person, and
evidently received it himself under
stoutest protest.