Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-09-25
PROF. POIRIER'S DREAM.
From the French of Erckmann- Chatrian

Last Sunday afternoon, my maid
servant having gone out to vespers, and
the heat of the day toward three clock
being overpoWering, I fell asleep read
ing Darwin.
My window opened upon the Charter
house garden; the rustling of the leaves
vaguely to my ears; light breath of
air caressed my cheeks. Suddenly, in
dream, I saw myself transported to
the banks of the Gauges, not far from
Benares.
Twas sitting in the shade of a great
tamarind tree; the sacred river rolled
before me like lake, white with light,
and upon its banks an immense forest
of palms, bananas, and other exotic
plants spread itself, whose lances, par
asols, and fans mingled together as far
as the eve could reach.
And while contemplated in wonder
ment this splendid landscape, slight
noise in the leaves over my head drew
my attention. l looked up and saw
guess what l saw!
I saw myself, Nicholas Poirier, pro-
fessor of philosophy at the College of
Saint Suzanne, in the form of a Chin
panzee, hanging by one of my paws to
the lower branch of the tamarind tree,
and making faces at myself.
Judge of my astonishment!
Comprehending directly that my body
had discovered itself from my soul, and
was capering about in the lonely forest,
] was in CONSERVATION.
IF it wanders off into the depths OF
the WOOD / said to myself, sit will
never return, and l shall remain here
alone, with my metaphysics and moth
ing else to console me-"
The thoughts made me shudder.
wanted to summon my Not-me to re.
sumo Immediately its accustomed place,
but the fear of frightening it modified
my ideas, and with concilatory tone,
said to it:
Come! come! my dear Nicholas
consider-does that posture suit the
dignity of your character? Ought o
professor of philosophy to suspend him
self from the branch of a tree? Is it
proper? Come, my friend, come back
to proprietyr'
But the chimpanzee, after replying to
me by two or three grimaces, said:
'.Ah! now, do you take me for fool,
proud and stupid spirit? l descent from
my tree to seat myself again in your old
armchair, and wear out my eyes in de-
ciphering silly storiesl All, you know
me little if you reckon on that. No, no!
] am very well on my tree, and here l
Stay-until the fancy takes me to get
down and MUNICH a few almonds or
treat myself to a cocoanut- That's
what suits me. You! do what you like,
discuss, dream, babble; that is your
affair. I have had enough of it,
At this impairment answer l had q
mind to be angry, but for the second
time rejecting that this would not be a
good way to bring back the Not-me, I
resolved to convince it by the force Of
logic, and in softened accents cried: "
81 comprehend, my dear Nicholas,
the wish for liberty which has taken
possession of you; the desire to stretch
yourself was natural enough, after be-
ing thirty years at rest. But this once
is enough. You should listen to rea-
son. Come, my friend, GOMEZ
''Hear me- interrupted. the CHM
panzee. 'tFor long time have known
what you keep in store for me; that you
distinguish between yourself and me;
who are your own body and your own
life; that you propose to survive me,
after having made me work and sweat
to satisfy your vanity. You have told
me so a hundred times, while we were
together under the same envelope. You
have said to me, You, body, shall die;
you shall turn to dust, after being bur-
led tremendously; but I, spirit, I am
of another essence than yours; my es-
sence is one and indivisible; it is i'm
mortal, outside of space and time; time
cannot affect it. You, you were made
to be eaten by worms Is it true? Did
you say so?' n.o -. ~. :, 's'
Icould not deny it, my body having
lived with me fifty years in the most in
innate confidence, and, besides, / had
taught theSthing professionally in the
1ecture-roonn, according to the pro-
gramme Of the university. I could not,
therefore, dispute the fact, and the
chimpanzee, seeing me embarrassed, re-