Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-27
mxs1sRlss OF MYSTICISM.
A Witt TO the SENT Dusky Sovereign sa'
iatfit Stugu.

That the visit of the semi-dusty SOW
eeIgn. JajatjIt Singh, the Rajah Rajagan
of Kapurthala, possess an unusual
amount"of interest to believers IN that
latest form OF mysticism, theosophy
is evident from the following story told
by the Maharajah 10 a Sunday Adverti-
ser reporter.
IL was after supper and his royal high
meas WAS luNuriously reposinS on SOFT
divan In the Moorish loungins room OF
the Waldorf hotel on Fifth avenue
Although dressed in modern European
fashion his picturesque purple turban
his aristocra,ic Indian face and head
slIhouetted against the rich eastern
tapestries. gave a decidedly oriental col
orlng to the picture.
The Maharaj ah held between his jew
eled fingers an Egyptian cigarette. which
he lazily puffed at intervals while tell
ing the reporter his remarkable story,
illustrating the wicrdness or occultlsm In
the east his sonorous voice, the fra
GRANGE OF his cigarette the strange sub
iect OF his story and the general environ
ment made a picture that was enchant-
lngly harmonious in every detail 1t was
Ike a page from the Arabian Nights"
The conversation turned on the occul-
tism or oriental philosophy. Tho scion OF
the ancient royalty Of northwestern India
showed himself 10 have complete mas
terry OF English. and he spoke with n
deep sense OF conviction.
"TU tell you an occult story based on
positive fact" said the Ratah Ea1agan.
II was an eye witness Of II myself. The
story IS true and undoubtedly 1t VIII
seem strange. perhaps wierd. TO your Wes-
tern mind" lie then told the reporter
the following remarkable story:
living
the village Of "hbanwala, in one Of the
Punfab states Ia northwestern India. an
individual with the characteristic name or
Ram SinCDah. About two years ago this
man had an experience that Is the CHIEF
smbiect OF this story. While cholera was
raging I'm that section OF India Ram
Singpah fell a victim TO the plague and
died IN a few hours. According TO the
customs OF the country he was taken to
the funeral pyre to be cremated. The
disease-strickened body was closely
wrapped IN white muslin and laid on the
pile The torch was then applied. The
instant the first red tongue OF fire
licked the death wrappings of the corpse
began to show symptoms of life. Another
flame. the muslin caught fire and. TO the
horror OF the spectators the corpse sat
bolt upright Ram Singpah was alive. for
the light Of life was I'm his eyes. He stood
up on the pyre like white spectre. Tho
spectators were struck dumb by super
stitlous dread. The heat became intense
md as soon as the resurrected Sngpah
realized the peril OF his position. ne leap
I'd to the ground. The beholders became
3anic stricken and fled shrieklng to their
homes. Ram Singpah also returned to
his home. and when the superstitious
Tread that filled the people had worn
way he told a remarkable story Of his
experiences. He declared that he had
been dead and had been concious when his
soul left his body.
II could see my body lying on the
ground dead" he said. He was also con-
scious that his soul was whirled away
through infinite space. He had an escort
another spirit led him. Away through
measureless distances the two spirits
moved with the velocity of thought
Suddenly Singpah became aware OF p
great brilisncy that was dazzling
Through the luminous space he could
vaguely outline figure OF transcendent
radiance. The figure sat behind an i'm
mense register book. The two spirits
appeared before him. When he looked at
Singph frown overspread his features
and he turned 10 the escort and said
You have brought the wrong soul.
want another Ram Singpah---he lives
In Jhelam."
The messenger OF death had made
mistake, and the spirit OF Ram Singpah.
Of Chibanwala, was returned to its NOR
tai tenement just as IT was on the point
of being destroyed on the funeral pyre
But here Is the strangest part OF the
story" Said the Maharajah as he
knocked the ashes from his cigarette
THE moment Ram Singpah returned to
life his namesake, who lived In neighbor-
ing Jhelam. died. This might have been :
coincidence, but investigation has proven
the truth OF all / have told you"