The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-05-14
MY ASTRAL BODY.

one of my weeds and drinking whisky
and-soda. The Rajah took to European
culture with avidity, and l have very
little doubt that he learned many new
things with which it might or might not
be eXpedient to acquaint his fellow
countrymen and subjects when he re-
turned to India. But all the intellectual
interests Of Oxford were not strong
enough to wean him from his love for the
ancient lore of his own country, and he
was always ready to expound the hidden
wisdom of the East TO any inquiring
spirit. AS soon as l found this out, Gull
uyated his acquaintance sedulously; for,
IN common with all intelligent men OF
the present day, [ took keen interest III
that strange learning which seemed to
give its posSessors such extraordinary
powers.
''Can you do it ?" I asked.
81 should hope So" said the Rajah con-
temptuously. IF [ couldn't do that I'd
turn Mohammedan."
Il wish you'd teach me-
The Rajah took in a deep puff Of smoke.
You're sure you could manage it?" he
asked
~ beg your pardon?"
well, of course, like anything else, an
astral body must be treated with tact, or
it gets out of hand"
Docs it ?''
"Why, yes; you must be firm and yet
kind. Don't let it take liberties, or you
don't know where it will land you. 1
rather doubt if | ought to show you"
L implOred him to do so. l was young,
rash, self-confdent, and / thought L could
manage an astral body as easily as did
the Dean.
Don't blame me if you find it too
much for you, that's all" said the Raj JAN.
And OF course you must promise not to
tell any one"
"Oh, must I?''
eyes, you must; because it is quite ir-
regular in me to show you like this. You
ought, by rights, you know, to go to
Thibet for seven years"
That would be rather q bore"
"Beastly," said the Rajah, but Of
course they insist on it, because they get
the fees"
He swore me to secrecy by all manner
of Oaths, and lastly on my word as a
gentlemen, and then he showed me. l
practiced all that evening, and was toler-
ably proficient by the time the Rajah
knocked out his last pipe and went off to
| bed. | must not tell how it is done, as [
promised not to, beside, if any one reads
this narrative through he will never want
! to know.
| At first it was very convenient. I al
ways used to project it to chapel instead
Of going myself. 1t did capitally there,
| because it had only to behave itself and
hold its tongue. At lectures it was a
! failure, it was such an attentive beggar
| that its notes were worth nothing. And
| it was no sort of use in the Torpid; l was
| told | should be turned out if l went on
| ''sugaring'' like that-tnere's no pluck or
endurance in these Orientals. On the
! whole, however, | was very well salts
| fed with it, and came to rely on 1t more
I nn1 for all the IjnJDIp9S 6ntlpG Of
life.
well, how do you like it?" asked the
Rajah QUE day in Quad.
My dear fellow, it's Splendid"
! answered. Its up in town, being
measured for trousers now. You cans
think how much trouble it saves
The Raiah smiled and shook his head
'Be moderate" he said. You mustn't
use it too much, or it'll presume on it."
"Will it? What will it do?''
'Why, if it's always projected, it's as
likely as not it II learn the trick of it and
take to projecting itself. Then you'll be
lett in the lurch.''
"What shall do, them"
81 don't see what you can do" said the
Rajah, scratching his head. "Of course
l should merely report it at headquar-
tiers; but you can't, because you've Nc
business with it at ALL"
"Well, l shan't grudge it holiday now
dilu Iuttl, SflINl
The RaJah was right. 1t did begin t.
take French leave. Several times wher
| | wanted it, | found it had, without {
word of apology, projected itself Oft t.
Iffley or elsewhere, and was not avail
able. l spoke very severely to it. i
said nothing, but listened with an I'M
pleasant sort of smile. 1--WE all have our
duties,' L remarked, land yours is to bt
bere''-and l pointed to my chest-''wheI
YOU are wanted. YOU'RE as bad as ;
SCOUT
Il ought to have little relaxation
it answered Sulkily.
Il never heard of such thing in con
nection with you. Isn't it enough To-
you to mediate in four dimensions wheI
you're not at work? That would satisfy
most people"
Its all very weH in Thibet," it grum
bled, but fellow doesn't come to OXFORD
to do that"
lone would think you had nothing t.
do with me. You seem to forget tina
you are simply a projection of NINE"
We had some high words and parted
| mean united-in very bad temper witt
, one another. 1t was III the middle of
most impertinent and positively threat
ening speech, when l terminated the in
terview by resuming it. 1t was very
| unreasonable and irritating, and | mad
up my mind to ask the Rajah to speak t,
it the next morning. / had an engage
ment that evening, or [ would have dom
it then. How | wish l had!
At half past nine l went to an ga
home'' at Professor Drayton's. AS a rule
''at homes are dull; but | had reason
for going to this one. The Professor hat
very pretty daughter, and I was vail
enough to think that my presence wa
welcome to her. In fact, we were grea
: friends, and l had not been at the hous
a quarter of an hour before l had forgot
ten all my worries with my unruIy Astra
Body, and was sitting by Bessie in tn
: small drawing-room, enjoying mysel
immensely. Suddenly-nlysterio
/ felt something like q violent push. Bessi
vanished; the drawing-room vanished
and l found myself in the High, standin
in dripping rain, without hat or coal
! stood still in bewilderment. What hat
happened? A moment later the Procto
was upon me. l gave my name and col
lege in mechanical way and he passe
on, leaving me still standing in the raiT
What had happened? Then it fiashe
across my mind. l understood its threats
1t had projected me!
! woke up next morning, determine
to have it out with it. l found, as | eS
pected, that it had waited till l was asleeI