The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-02-23
PROF. PoIRIER's DREAM.

Last Sunday afternoon, my maid
servant having gone out to vespers, and
the heat of the day toward three o'clock
being overpowering, 1 fell asleep read
ing Darwin.
My window opened upon the Charter
house garden; the rustling of the leaves
vaguely to my ears; a light breath of
air caressed my cheeks. Suddenly, in
q dream, / saw myself transported to
the banks of the Gangcs, not far from
Benares.
/ was sitting in the shade of 9 great
tamarind tree; the sacred river rolled
before me like a lake, white with light,
and upon its banks an immense forest
of palms, bananas, and other exotic
plants spread itself, whose lances, par
nsols, and fans mingled together as far
as the eye could reach. /,
And while l contemplated in wonder
mcnt this splendid landscape, q slight
noise In the leaves over my head drew
my attention. / looked up and saw
guess what l saw!
/ saw myself. Nicholas Poirier, pro-
fessor of philosophy at tho College Of
Saint Suzanne, in tho form of o CHM
panzee, hanging by one of my paws to
tho lower branch Of the tamarind tree,
and making faces at myself.
Judge Of my as~tonishmcnt!
Comprehending directly that my body
had discovered itself from my soul. and
was capering about in the lonely forest,
| was in CONSERVATION.
sIf it wanders off into the depths OF
the wood" l said to myself, lit viii
never return. and 1 shall remain here
alone, with my metaphysics and moth
ing else to console me-"
The thoughts made me shudder. 1
wanted to summon my Not-me to re-
sumo Immediately its accustomed place,
but the fear of frightening it modified
my ideas, and with O conciliatory tone,
/ said to it:
Come! comet my dear Nicholas,
consider-does that posture suit tho
dignity of your character? Ought a
professor of philosophy to suspend him
self from the branch of a treeP Is It
propere Come, my friend. come back
to propriety!
But the chimpanzee, after replying 70
me by two or three grimaces, said;
"Ah! now, do you take me for a fooi,
proud and stupid spiritp l descent from
my tree to seat myself again In your OLD
armchair, and wear out my eyes IN DC
ciphering silly stories! All, you know
me little if you reckon on that~No, no!
l am very well on my tree, and here 1
stay-until the fancy takes me to get
down and MUNICH a few almonds OF
treat myself to a %cocoanut. That's
what suits me-. You! do what you like,
discuss, dream, babble; that Is your
affair. 1 have had enough OF it."
At this impertinent answer L had q
mind l. be angry, but for the second
time rejecting that this would not be q
good way to bring back the Eot-me, l
resolved to convince it by the force OF
logic, and in softcned accents cried;
II comprehend, my dear Nicholas,
the wish for liberty which has taken
possession of you; the desire to stretch
Yourself was natural enough, after be-
inc thirty year at rest. But this once
is enough. You should listen to rea-
son. Come, my friend, come"
..Hear me-" interrupted the Chin
panzee. "For a 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 no.
after having made me work and sweai
TO satisfy your vanity. You have told
me SO q 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 /. spirit, l 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 wore made
to be eaten by worms Is it trueP Die
you say SOP"
1 could not deny it, my body having
! lived with me fifty years in the most in