New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1890-10-08


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' s55v AAss's VlM deep thought,
drew along breath'with some appear
ance Of relief.
II was thinking OF singular
case
'That occurred in your practice,
SUPPOSE" I queried.
''Not azactly, anil yet in reply I
could say yes! Your asking me
about Thimbault, the mesmerist, re-
minded me of it. 1t was Singular
case
If mesmerism, or odyllic force, is
in any way concerned in the case, let
me hear it by all MEANS" I replied.
We were sitting in Van Leonard's
office, and had called on purpose
to consult him in regard to one
Thimbault, who was creating a sem
sation in social circles by his mani
festations of magnetic force or hyp-
motto power.
"What was the case?" inquired.
My friend INDUCED in a reverie for
some moments, as he in an absent
manner pulled away at his fragrant
Havana. Then he gently tipped the
ashes from the end ofhis cigar and
continued:
'The sad death not long since Of a
popular official in a neighboring city,
after defalcation which no one had
suspected Or even deemed in the
slightest degree probable, brought
this case to my mind. It occurred
some years ago in the town Of Blank,
where then | resided"
"Tell me all about it," said I set
Ting myself into listening attitude.
GAS I said, Blank was my residence
then. l practiced my profession, but
was not kept SO busy by it then as I
am now, and, from frequent converse
tions with an instructor in our city
academy | became deeply interested
in phrenology and biology. Prof
Franklin was the mans name. He
had great force Of character, in fact
tremendous willpower and his CON
troll OF students was perfect; even the
most refractory yielded to him Be
sides being a man OF quite extensive
learning, he possessed keen penetra-
ton, and | sometimes imagined that
he could read my thoughts. Hewould
descant in q notwithstanding manner
about a lite-torce, call it what you
may, odyllic or magnetic force, by
which strong natures controlled the
will and even the physical powers of
others. Sometimes [ have tried it
onmy refractory pupils, he would say,
and they would afterward declare
that | had bewitched them. Itwould
be WE'LL he sometimes added, sior
you doctors to study the science of
biology more. 1t might aid you in
controlling the diseases OF your pa
TENTS by enabling you to control
the patients.
My mother was alive at the time,
and cultivated II farm in the neigh
borhood of Blank, in which myself
was interested as a legatee. Gus
tomarily I paid her city and county
taxes as we'll as my own, md thus
became quite intimate with Judge
Alden, the city and county treasurer.
Alden was q most anna BILE and gem
ial man, q member of the Methodist
church, and Of unimpeachable pre-
hity and veracity. liked to converse
with him, for he had been great
reader, and the very fullness. genial
ity, and aristocratic appearance of
his countenance evinced his mental
culture, and his acquaintance with
all that is good, enrolling, and ele-
waiting in literature. Have you ever
noticed that such was the elevating
effects of the good and beautiful in
literatrre?"
''No."
We'll, observe your acquaintance
more closely, and whenever you per-
ceive refined countenance. betoken-
ing intelligence and wide information,
you may be sure the owner is a pure
minded man, versed in elegant litera-
ture.
"Alden, who had once been Judge
of our Superior court. was such q
man, and SO great was his probity
that year after year he was elected
city treasurer. But in the course of
time a change occurred in his appear-
ance. Signs Of care and concern be-
gan to appear on his face. At times
unfair distraiu took possession OF
him, and at last wrinkles and gray
hairs became plainly visible A close
observer could discern aslight alb
sence of that easy and genial CONVEX
sational power which had always
characterized him and which had
made his company q pleasure. The
smile was still on his eountenance,
but it appeared strained.
Have you noticed the change
which has come over Judge Alden?"
asked Prof. Franklin of me one day