The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-03-11
AN OPTICAL ILLUSION.
whn. n Lawyer Saw one night.

During the earlier years of my prac-
tice as a lawyer / was engaged upon the
trial of case which absorbed my un-
divided attention for something over four
days | was obliged to work in my
Office far into each night in preparation
for the next day.
1t was upon the night of the third
day of the trial that the incident of
which ] write occurred. / had locked
my office door upon coming in from
tea to avoid interruption, and had
toiled necessarily and alone until after
midnight, scarcely looking up from the
papers and figures before me.
At last laid down my pen, and wheel
ing III my char, was surprised to SEQ
standing IN the middle of the room, and
only q few feet from the opposite side of
my desk, a human figure of singular aP-
pearance.
1t was that of a man at least six feet
In height, ,bToad-shouldered and strongly
built. The head was covered with 8
military hat, and the coat, buttoned
the throat. was that of an army Officer.
He stood facing me, aud seemed asif
respectfully waiting for me to finish what
| was about before addressing me.
/ remember that at first sight OF hin /
felt no sensation of fear; indeed, my first
was weary and lonely.
| bade the stranger a good evening,
and requested him to be seated. He
neither spoke nor stirred, but stood as
before, looking silently into my face.
The features aud expression of his
cOuntenance, the outline of lis figure,
the very -colors of his dress, even TO the
gilt of ms shoulder-straps and buttons,
had the distinctness and the apparent
reality of actual presence.
now perceived that | was enjoying n
pleasant and vivid optical illusion. |
had made the subject something of
study IN my youth, and had at times
been favored with similar manifestations,
especially upon going TO bed in dark
room after having overtaxed my eyes by
reading, but never with any so clear and
distinct as this
So / determined to experiment little
not with the spectre. for that would be
impossible but with myself l sat per
fectly still. for | knew that If | should
change the position of my eyes by so
much as the breadth of n finger the
shadow would vanish First / scru-
tinized il with the utmost possible care,
from the head downward as nearly 10 the
feet as 1 could see.
Everything was perfect, even to the
eagle upon his buttons. | now tried its
density, so far as / could by my sight.
I found that / could see through 1t and
distinguish objects beyond, as one sees
the fixed stars through the tail Of a
comet. | read distinctly the name
Europe upon large map which hung
on the opposite wall, looking all the
while directly through the body of the
apparItlou.
1 ,r-r.,,II l,,--., .,,r-,g1 I,.l - ,,,,,,
through 1t, but / knew the instant |
should Iise to approach 1t, 1t would van
Ish- / therefore resolved upon the only
other experiment possible for me there.
In small drawer which stood open
Immediately at my right hand lay my
pistol. / could lay my hand on the
weapon without IN the least moving my
body or my head A bullet, passing
from where | sat through the illusive
figure, could only, after piercing the
map / have mentioned knock some
chips of plastering from a solid brick
wall; and inasmuch as no person or
thing could be endangered, determined
to hUmor my fancy.
| cooked my pistol and fired, being
very careful not TO move my head or
body. Ny aim was directly through the
breast of the apparition, but even if I
had shot entirely wide / apprehend that
the effect would have been the same.
The illusion vanished Immediately.
] could not observe how: l could not
see 1t fade nor go; il simply WIS not
there. The instant the pistol flashed,
the place where the vision had appeared
became to the eye as vacant as the air.
1t was merely an optical illusion, re-
sulting from an excited and somewhat
L Of
affection not uncommon to persons in
the habit of exhaustive mental applica-
ton, and is IN no sense alarming, but is
n kindly warning that the person needs
rest.
The superstitioDs Of hundred years
ago would have called it ghost or COB
lin; those of to-day would call it
Gspirit, while in scripture times it
would have been called ''heavenly
vision" or an appearance of the Angel
of the Lord-in the uniform of a Briga-
dier General, 1t was simply the over
tasking of nerve.-Net0 York Com
1nercidI Adrertisef.