Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-08-08
A VERY STRANGE STORY.
A SPIRIT DETECTING OPTICAL IN
STRUMENT.

a Frenchman's Marvellous Study of
Death with Magnifying Lens-At
Any Rate, a Curious Piece of Writing
That Is Worth Reading.
We do not pretend to vouch for the
truth of the following story. On general
principles we are inclined to consider it a
piece of imagination akin to Lockes
"Moon Hoax" Nevertheless it recently
appeared in French scientific publica-
ton, written apparently by a savant of
the theosophical variety. According to
the story, the savant determined to try
the effect of an optical instrument of vast
magnifying power to endeavor to detect
whether or not there existed spiritual or
"astral" body, as the theosophists have it.
The experiment, according to the saw
ant, writing in French publication,
was very difficult Recollecting that it
had been asserted that it was possible to
see the astral body de corps f1uidique)
leave the body at the moment of death,
he says he was not willing to remain
longer in ignorance; he therefore ar
ranged the apparatus, and when he had
succeeded in getting the most perfect
adjustment as to light and magnifylng
power, he was called to the bedside of
dying person. He had been expecting
the summons, and he remained beside
the dying man until the approach Of
death became manifest.
"A sudden trembling shaking the
whole body announced that the supreme
moment had come. With one of my
friends who was assisting me we placed
our heads under the dark covering of the
apparatus and kept our eyes steadfastly
fixed on the object glass. The particles
of dust in the air were magnified many
thousands of times, and for a moment
their violent movement produced a cloud
in front of the glass. Then a delicate
column of violate vapor, condensed into
a tiocCulent mass, was clearly seen above
and around the body. Particles ap-
peared to pursue one another as if obedi-
ent to some kind of central attraction.
The cloud condensed more and more,
and took the vaporous form of man,
then rapidly became purified until it was
as colorless as the most perfect crystal
AT this time there was around us
feeling of terrible stillness-a calm that
was almost agonizing. An indescribable
sensation held us to the instrument, while
our hearts seemed to cease pulsating. We
kept our eyes fixed on the glass. Particle
after particle grouped themselves together
so as to reproduce the exact form of
man we knew so well. The form fioated
at about foot above the body, to which
it was distinctly united by a delicate
cord.
"The face was undoubtedly the face Of
the man, but much finer and calmer.
The eyes were closed and the astral shape
seemed to be asleep By double i'm
pulse we, both of us, experienced the de-
sire that the form should awake. Atthat
very moment the bond which joined it to
the body broke.
"A slight trembling passed over this
beautiful, perfectly nodded form; vio-
let flame shone where the heart should
be. 1t stood up and gave sorrowing
look at the abandoned body, extended
the right hand with a gesture of adieu,
then vanished, condensing into small
sphere which disappeared in the dawn of
the everlasting tomorrow"