The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-05-11
The Case Of M. VaIdemar.
By EDGAR ALLAN POE. :

By EDGAR ALLAN POE
Of course shall not pretend to con-
slider it any matter for wonder that the
extraordinary case of NJ Valdemar has
excited discussion. It would have been
9 miracle had it not-especially under
the circumstances. Through the desire
of all parties concerned to keep the af-
fair from the public. at least for the pres
ent. or until we had further opportuni-
ties for investigation-through our en-
deavors to effect this-a garbled or ex-
aggerated account made its way into So
ciety and became the source of many un-
pleasant misrepresentation and, very
naturally, of great deal of disbelief.
It is now rendered necessary that !
give the facts-as far as comprehend
them myself. They are succinctly these:
My attention for the last three years
had been repeatedly drawn to the sub
ject of mesmerism, and about nine
months ago it occurred to me, quite sud-
denly, that in the series of experiments
made hitherto there had been very re-
markable and most unaccountable omis-
sion-no person had as yet been mesmer-
lied in articulo mortis It remained to
be seen, first. whether in such condition
there existed in the patient any suscepti-
bility to the magnetic influences: second
ly, whether, if any existed, it was i'm
paired or increased by the condition;
thirdly, to what extent or for how long
poosrS11 <ha 10 ,c
might be arrested by the process. There
were other points to be ascertained, but
these most excited my cu1iosity-the last
in especial from the immensely impor-
tant character Of its consequences.
In looking around me for some sub
ject by whose means might test these
particulars was brought to think Of
my friend, M. Ernest Valdemar, the
well known compiler of the "Biblio-
theca Forensica" and author (under the
nom de plume Of Issachar Marx) Of the
Polish versions of 'Wallenstein" and
'Gargantua." M. Valdemar, who has
resided principally at Harlem, N. Y,
since the yecr 1889, is or was particu-
larly noticeable for the extreme spare
ness Of his person, his lower limbs much
resembling those of John Randolph, and
also for the whiteness Of his whiskers in
violent contrast to the blackness of his
hair, the latter in consequence being
very generally mistaken for wig. His
temperament was markedly nervous and
rendered him good subject for mes
meric experiment. sgasg gs4ssssg -
On two or three occasions l had put
him to sleep with little difficulty, but
was disappointed in other results which
his peculiar constitution had naturally
led me to anticipate. His will was at no
period positively or thoroughly under
my control and in regard to clairvoy-
ance could accomplish with him moth
ing to be relied upon. always attrib-
uted my failure at these points to the
disordered state of his health. For
some months previous to my becoming
acquainted with him his physicians had
declared him in a confirmed phthisis.
It was his custom indeed to speak
calmly Of his approaching dissolution as
Of matter neither to be avoided nor re-
gretted.
When the ideas to which have allud-
ed first occurred to me, it was of course
very natural that should think of NJ.
Valdemar. knew the steady philosophy
of the man too well to apprehend any
scruples from him, and he had no rela-
tives in America who would be likely to
interfere. spoke to him frankly upon
the subject. and, to my surprise, his in
terest seemed vividly excited. say to
my surprise, for. although he had always
yielded his person freely to my experi-
| ments. he had never before given me
any tokens of sympathy with what did.
His disease was of that character which
would admit of exact calculation in re-
| spect to the epoch of its termination in
death. and it was finally arranged be-
tween us that he would send for me
about "a hours before the period an
nounced by his physicians as that of his
decease.
It is now rather more than seven
months since received from M. Valde-
mar himself the subioined notes,
MY DEARP---: You may a. well como now.
out beyond tomorrow midnight, and think
they have hit the time very nearly.
VALDENAR.
received this note within half an
hour after it was written, and in Is min
utes more was in the dying mans
chamber. had not seen him for 10 days
and was appalled, by the fearful altera-
ton which the brief interval had
wrought in him. His face wore a leaden
hue; the eyes were utterly lusterless, and
the emaciation was 80 extreme that the
skin had been broken through by the
cheek bones. His expectoration was ex-
| cessive.
The pulse was barely perceptible. He
retained nevertheless in very remark
able manner both his mental power and
a certain degree of physical strength.
! He spoke with distinctness- some