Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-07-29
HIS NATAL STAR.
Why q Scientists Sanity Was
Called In Question.


My name Is Jules Bertrand. I have
lived in Paris all my life. Its tho frst
time that have ever been in conflict
with the polioe-the first time I have
ever been arrested. As my sanity has
been called in question, and you, Mons.
Barbierre, justly distinguished as an
advocate, have kindly undertaken to
defend me, ] send you this truthful his.
tory OF the circumstances which have
led to my being thus inoarcerated In the
insane cells OF La Mazas
I have purposely applied to you to
conduct my defense, as you are not alone
learned In the law; but have spent like
myself, whole nights In studying the
complex systems Of the stars, which but
yesterday were under my feet, and to-
night as write this in my gloomy cell.
shine so brightly overhead.
Perhaps you may have never noticed 0
small star OF about the thirtieth magni-
tude, which on very clear nights with
powerful telescope may BIO discovered
almost midway between the constella-
tions OF the Pleiades and Ursa Major.
Its the omparatively Insignificant star
called Perigo. 1t has a Portuguese
name, an ominous one, signifying
peril" hazard" jeopardy" 1t IL
my natal star Born under its direful
influence, have been subjected to It
ever since. Ny father. who was as you
know a celebrated astronomer, has col.
culated that its orbis Is so vast that It
takes IL nearly fifty years to complete
It, His last words to mo were: BE-
ware OF Perigo whom In perihelion. 1t
will then possess Its attest power over
you for evil. What o4tyct IL may have
upon you at that time IL is impossible
to surmise; something, however, tells
me that 1t will materially change not
only your mental but your physical be-
ing"
That warning was uttered fifteen
years ago. ] have never forgotten It.
Pursuing, like my father, the study OF
astronomy, I was enabled to watch
through the long nights the steady.
irresistible approach OF that fateful
star, which was 10 have such an in.
Huence upon my destiny.
You are we'll aware how have strug-
gled against It, Sometimes I have
dreaded that 1t would tempo me to the
com mission of some dreadful crime.
Dwelling on this, what wonder II my
mind should nave assumed q morbid
cast But am not insane.
could contide In no one. You, tho
successful advocate and the obscure
astronomer. had not then been linked
in the bonds Of friendship through cur
simultaneous discovery of new planet.
Ny wife's relatives, ever on the watch
TO secure some pretext for her separa-
ton from man who brought her but
little fortune, could not trust. Even
from my wife herself concealed
my growing, appalling apprehensions.
II Is perilous TO contide secret to
woman.
Two weeks ago insensibly became
aware OF the near approach of my natal
star to that great center Of the solar
system which ordinary men call the
sun, but which to us is merely one OF
many planets around which systems OF
far greater immensely than ours re-
volve. 1t was then that I set myself to
o calculation OF the exact time when, In
accordance with the memorable laws OF
nature, the star Perigo would attain Its
perihelion with the sun Of our system.
A lengthy series of calculations had as.
sured me OF the fact that at or about
midnight OF the nth OF October, Perigo
would be In tho zenith.
A prey TO the profoundeet appreheD
sions, at ten o'clock that night bade
my wife goodnight, and, STOPPING over
the cradle OF our youngest born, i'm
printed upon Its forehead what
thought might be perhaps my farewell
kiss. then shut myself in my study,
closed the door tightly and sat down to
wait unaided and alone, tho coming Of
the fateful moment
To divert my mind as much as posi-
BILE from thoughts OF the impending dis
aster which felt certain was about to
overwhelm me, j plunged at once into
the solution Of problem, which had al.
ready caused mo many sleepless nights.
WAile thus engaged, overcome with IA
tigue OF watching, sank into pro-
found slnmber. l dreamed that had
been suddenly taken very sick; that
physicians had boon called In; that I had
died and had been stretched out upon O
board for the purposes of an autopsy.
The hardness OF the bed upon which
bad thus been laid disturbed my slum-
bers. awoke. rubbed my eyes and sat
up ! did not ut first realize whero I
was, or the extraordinary things which
had bsppene, 10 me. looked around.
IL was the Same room In which had
gone TO sleep The paper on ,he wall
was the same, TO the very pattern. But
the room had boon stripped OF furniture,
even to tho carpet, and the floor nad