Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-03-16
The FATAL CANE.
AN EXTRAORDINARY STUDY OF THE MYs-
TEREs OF PsYoHoLooio FORCE.

RN en- ~ HaOhDlNaHf STUDY OF The MYS
TERIEs OF PsYoHoLoolo FoRoE.
Years ago picked up at a book stall
an antiquated volume treating Of occul
matters. 1t interested me because hat
come across variety of strange beliefs
connected with the magic art, in thu
tourse of my naval life, and had witness
ed things that gave my European notions
more than one rude shock.
1t is all very well to say that magic ant
belief in the supernatural lurking behind
hatural objects of simple nature, such
hs crystals, amber, opals and so forth
were the first ignorant approach to
science; but l should very much
ike to be acquainted with the sci.
ence that would throw satisfactory
light upon certain curious doings and ex.
traordinary occurrences which have made
part of my tropical experiences. The
most interesting to me, being the! most
personal of these, | am now going to re-
ate, and it was the only one did not 60
II the least bit out of my way to meet.
In these days we are told of sympa-
hetic fluid, gas or electric current that
pervades the whole earth from pole to
pole, and includes all that appertains to
Farth in its onward flow. Very reliable
people, Miss Nightingale for one, discov-
bred that nervous restlessness was con-
Frolled and sleep induced by the head of
he sufferer being 'polled," not as Absa-
ON was polled, but with regard to north
md south. This is quoted as proof of
he course and influence of the current
This current, then, is believed by the
pathetic medium between the higher and
over creatures, all, chemically speaking,
wrought out of the same identical ele-
hents.
Suppose all this, and then add to it
'our knowledge of the mysterious power
Pf evil working above, below and around;
hote how inexplicable many events are;
bow impossible, with all our experience,
o forecast the least of them. Observe
he enormous power of pure good, and
he hideous power of determined evil and
hen, if you please. tell me that there is
eally nothing in my story but chain of
coincidence.
| was strolling through Plymouth one
lay, according to my usual habit, keep
ng an eye open for anything interesting
nd curious, when | was attracted by
hop of that heterogeneous description
Snly to be seen in seaports. Every port
b the known world seemed to have con-
|ributed towards examining the dirty
windows with objects. Parrots in cages
lung at the door, live birds nestled to-
tether on the counter in cage too small
pr even their tiny forms; sea-shells. |
leads, weapons, bits of uniform-all that
Jack fancies, buys for his mother and
|weetheart and sells for drink as soon as
he port cormOrants sieze him was there
Embroideries on leather, linen and silk, |
|obacco pouches and opium pouches,
/ lack wood carvings, ivory trifles, ele-
hant tooth paper weights, clay figures,
razen idols, slippers. fans, Baskets,
|hessmen, "charms" in punches, coral |
|ponges, chip of the great pyramid,
krab Burnouses-all these and hundred |
bore nondescript articles were there.
Propped up in one corner | espied
|lalacca cane in company with a green
II k umbrella which might have belonged |
p Thebaw's wife. 1t was not the UNI
|rella, with its sly, battered, costly. wick
ID air, but the cane, that arrested my
|otice. Firstly, because it was not like |
|he Others of its kind, being white Ma
|icca and nearly three inches longer be-
tween the joints than any other | had
ZEN; secondly, because | was rather on
me lookout for present for an elderly
Gentleman, and | fancied that, well
bounted, it would be the very thing to
five him. | had made up my mind to
|uy it, and had taken a step towards the
ark doorway crowded with bundles of
tufts, and Swallowed by handsome IT,
Ter skin, when the owner shutiied out. |
oppose, to hook me III as likely custo-
per. He was an odd-looking little fell
Pw, grimy and unpleasant enough,
Fhose age and nationality no man could
uess at. | felt sure of two things only
that his character was of the shadiest,
|nd that he lived in mole-like fashion,
|nly coming to the surface to grind and
heat his fellow creatures. He would
ave been at home, moreover, in anv
|uarter of the globe, along shore where
|lue-jackets and beach-combers were to
|e found.
"Hullo. it's you, is it?" | remarked.
pr | must mention that we had met be-
pre-, when happened to haul him out
+ little mob of Lascars and Cinnamon,
no seemed to mean putting an end to
i'm. He was one against many, and an
|ld man; knives were out, so | brought
im Off, for which service, far from
Ppearing grateful, fancied he looked
+ though he owed me a prudpe