The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-08-27


resurrection of our friend Athanase Chap
uzot, artist, which is to take place ut his
own residence, Rue dc Venus 22, Batig-
nolles, Monday, Feb. Is, at 10 p. M, pre-
cisely."
The resurrection of Chapuzoti
How is this?
Chapuzot was then deadl / thought
he had simply gone to Americai
What strange adventure is this?
"Parbleu, said Imusingly, after a few
moments reflection. "Why puzzle my
brain over it, when few hours patience
will explain the whole matter Yes, to-
day is Monday, Feb. Is, 10 o'clock in the
morning.
"Let us waitl"
/ did wait, but very impatiently, and
at $50 in the evening was at 90 Venus
street, Batignolles, in the little court at
the end of which stood the well known
pavilion inhabited by Athanase Chapuzot
for the past ten years,
The door was ajar. ! assembled the
winding and crealdng stairway which
led to his studio with rapid step and
found myself in the presence OF five per
sons. One of these approached mo and
extended his hand. This was Durocher,
the notary. Upon sofa in the back end
Of the studio recognized DR.. Pourpar-
dot and the sculptor, Roger Lacost, seat
ed close together conversing in a sub
dued tone. All three, like myself, were
intimate friends Of the artist Chapuzot.
Near the window stood two persons
erect, motionless, observant AS /
strained my eyes to distinguish their
features Durocher, with a slight cere-
monial gesture, presented us, saying as
| he did SO:
"Messrs Stoclxfsh--
"Stockfsh & Co., Boston, Mass, u.
| 8. A."
The Messrs. Stockfish both bowed pc.
litely.
/ did the same.
"Gentlemen, said DIR. Pourpardot, on
rising from the sofa, "our number is
now complete; we will proceed to re-
move the seals"
"What sealsp" l demanded, with the
air of one considerably mystifed.
"a very proper question" said Roger
Laeost, coming forward; 1--WE must not
forget that our friend here knows moth
ing about the matter. 1t belongs to you,
Durocher, in your legal capacity, to ex-
! plain to him what has thus far trans
| pired."
! (Which is as follows, replied the no
tary -Four months ago we were here,
Pourpardot, Lacost and myself, guests Of
| Chapuzot to social tea. You were abb
sent from Paris, and consequently could
not be included among the guests. These
two gentlemen, the Messrs. Stoclrtish,
picture dealers of Boston, presented Them
selves, on matter of business, as they
We're to leave the next morning for
America, and had nearly concluded 9
large transaction with our friend. A
| few minutes before their arrival Cha
| puzot, who had been present the evening
before at one of Pourpadot's clinic lect-
ures, spoke with lively appreciation Of
the singular cases of catalepsy he had
seen there. The conversation was con-
tinued after the arrival of the two
merchants, and Pourpardot, in proof of
his theory and assertion, referred to the
| practice Of the faldrs of India, who per-
mitted themselves to be inferred while
! living and were resuscitated ten or twelve
weeks after.
| 'sThis statement was received with
general expressions Of incredulity. The
Messrs. Stoclfish especially refused per-
sistently to put any faith in it, and pro
nounced the whole thinga mere feat of
slxil1ful jugglery and collision. Where
upon Chapuzot, with whose impetuous
temperament you are all familiar, cried
out:
".Do you doubt 1t, gentlemen Well
| will lay wager that can furnish the
proof.
".How? was the anxious inquiry.
BY repeating here in this wide awake
Paris the wonderful feat Of the ssIndian
fakirs. ~
"'For what wager?
"'Fifty thousand francs against the
picture which you see herep responded
the artist.
".Ten Thousand dollarsl Accepted
"'And when will the proof be fur
nishedr
a.In three months, at your next visit
to Parish
"Now, Pourpardot, Lacost and myself
| thought at the time that the whole
thing was sort of grim joke, mixed up
with some of Chapuzot's brayado.
I'm this we were deceived.
/ "Chapuzot had spoken in all serious
ness. Nothing could move him or in
any way make him recede from his crazy
purpose.
cat the beginning of December, when
the Messrs. Stockfsh had returned To
Paris, our friend Chapuzot was fully
prepared to enter upon the trying ordeal,
having utilized the preceding three
months in making the necessary prep
arations.
with an unconquerable energy and
admirable patience he had pursued, point
after point, the method adopted by the
falfirs of India. In the first place he had
| constructed O firm alright box or trunk
This was carefully lined throughout with
carded cotton ON which rested finely pre-
pared lamb skins with their wool.
''In this box he practiced remaining
shut up, at first for few minutes, then
some hours, then some days. The time
passed in this way, and he employed
himself in meditating on divinity ac-
| cording to the inspiration directed in the
sacred books Of tho Hindoo religion.
Every day he also accustomed him
self to remain suspended with his feet in
the air and his head toward the floor,
and curved the point Of his tongue back
ward so as TO cover the entrance Of the
larynx and interrupt his respiration. AS
to nourishment, he restricted himself to
the smallest amount of vegetable diet,
the quantity Of which he reduced from
day to day.
s'The 18th of December last, at 6
O'clock in the evening, we were present
here all five of us. The last conditions
Of the wager were made known by me
In plain terms and the stipulated en-
! gagements of the agreement signed by
both parties. Chapuzot was to remain
two months inclosed in the box, COM
! pletely deprived Of air, light and nour-
ishment.
= n r.