Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-02-26
A STRANGE STORY.
Yale of the GuflIctine-How a Dead
MAN Talked-whatH He said


to take dinner at the house of physi-
clan, who. although an American,
has made that his home and has &C
quired a continental reputation.
When l say that he is a Baltimorean,
and that he spent several years in the
service of foreign potentste now in
exile and disgrace, from whom he re-
ceived the title which he bears, nay
readers can form q shrewd guess as
to his identity. The company | was
asked to meet was very distinguish
ed one. There was United States
senator from New York state, mem
Der of the French senate, who held
an important position of the court of
Napoleon III, but had now thrown
in his fortunes with the republic;
celebrated English novelist, famous
comedian from the Theatre FRANCHISE,
tive of the most distinguished of the
Forty Immortals. and a member of
the Academy of Science, whose works
on psychology are known all over
Europe 1t will thus be seen how
pleasant the gathering must have
been, and how, under the genial in
tiuence of our hosts choice Burgundy,
the conversation spread over wide
field in literature, art, and science.
Naturally, it drifteo into abstruse
psychological subjects, and the fact
that several of the guests were mater
ialists did rot prevent the starting of
a discussion on the forms of mind and
matter, and the possibility of a senti
ent condition even after the principle
of life has left the body.
Instances were cited as having been
recorded by witnesses in which, after
serpents and cells had been cut into
small portions and the vital parts
seemingly destroyed, the various
portions seemed still to be endowed
with life and vitality; and case was
mentioned, well known il medical
jurisprudence, in which a man, an in
ordinate gambler, who was about to
be beheaded for heInous crime, beg
ged as last request to be allowed TO
play game, of piquet with one of
the soldiers who was guarding him.
The officer IN command humored him,
end the game began. Both were ex-
pert players, but just as the doomed
man was about to lay down a card
which would have settled the contest,
the officer made a sign TO the execu-
toner. That functionary lifted his
sword, and, with one stroke, severed
the wretch's head from his body, and
as the CHASTITY object fell to the ground,
the lips were seen to move, and from
them were heard to come, in clear,
distinct tones. the words, II have
won the game"
Up until this time the member of
the academy of sciences, whom | will
call Monsieur X, had been an atten.
tive listener, but he now lnterpesed
and said, Gentlemen, / can tell you
something even more wonderful than
tins, and something, which on account
of the source from which the story
came to me, incredible as it may APP
pear to you, | can not but believe.
Ny grandfather was a physician in
this city during the terrible scenes of
the revolution, 1889 He was an ar
dent student and successful expert
mentalist. One of the most intimate
friends was q young Englishman,
who was also studying medicine.
They had tastes in common, and W ere
almost inscprable. Imbued with
monarchical ideas, this young man
could not see in the revolution that
men were fghing to overthrow tyr
amy, and, after the matter of his
countrymen, he openly and boldly
denounced them. Reports of his ut
terance were carried 10 the commit
tees of safety. He was arrested, taken
before the dreaded Robespierre and
sentenced to the guillotine. On the
night before the execution my grand
father, who had considerable political
influence, was granted permission to
visit him in his cell in the prison of
La Concierge. The interview was
long one. The young man-''S," we
will call him, was brave and non
chalaat, and after metaphysical argu-
ment, my grandfather said to him:
Il have long wanted to prove if con-
sciousness and the ability to act re-
main any time after death. Let me
make this proposition: l will be pres
ent and near you at your execution
tomorrow; my profession and my re-
idblOu W Lu6 COhImlLk6d OF SaIelV give
me unusual privileges. The moment
your head falls into the basket L will
lift 1t up, and If you know me and
still have the power of action. you
will close your left eye three times"
The doomed man laughingly agreed.
the compact was sealed. and The two
friends babe each other an affection.
ate farwell Morning dawned on the
prison, and as each victims number
was read out he took his place in the
tumbril and was carried to the scene
of his execution The young English
man was there, so was MY grand
father. Head after head fell: then
came the turn of IS. He placed the
head beneath the knife, which flash
ed downward. and the head dropped
into the basket Ny grandfather
could hardly repress shudder; but
true to his promise and his thirst for
knowledge, he picked it up and / cid
the face to him. A film seemed to be
gathering over his eyes, but suddenly
the left eye closed. then opened. Did
his senses deceive bim2 MOI IT