St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-09
SUSPENDED ANIMATION.

Kate Fields Washington.
was walking down Bromfield street,
in Boston, Oh stormy day in Decem-
ber. The narrow sidewalk, covered
with ice and trodden snow, and the
sharp pitch of the street made pedes-
triansm a venture bordering upon rash
ness. AS was in somewhat of hurry
| pushed by couple OF fat, cautious,
Waddling gentlemen and started at
swinging pace down the treacherous in
cline Suddenly l was aware that my
feet had slipped from under me. Then
came flash, followed by darkness.
The same street stretched before me,
only | was walking in the opposite
direction. A hat was lying in the gut
ter, which struck me in the most
whimsical way as being exactly like my
hat. | was about to pick ii up and eX-
anime it, when | noticed group OF men
carrying a heavy object into an ad-
jacant drug store. ! pushed forward
with curiosity, and was astonlshed to
see that the heavy object was myself.
hatless, my face deadly white, with
some drops of blood clustered on the
hair.
The men staggered in the drug store,
and followed thin. They laid their
burden Oh the counter, and the druggist
came rushing from back room IN
frightened haste He ruthleSSly tore
open the bosom of what | shuddered to
perceive was my best coat, looSened the
Undertaking and bent down in lis
tening attitude. [ shall never forget
the expression of his face as he turned
and looked up without lifting his body.
"Gentlemen," he said, "the man IS
dead!''
l laughed outright at the preposter-
business of the statement. My voice was
perfectly audible to myself, but none
of the others in the room seemed 10
hear 1t; at least, none OF them turned
to look at me. ! heard one OF the by
ISLANDERS say that he would report the
case at once, and the druggist NODDED
silently toward the telephone. AS for
me, could endure the farce no longer.
and walked out with distinct con-
SciouSneSs of citation, as if l had Sud.
denly become rid of great burden or
had realized some long-delayed hope.
The snow was falling thickly outside,
but felt so strangely happy that the
whirling storm seemed more beautiful
than the farest June sky had ever
seen.
l walked up fremont street. my
heart leaping with an undreamed-ot
Joy in mere existence. On the corner
of the first block whom should meet
but my dear old DR.. S., who had brought
me into the world. and who had been
my best friend and counselor until
three years before when blood poison
ing, contracted during critical surgical
operation, had carried him off. The
recognition was mutual, and we fell
into each others arms with eXclama-
lions of surprise and delight.
"Why, doctor, God bless you!
thought you were dead"
My dear boy L didn't know that
you had escaped"
l looked at my friend in blank amaze
ment. "Escaped!' l cried. "What do
you mean? Escaped what?"
FLESH" cried the doctor briefly.
while the same old laugh seemed to ring
in his kindly voice. "Bones!" And he
beamed upon me with his face like
plastic chunk of sunshine.
81 looked down at my tweed suit and
cork-soled shoes. Then l gaZed upon
the doctors expansive WaiStcoat peep
ing through his half-buttoned mackin-
tosh. 81 don't see that l have even es-
capped my clothes-or that you have.
either,' replied dubio usly.
eff you don't believe that you have
escaped flesh and BONES" said the doe
tor, seriously. "try walking through
that lamppost."
advanced incredulously to the post,
backed off with a laugh, then moved up
again, with the doctors hand on my
shoulder, and melted through the solid
iron, or. to speak more exactly, the solid
iron melted through me.
Snow, follow me through this old
nh, laH
and IN an instant we had permeated a
half-bushel of wormy fruit and dame
AS Withered and gaunt as the tree that
bore it,
Are you satisfied" cried the doctor.
as he dragged me through solid wall
into the privacy of two closeted politi-
clans, who never noticed our intrusion
in the least,
perfectly, so far as ocular demon
stration goes" | replied, admirng the
nonchalance and familiarity with which
the doctor leaned upon the shoulder of
one of the politicians. and, from force
of habit while in the flesh, proceeded to
examine his tongue. Yes" L contin-
ued. Il am satisfied that am not what
| was. but you will have the kindness
to explain why we both retain the same
semblance as when we were in the
body?'
"Certainly," replied my friend. 1--WE
do not; that is, not really. In very
brief space of time now-perhaps be-
fore these wire-pullers have arranged
their slate you will begin to expert
ence me as [ do you. Your present
notion of form is a mere "reminiscences.
All newly-escaped persons-that is, all
who have recently rid themselves of the
fesh-retain for time certain sense
consciousness, as the eye, which has
been gazing upon bright object, re-
tans the image of that object after the
lids are closed. But as that image
gradually fades away, so will your re-
miniscence OF bodily form fade. Pres
emily you will no longer see, but eX-
perience, which is much more vivid
and delightful operation of the soul.
With the transformation which comes
all the strangeness and unfamiliarity
of the mid-world, as we call it, will pass
away, and you will not feel the least
embarrassment, for instance, in walk
ing through the poor, dulI-sensed bodies
of people, or treating them in any way |
you please"
AS the doctor spoke 1 became grad