The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-10-07

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I dtscorcrcd that it lacked b,tt three
minutes to four o'clock.
1t will hardly admit of question that
persons addicted to roaming about in
their astral forms are apt to develop an
indifference to their material bodies
which is, to say the least, indiscreet so
long as a definite purpose of final aban-
donment is not entertained. Our fore
fathers, who with rare exceptions We're
ignorant of how to get out of their
bodies and return to them at will,
thought Il great deal too much of their
flesh, but that is no reason why we
should think too little.
The material body certainly has its
uses and deserves sufficient considera-
ton to insure its safety, if no more.
Yet thousands of happy-go-lucky folk,
when about to astralize themselves for
an evenings amusement, drop their
bodies anywhere, with hardly more care
for their comfort and security than
would be bestowed upon a discarded
coat, and go off feelin, quite confident
of finding them all right and fit to put
on again when required. Dut there Is
really good deal of risk in doing 30.
as have had very vividly impressed
upon me by recent distinctly disagree
able experience. Astralization is so easy
that one is readily beguiled into thinking
it safe; but in point of fact, if you are not
very careful, it is Il mere question Of
luck whether, if you once leave your
body, you will ever get into it again.
You may lose it forever in the little
time you take to slip out and fit around
the block without it.
One especially aboninable evening in
December last | boarded at Pittsburg,
on the Pennsylvania railroad, the ''fast
line, number four" train from the west
leaving there eastwardly at ten minutes
after eight, intending to reach Baltimore
by it the next morning, spend the day
in that city and the next night return to
my home in New York. To my disgust
found every berth in the Baltimore
sleeper engaged, but argument, backed
by financial influence, obtained for me
''double lower" in the sleeping car next
to it, which had come from Chicago and
was going on to New York. | would
have to turn out at Harrisburg at three
a. m. to transfer myself to the Balti-
| more bound section of the train, which
| divided there, but even that arrange
ment would give me about five hours of
rest, which was certainly better than
sitting up all the night. The porter
pledged himself-for a consideration
to call me in good time to dress. Par
don my going into all these details.
You will see they had rather impor-
tant bearing on subsequent events.
The atmosphere in that car was almost
pestilential. 1t had been crowded all
day; its stove worked perfectly and its
ventilating apparatus not at all; bleak
wind and fierce driving rain had pro-
hibited the opening of windows; so the
air was thick with hot humidity and the
animal smells of humanity. While the
porter was making up my bed, l found
! the dense smoke i'll the smoking com,
partment II temporary relief. But when
| ! crawled into my "double lower" the
situation became unbearable. With the
curtains dropped before me, felt as if
in my coffin and seemed to be inhaling
the combined odors of stable, hos
pital and u charnel house. And even
above the roaring rumble of the train l
could hear from the section opposite me
a snore, Stimulating stentorian death
rattle, which was simply maddening.
Sleep under such conditions was mani
festly impossible.
Realizing that, said to myself, "Why
not astralize? 1t is my body only which
requires rest. Very we'll, let it rest.
When | am out it will not be conscious
of either the snore or the smells, and !
shall be free to seek purer air and pleas
anter surroundings, somewhere else on
the train. Even the roof of the car will
be an improvement, since the weather
can have no effect upon my astral
form"
That never had astralized on rail-
road train seemed rather an incitemept
to try than an argument against it.
Scarcely had the notion flashed into my
mind when I Strengthened myself out
On my right side, changed my rate of
breathing and fixed my mind, all in the
ordinary way. My last thought in the
body as composed myself was, 81 shall
have to get back before we reach Har.
risburg." The next minute stood in
the aisle, free, conscious still of my un-
pleasant environment, but indifferent to
it in the superb exhilaration always felt
by the astral man as his first sensation
OF liberty and power upon escaping
from the body.
A natural curiosity as to the producer
of that awful snore impelled me to peep
behind the curtains it caused to trem-
b. and wave. To my amazement the
offender proved to be a pretty young
girl. She lay upon the fat of her little
back with her mouth wide open, and
from that portal Of coral and pearl