The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-05-11

derived advantage from though he gained
none.
Being very tired from our long walk
urged the propriety Of our returning home
so that we could arrive at the commons"
before supper was over. My hunger, unlike
that of my companion, was of the kind
| common to young fellows who have been
! taking goodly amount of exercise. led
| the way, and over most of the route my
| speculative friend was q long distance be-
hind me. He took his place at the supper
table. but scarcely tasted any food Instead
of going to our room after supper we went
down to the bank of the river and sat under
the trees. l had retired before heard his
slow step coming up the stairs.
| / changed roommates at the commence
ment of the next term and saw less of my
| 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 letter from him while he was
there in which he stated that he was en-
gagged in his life work." and concluded
that it 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 acquaintance and
70 sessl1 q --ssn sheis4life'
We took a 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-
ton.
Something like year after receiving his
letter, while travelling through the noun
tain portion of Pennsylvania, l stopped off
at the town where my old friend had 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 a 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 a man for poisoning his
wife, ard 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 a 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 I 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 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 ! might the better prosecute my in
Quirics. l practiced it, partly for the sake
of gaining a living, but chiefly for the op-
portuniiies it afforded me OF making OK
perimeuts. At the end of half an average
lifetime ! had nothing to show for my
labOrs But | have at last succeeded.
After wandering half way round the globe
l found what ! was seeking almost beneath
the place where you stand.
Il need not give you full account of all
my trials and failures 1t is enough to say
that none Of the substances l prepared in
the laboratory produced the desired effect.
| resorted to tine 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 state of
frenzy after they had drank 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 could not learn from
them what plants were used for this pur-
pose. Pursuing my Investigations in this
matter passed through Mexico and several
of the countries in Central America in all
of which heard many stories which seemed
to confirm what had heard before. But |
never came in possession OF the coveted Sc
cret
While in Chill thought of what had
read of the wonderful occult powers pos
sessed by the fakirs in India. and | resolved
to go there in quest of information. That
there are persons on the banks of the Upper
Ganges who are able to read the hearts and
thoughts of men became convinced. But
nothing can induce them to impart their Sc
cret to one who is not q member of their
order. 1t is heritage of chosen few and
doubtless will ever remain such They Sc
cure it by giving up all claims to every
thing else
what prompted me to visit Australia |
can not tell, but it was not the desire to sec
strange sights or to crafty the love of ad-
venture. While at Melbourne | heard WON
derful things about the Gypsy woman who
with her tribe was in camp on the outskirts
of the city. saw her and she to d me more
about myself than l knew. She even in
formed me Of the object of my search.
knew that this dusky daughter of the Nile,
for she was true Egyptian. possessed the
knowledge desired and resolved to obtain
it. presumed that the offer of gold would
not procure what / wished. l therefore
concluded to make myself useful to her and
| herpeople if could. soon found it in my
power 10 do so. Her child became sick and
she was advised to leave the vicinity of
/ the cOaGf Ia the friha laf ha in