The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-12
LEW WALLACE AND TIE SEER.

The Generals Experience with an Indiana
Ciairvoyant.
Philadelphia Telegraph.
All who have read General Wallace's Fair God
VIII remember the scene in the underground
cnamoer between the old priest and the little
girl The child is made the instrument through
"nlcn the fair gods coming is announced, she
going into trance under the priests influence
at the time Several months ago the General
ana number of gentlemen were discussing the
supernaeural and were relating personal expe-
rlences. when some one asked General Wallace
Wnere ne got the idea for the incident mentioned
was pfactlclng law In small country town
IN this State number Of years ago." said the
ueneral, and was at work upon the novel dur
Ing odd moments. I had never paid any atten-
ton TO clairvoyance and that sort of thing and
scoHed at all VINO believed that man may have
knowedge of what pertains to the other world
Inere was tailor living in the town who was
exceedingly superstitious. He had frequently
invited me to witness some of his manifesto
lions, put had always refused. One night as
was walking toward home, after having been
engaged in some work at my Office, / saw light
IN the tallor's shop window, and something
prompted me to stop. My friend and boy APP
prentice were at work when l entered The
tailor gave me chair, and we began talking
over mesmerlc influence and kindred matters.
AFTER While he asked me if | would care to
near some rappings. | told him to suggest some
thing else, as anybody could make rappings He
'!0a S0SIoU CidlrVOyduco, ana too MIN TO
go ahead
Now, at this point it is necessary to say that
for the following day I had made a business en-
gagement with farmer who lived near town in
an old-tashioned log house I had driven past
the place number of times, and was familiar
with the house and the road to it.
ne tailor proceeded with his arrangements
oy placing the boy on his bench with his face to
the wall. The man turned down the lamps in
the shop and directed his attention to the little
foil
and above him In few minutes tho boy who
was pale and sickly in appearance, went into
sort OF trance, and the tailor told me to take
hold of one of the little chaps hands and fix my
mind on some incident in my life or some place
that have visited. The farm house I alluded
to moment ago came into my mind at once and
Thought OF it intently Almest Immediately
the Boys lips began moving, and in a loose dis
connected way he described the log house, the
roads leading TO it. and many little details as
they passed through my mind But after follow
ing me for some time he stopped, and then be-
gan speaking something Of his own volition or
rather that or which | was not thinking He
said that it was night and that the house was
dark And then he said that the door opened,
and man came out carrying lamp In his hand
he walked out to the hen house and opened the
door while he looked into it; then closed the
door, returned to the house, and all was dark
again. At this point the boy seemed to be grow
Ing very weak, and | told the tailor to rouse him
"ntci 10 ulo oF waving MS nanCS IN the air.
Il left the shop in a short time, noting the
time. which was about 10 o'clock Next day my
farmer client called promptly at the hour which
had been set We went through the business
which was to be attended to, and as he started to
60 asked him where he had been at 10 o'clock
the previous night He was surprised ct the
question, but answered that he supposed he was
asleep told him to think about it for a min
ute.
"Oh, yes he said, presently, Il remember
now There was An animal of some kind caus-
ing disturbance in my hen-house, and get up
just about that time to what the matter was.
Everything had quoted down when got there,
and returned to the house
Il told the story to my client, who was greatly
interested" the General said, in conclusion. and
the Incident made such an impression upon my
mind that wove it into the story"