Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-10-31
THE FAKIR

NtouAADlAiOuN OAA AItcn0 ANhuLAol 0AAAfF
nzot. artist, which is to take place at his
own residence, Rue de Venus %, Batig-
nolles, Monday, Feb IS. at 10 p. m, pre-
cisely."
The resurrection Of Chapuzoti
How is thisg
Chapuzot was then deadl / Thought
he had simply gone to Americal
What strange adventure is this?
"Parbleu. said Imusingly, after afew
moments reflection. why puzzle my
brain over it. when a few hours patience
will explain the whole matter? Yes, to
day is Monday, Feb. 10, 10 o'clock in the
morning.
LET us waitr'
l did wait, but very impatiently, and
at 0.30 in the evening was at % VEINS
street. Batignolles, in the little court at
the end of which stood Che wei known
pavilion inhabited by Athanase Chapuzot
for the past ten years.
The door was ajar. ! assembled the
winding and creaking stairway which
led to his studio with a rapid step and
found myself in the presence of five per-
sons. One Of these approached me and
extended his hand. This was Durocher.
the notary. Upon a sofa in the back end
Of the studio / recognized DR.. Pourpar-
dot and the sculptor, Roger Lacost, seat
ed close together conversing in u sub
dued tone. All three, like myself, were
intimate friends of the artist Chapuzot.
Near the window stood two persons
erect. motionless, observant. AS i
strained my eyes to distinguish their
features Durocher, with a slight cere-
monial gesture. presented us, saying as
he did so:
"Messrs. Stockfsh-
"stockish g Co.. Boston, Mass, U.
s. A."
The Messrs. stockfsh both bowed po-
litely.
did the same.
"Gentlemen," said DR.. Pourpardot, on
rising from the sofa, "our number is
now complete; we win proceed to re-
move the seals"
What sealsg'' l demanded, with the
air considerably pystifed.
"A very ironer question:, sind Roger
Lacost. coming Forward; 1--WE must not
Forget that our friend here knows moth
ing about the matter. 1t belongs to You,
Duroeher, in your legal capacity, to ex-
plain to him what has thus far trans
PRED"
which is as followe.r replied the no
tary. -Four months ago we were here,
Pourpardot, Lacost and myself, guests of
Chapuzot to a social tea. You were alb
sent from Paris. and consequently could
not be included among the guests. These
two gentlemen, the Messrs. Stockdsh,
picture dealers of Boston, presented them
selves, on a matter of business, as they
were to leave the next morning for
America. and had nearly concluded a
large transaction with our friend. A
few minutes before their arrival Cha
puzot, who had been present the evening
before at Of Pourpadot's clinic lect-
ures, spoke with a lively appreciation of
the singular cases Of catalepsy he had
seen thera. 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 fakirs of India, who per
mitted themselves to be inferred while
living and were resuscitated ten or twelve
weeks after.
"This statement was received with
general expressions of increduEty. The
Messrs. Stochish especially refused per-
sistently to put any faith in it, and pro
nounced the whole thing a mere feat of
skillful jugglery and collision. Where
upon Chapuzot, with whose impetuous
temperament you are all familiar. cried
out:
EDO you doubt it, gentlemen? Well
l win lay a wager that l can furnish the
proof
How was the anxious inquiry.
BY repeating here in this wide awake
Paris the wonderful feat Of the Indian
fakirs."'
"sFor what wager
Fifty thousand francs against the
picture which you zee here! responded
the artist.
"'Ten thousand dollarsl Accepted
"'And when win the proof be fur
nished?
" In three months. at your next visit
to Parish
NOW IDuIphfuOt hacOhb anu myself
thought at the time that the whole
thing was a sort of grim joke. mixed up
with sonse Of Chapuzot's brayado.
lin 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.
AT 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
month"; IL making the necessary prep
arations.
with an unconquerable energy and
admirable patience he had pursued, point
after point. the method adopted by the
falirs Of India, In the first place he had
constructed a firm airtight 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 a few minutes. then
some hours. then some days. The time
passed ia this way, and he employed
himself In meditating on divinity ac-
cording TO the inspiration directed in the
sacred books Of tho Hindoo religion
"Eyefy day he also accustomed him