Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-09

old chum than formerly. noticed that he
spent much time in the chemical laboratory
and altogether neglected sports and society.
The books he took from the college library
were those that pertained to chemistry,
physiology and psychology. After school
days were over we drifted entirely apart.
He engaged in the study Of medicine. He
was surgeon to a New England regiment
| during the Civil War, at the close of which
he settled in mining town in Pennsylvania
L received a letter from him while he was
there in which ne stated that he was en-
gagged in his life work." and concluded
that ii did not consist entirely in setting
fractures and dislocatlons and administering
calomeL He invited me to visit him if
ever passed through the Keystone State, as
he wished to renew an old acquaintance and
to resume a conversation begun at the time
we took long walk together when we
were fellow students. He concluded by
stating that he thought he could now inter-
est me in the subject then under considera-
ticn.
Something like year after receiving his
letter, while travelling through the noun
tain portion Of Pennsylvania, stopped off
at the town where my old friend mad re-
sided. The station agent informed me that
Dr. Forbes had moved to Montana and that
it was reported that he was then travelling in
South America As had to wait several
hours for train / made some inquiries in
the village about the doctors career. The
landlady at the hotel where ] took dinner
stated that he had but few intimate friends,
that he spent much time in the woods
seeking strange plants, that he had caused
the arrest OF man for poisoning his
wife, and that he had broken the heart of a
beautiful girl who was attached to him. A
physician who had been his competitor in
business, though he belonged to different
school OF medicine, gave strange account
Of him. He accused him Of trying danger
Gus experiments on his patients and of pre-
scribing drugs not Endorsed by the profess
sion. He stated that he had room fitted
up for preparing medicine and that in his
opinion he practiced alchemy
Several years passed before l again re-
ceived any tidingS from this strange man
But one day letter was brought to me the
directions on which were plainly in his
hand. The post-mark on the envelope was
Adelaide, South Australia The letter was
dated at some place in the interior of the
colony, which was not laid down on any
map l could obtain. The first portion of the
letter was devoted to personal matters that
were Of no interest to any one but the
writer and myself. will now give an ex-
act copy of what followed, which may
prove to be of interest to many persons:
Since saw you last, indeed ever since
talked with you at the Cascade so many
years ago, have devoted all my energies
TO trying to discover the substance / then
spoke TO you about. l studied medicine
that l might the better prosecute my in
quiries. l practiced it, partly for the sake
of gaining living, but chiefly for the op-
portunities it afforded me of making ex-
periments. At the end of half an average
lifetime l had nothing to show for my
labors. But l have at last succeeded
After wandering half way round the globe
l found what l was seeking almost beneath
the place where you stand.
Il need not give you fun account of ali |
my trials and failures. 1t is enough to say |
that none of the substances l prepared in |
the laboratory produced the desired effect. |
l resorted to the employment of plants |
whose influence on the human system was |
not known. With these l had no better |
success. l had heard that some of our |
mountain Indians passed into a state of |
frenzy after they had drank a decoction Of |
certain herbs and that while in that condi- |
ton they prOfessed to be able to see the true |
conditions of persons who were absent as |
well as present. l found on visiting them
that that belief was entertained by several |
Indian tribes, but l could not learn from
them what plants were used for this pur-
pose. Pursuing my investigations in this
matter passed through Mexico and several
If the countries in Central America in all
If which heard many stories which seemed
% confirm what had heard before. But /
never came in possession of the coveted Sc
ret.
While in Chilli thought of what l had
cad of the wonderful occult powers pos
'essed by the fakirs in India, and | resolved
o so there in quest of information. That
here are persons on the banks of the Upper
Ianges who are able to read the hearts and
thoughts of men L became convinced But
lothing can induce them to impart their Sc
ret to one who is not a member of their
order 1t is a heritage of a chosen few and
doubtless will ever remain such. They Sc
cure it by giving up all claims to every
hing else.
What prompted me to visit Australia |
an not tell but it was not the desire to see
strange sights or to crafty the love of ad-
-enture. While at Melbourne heard won
lerful things about the Gypsy woman who
With her tribe was in camp on the outskirts
# the city. l saw her and she told me more
bout myself than l knew She even in
ormed me of the object of my search.
new that this dusky daughter of the Nile,
or she was true Egyptian, possessed the
desired and resolved to obtain
/. presumed that the offer of gold would
lot procure what l wished. l therefore
oncluded to make myself useful to her and
if l could. soon found it in my
ower to do so. Her child became sick and
he was advised to leave the vicinity of
he coast. As the tribe left for the interior ;
followed them. But the child continued
o fail till the mother implored me to save
Is life, promising to give me in return any
hing that was in her power. Night and
ay stood over the child until the Gypsy I
amp was the scene OF gladness.
81 had no occasion to remind the mother
t her promise. One day when all the men, ;
ers of the tribe were absent from camp,
boxing for food and fuel. she called me to
er and placed in my hand little bag filled !
nth the leaves Of plant that was unknown
} me, though was well versed in botany.
had noticed that she had always taken ,
Ome of these leaves in her mouth before
be had hidden the seeker after knowledge
ross her palm with gold. l asked for no {
lstruction, for was conscious that pos
sssed what desired. ,
THE next morning / went to a hillock, ,
overed with scrubby trees, where a
angaroo had passed the night, seated my
III on the sod and placed roll of the leaves S
my mouth. The flavor Of them was dis S
lsteful as that of opium or tobacco to a 6
Ovice. In the course of few minutes all
Y mental faculties appeared to be quick
led. Every event of my life was recalled L
Id appeared TO be re-enacted before my i