The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-26
THE SECRET OF LIFE.
rxrrRxxL CONTACT or Amos
Pierre raE ENEMY OF M<N.
ws,rd.s strange story OF Remarkao'e
Creature who sought to froions
Ind.f,niteIy Human Existence

The return OF Thanksgiving day WIN It's
nr,sht fancies, light and JOY ana 'o'e'
,,s opportunities OF enjoyment the to
,,n,ons OF absent ones at home nreside' 'he
gatherings around the festive boaru' Tue
,,.rDv associations Of friends. and my o"i
- .,,,c,nations OF the seasons pleasure
are snadowcd by the return OF memory
,vn,ch have tried in vain TO cast on
,,, tonight with the approach oil TINS
nurpv festal day It comes UP douDiy
strong and my thoughts turn 10 one poor
unfortunate. who. the eve OF THANKSGIVING
dav a wear AGO cOntded TO me MS StViE d
story which Is 50 weird and 50 suanse
maj like my associations with TINS peou-
liar character, II fingers on my mihu 40 d
phantasmag0rlc dream o.,,os,
nv his permission, II not Implied TequeS.'
win tell his story, as the tine ne named.
twelve months. have passed j 40 hot
ssk Won 10 believe IL. but Vouch LOT 'he
faithful portrayal Of what heaIu a'u
saw. and you. dear reader, may ara" S'"'
own conclusions ,,.,o oo,d and
beautiful night only n''io So'e' o., 90
The moon shown family through "nite
1870 80 clouds Passing through Cap
,,ol souare lust at the fall or eVehihs'
,nors came under my vision a hguIe re-
ci,n,nq mon a bench In painful attituoe,
and even now. his air OF utter detection Is
indelibly pictured on my brain
strange skin.
was particularly attracted by the
cecultar appearance Of his skin, WHICH,
though his form was shaded by an oNet
hanging bough. was 50 snowy "Ilte 'i"1 IL
possessed a ghosty appearances anu
nected the faint light OF a distant eiectflc
lamp. .,....,,, no
showed striking evidence Of extreme age
his cheek and brow were as smooth anu
wrtnkleless as a piece OF whlte uresseu
Mid. and indeed his skin bore a strlhlhs
resemblance 10 fine dressed leather ana
seemed similar in texture. a deep drawn
sigh from his hollow chest caused me ~
stop opposite his seat.
Wishing to aid him II he were In us
tress. / sat beside him and, for an intro
duction 10 one whom l did not KNOW
smoke OF the weather and remarked upon
the prospect for pretty day for Thanks
giving on the morrow.
The word thanksgiving seemed TO arouse
him from a painful revere, ana turning
on me a pair Of deep set burning eyes ne
huskily said lit will be the hrst thanks
giving fer me for many a year. Yes l
shall be thankful, for at last 1 may dle.'
Astonished at his reply, j offered 10
assist him. and, with a view OF calling
friends 10 his aid, asked his name Seem
ingly ignoring my offer Of help and star
ing painfully at me for full a minute, he
commenced speaking. feeby at first, but
as he talked his voice strengthened, his
dun eve lightened, and with show OF
vitality amazing for one whom moment
before had fallen into mental and physl-
cal collapse, he said What need have /
for a name2 Mine is one which is assoc
ciated with the growth and development
aye. the very infancy OF Richmond ii
is & maine borne by a prominent street
and deslgnates more than one familiar
locality in this beautiful city of my
youth-a youth so long passed, that were
J to tell you how long, you. like many an
other would turn away with a look Of pity
and think me a creature burdened only
with the vagaries Of a Diseased mind.
Very old.
Eyes am od-how old you would not
believe. If L were to tell you my name,
one so well known ana honored in the
history OF Virginia, It would provoke a
smile and cause you TO look on me with
suspicion and you would not believe.
AT the police station, where they con-
fined me one night on q charge OF vag-
raDcy. j am registered as James Henry
they are the first two words OF my name.
They found / was possessed of means,
ana released me without trial.
II have spoken of my life to many
before you, but they were all alike and did
not believe.
"A doctor OF this city, through mistaken
Kindness, had me tried for lunacy but 1
put him to shame with my knowledge. 1
showed him knew more of the science
ana mysteries Of medicine than all their
learned professors; more of law than the
supreme judges. They were amazed at
mn al 4
harmless and TUNED me loose.
Were you not incredulous like all the
rest could prove TO you that L possess
knowledge far beyond that OF other men;
that nature and science have been the
tools OF my hand and the playthings of
my Imagination. The mysteries of chem
istry and electrity, which have baflied
other minds, have unfolded themselves TO
NY untiIiDg research end 1 have mastered
secrets that would have overwhelmed a
nature less strong than mine"
More than Human.
AS he spoke these words his appearance
was peculiar and striking, and as 1 looked
in his eyes. facinating in their intensity
and gazed upon his dead white skin, l
felt as II l We're in the presence OF some
thing more than human. His voice sud
denly failed before ne was through speak
ing, and he seemed TO suffer intensely,
spasms wracking his trembling form.
1 again offered 20 help him, but he
waived me or
His strange manner no less than his
curious story greatly aroused my interest
aud when he was rested l asked him to
tell me more.
Said he. "You are like the rest, you Will
not believe"
l gave him my assurance OF conhdeace
in his story, and. turning he grasped my
arm and said: "Were l to tell you IL would
be a curse TO you forever; Il has been 20
me; 1 have lived until life is a nightmare
curse and horror; thank God / feel
that he has at last heard my agonizing
prayer: may at last turn 10 the grave
for rest"
| persisted in my request, but he again
waived me on. and. assuming the vigor
that he once before displayed. arose and
With firm step walked away.
Stopping after having gone a few PAGES
he returned and said You do not seem 10
be like the rest 1 will write what l can
rot now tell you. Having already told
him who l was. IL was only necessary 10
hand him my card, and in return he gave
rae an address OF a house on Ross street
at which ne charged me TO call at mid
night. and then left.
Call, d at His House.
Only half believing that l Would ever
see this strange creature again, at the
appointed hour / called at the address
Which 1 had hurriedly scrubbed on my