Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-09

nave no ulincuity IN meeting and COM
munlng with the spirit Of my pupil,
both being separated from the body.
! hope TO be able TO communicate the
result Of this interesting experiment in
an early number Of the Keinpiatz
Wochenlicke Nedicaischrif.
When the good Professor finally full
filled his promise and published an ac-
count Of what had occurred, the narra-
tive was so extraordinary that it was
received with general incredibly. The
tone Of some Of the papers was so Of
fensiye in their comments upon the
matter that the angry savant declared
that he would never open his mouth
again or refer to the subject in any
way--a promise which he has faithfully
kept. This narrative has been COM
piled, however, from the most authentic
sources, and the events cited in il may
be relied upon as substantially correct.
II happened, then, that shortly after
the time when Professor Won Baum
garten conceived the idea Of the above
mentioned experiment, he was walking
thoughtfully homeward after long day
in the laboratory, when he met crowd
Of FOSTERING students who had just
streamed out from a beer-housc. AT
the head Of them, half intoxicated and
very noisy, was young Fritz Won Hart
mann. The Professor would have
passed them, but his pupil ran across
and intercepted him.
"Heh! my worthy master" he said,
taking the old man by the sleeve and
leading him down the road with him.
There is something that | have TO say
to you, and it is easier for me to say it
now, when the good beer is humming
in my head, than at another time"
"What is it, then, Fritz" the physi-
ologist asked, looking at him in mild
surprise.
~ hear, mein Herr, that you are
about to do some wondrous experiment
in which you hope to take mans soul
out ofhis body, and then to put it back
again. Is it not so?"
sit is true, Fritz"
"And have you considered, my dear
sir, that you may have some difficulty
in finding some one on whom to try
this? Potztausend ! Suppose that the
soul went out and would not come back.
That would be a bad business. Who
is to take the risk?''
"But, Fritz" the Professor cried,
very much startled by this view Of the
matter, :" | had relied upon your assist
ance in the matter. Surely you will
not desert me. Consider the honor and
glory"
"Consider the fiddlesticks :" the
student cried angrily. Am Ito be
paid always thus: Did | not stand
two hours upon a glass insulator while
you poured electricity into my body {?
Have you not stimulated my phrenic
nerves, besides running my digestion
with a galyanic current round my
stomach: Four-and-thirty times you
have mesmerized me, and what have ]
got from all this? Nothing. And
now you wish to take my soul out, as
you would take the works from a watch.
1t is more than flesh and blood can
stand"
Dear, dear I. " the Professor cried.
in great distress. " That is very true,
Fritz. | never thought of it before.
II you can but suggest how can COM
pensate you. you will find me ready
and willing"
"Then listen" said Fritz solemnly.
"lf you will pledge your word that
after this experiment may have the
hand Of your daughter, then am will
ing to assist you; but if not, | shall
have nothing to do with it. These are
my only terms"
"And what would my daughter say
to this " the Professor exclaimed
after pause Of establishment.
Elise would welcome it." the
young man replied. eve have loved
each other so long"
Then she shall be yours" the ply
siologiSt said with decision, "for you
are goOd-hearted young man and one
of the best neurotic subjects that have
ever known-that is, when you are not
under the influence Of alcohol. Ny ex-
pertinent is to be performed upon the
4th Of next month. You will attend
at the physiological laboratory at II
O'Clock. 1t will be a great occasion,
Fritz. Won Gruben is coming from
Jena, and HinterStein from Basic. The
chief men of science Of all South Ger
many will be there"
II shall be punctual," the student
said briefly; and so the two parted.
The Professor plodded homeward,
thinking Of the great coming event,
while the young man staggered along
after his noisy companions, with his
mind full Of the blue-eyed Elise and Of
the bargain which he had concluded
with her father.
The Professor did not exaggerate
when he spoke Of the widespread inter-
est excited by his novel psycho-physio-
logical experiment. Long before the
hour had arrived the room was filed
BY a galaxy Of talent. Besides the
celebrities whom he had mentioned
there had come from London the great
Professor Lurcher, who had just estab-
lished his reputation by remarkable
treatise upon cerebral centres. Several
great lights of the Spiritualistic body
had also come great distance TO be
present.
There was considerable applause
from this eminent assembly upon the
appearance of Professor Won Baumgar-
ten and his subject upon the platform.
The lecturer, in a few well-chosen
words, explained what his views were
and how he proposed 10 test them. ~
hold" be said, THAT when a person is
under the influence Of mesmermism his
spirit is for the time released from
his body, and l challenge any one to
put forward any other hypothesis
which will account for the fact Of clair
voyance. l therefore hope that upon
mesmerizing my young friend here, and
then putting myself into q trance, our
spirits may be able to commune to-
gether, though our bodies lie still and
inert. After time nature will resume
her sway, our spirits will return into