Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-24
8bssEins gesistes
STRANGE sToRY
FTgaro, Parts, Jsne rs, issa.

Tale OF the euInotine-Hou a Dead Man
Talked-what He said.
Figaro, Paris, jane 10, 1884.
While travelling in Europe last spring l
spent q few weeks in Paris and one night
accepted an invitation to take dinner at the
house OF . physician, who, although an
american, has made that city his home, and
mas acquired q Continental reputation.
When l say that he is a BAltimorean, aud
that he spent several years in the service of
q foreign Potentate now in exile and dis.
grace, from whom he receives the title
which he bears, my readers can form a
shreHG guess as To bis identity. The com.
pany was asked TO meet was a very dis.
tinguished one. There was a United
States Senator from New York State, a
member of the French Senate, who
held an important position at
the court Of Napoleon Ill but had now
thrown IN his fortunes with the republic; d
celebrated EDglIsh novelist, q famous come
dian from Theatre Franchise, two OF the
most distinguished of the Forty Immortals,
and q member of the Academy of Sciences
whose works on psychology are known all
over Europe. 1t viii thus be seen how
pleasant the gathering must have been and
how, under the genial influence of our hosts
choice Burgundy, the conversation spread
over q WIDE field in literature, art and sci
ence. Naturally it drifted into abstruse
psychological subjects, and the fact that
several Of the guests were materiaists did
not proven. the starting Of a discussion on
the forms of mind and matter, and the pos
sibihty Of q sentient condition even after
the principle of life has lett the body.
Instances have bean cited IS having been
recorded by witnesses in which, after ser.
gents and eels had been cut into small por-
tons and the vital parts seemingly destroy.
ed, the various portions seemed to be en-.
dowed with life and vitality; and . case
was mentioned, well known in medical jur-
isprudence, in which q man, IN inordinate
gambler, who was about to be behesded for
q heinous crime, begged as = last request to
be allowed to play q game Of piquet with
one of the soldiers who was guarding him.
The officer in command honored him, aud
the game began. Both were expert players,
but Just as the doomed man was about to
lay down 3 card which would have settled
the contest, the officer made q sign to the
executioner. That funetionary lifted his
sword, and, with one stroke severed the
wreteh's bead from his body, and as the
CHASTITY object fell te the ground, the lips
were seen to move, and from them were
heard to come, in clear, distinct tones, the
words, IL have won the game"
Up to the time this member of the AGA
DENY Of Sciences, whom | will call Monsieur
", had been an attentive listener, but he
now ~interposed and said, Gentlemen, l can
tell you something even more wonderful
than this, and something which, on account
of the source from which the story comes to
me, incredible as it may appear to you,
cannot but believe. My grandfather was a
physician in this city during the terrible
scenes of the revolution of 1889. He was
an ardent student and q successful expert
mentalist. One of his most intimate
friends was q young Englishmsn, who was
also studying medicine. They had tastes
in common, and were almost inseparable.
Imbued with monarchical ideas, this young
a see in the revolution that men were
fighting to overthrow tyranny, and after
the manner of his countrymen,
he openly and boldly denounced them,
Reports Of bis utterances we're carried to
the committee of safety. He was
arrested, taken before the dreaded Robes
pierre and sentenced to the guillotine. On
the night before the execution my grand
father, who had considerable political iuau-
ence, was granted permission to visit hun in
bis cell in the prison at La Concierge. The
interview was a long one. The young mar
s. we viii call him-was brave and Roa-
chalant, and after q long metaphysical ar.
gument, my grandfather said to him: i
have long wanted to prove if consciousness
and the ability to act remain any time after
death. Let me make this proposition: /
viii be present and near you at your execu-
ZION to. morrow; my profession and my rela-
ton to the committee of safety give me IN
usual privileges. The moment your head
falls into the basket | will lift it up, and if
you know me and still have the power OF
action, you will close your left eye three
times The doomed man lsughingly agreed,
the compact was sealed, and the two friends
babe each other an affectionate farewell.
Morning dawned on the prison, and as
each victims number was read out he took
his place in the trumbril and was carried to
the scene of his execution. The young
Englishmsn was there, 80 was my grand
father. Head after head fell; then came
the turn of s. He placed his head beneath
the knife, which flashed downward, and the
head dropped into the basket. Ny grand,
father could hardly repress q shudder; but
true to his promise and his search for knowl-
edge, he picked it up and held the face to
him. A film seemed to be gathering over
hls ewes, but suddenly the left eye closed
then opened. Did his senses deceive himf
No! 1t closed again. Once more it opened;
again it closed. 1t opened again. The ex-
Ieriment was complete. Just then as he
vas about to lay the head reverently down.
he thought he saw q smile hover around the
mouth. The next moment the lips parted,
and in On audible whisper came the words:
If you could only get me q wineglassfal OF
DEs Pure Malt VIII SIX | tlia< | could
Keep this thing up for half an hour longer "