The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-12
HIS DOUBT WAS SHAKEN.

HIS DOUBT WAS SHAKEN.
Tragic Message Said to Have csme from
the World OF spirits-Qucer Narrative
Told by Pittsburs Physician.
A prominent Pittsburg physician ad-
mits to Dispatch reporter that he re-
Gently had something happen to him
which shakes his doubt concerning
psychical communications. II was pro-
fessionally attenhing," said he. "the
daughter Of a well-known Spiritualist.
The case was serious one and
watched 1t closely. One morning when
entered the sick room / saw inn
mediately that a change had taken
place for the worse. The fever had
increased and grave symptoms had
developed. thought 1t my duty to
SO l called her aside.
"I am sorry said / to her. that
your daughter has not gained as I
thought she would. l find this morn-
ing her case most serious; in fact.
madam'-I felt at liberty to proceed.
seeing she did not take 1t hard-I am
fearful of her recovery
''This did not seem to affect the wo-
man in the least. She went about the
room with "a pleasant smile, tidying up
things. Thinking she had not heard
me, l said again: Madam. l said your
daus'hter cannot live
AT this she turned to me and smil-
ingly said: I heard you, but l know
better She will live
but. madam, l persisted, you are
saying a good deal more than l, as a
physician. can. l don't think she will
surVve the day.
''She turned to me and said with a
little laugh: Now, doctor. you ply
slcians surely cannot pretend to know
all things
"Her Indifference at such serious
question aggravated me, so, saying l
would call again in the evening, at the
same time again telling her that l ex-
pected she would be dying by the time
l left. Well, l called again that even
ing.
FOund the Patient Sitting Up.
II found my patient sitting up in bed,
the fever having entirely left her, and
her condition was such that l was
dumbfounded. l had nothing to say.
for there was nothing that could be
said, SO I only prescribed again and
was about to go when the lady asked
me If l would not like to join a small
circle that was holding q seance in the
parlor I laughingly said: "None of
that for me, thank you. I don't believe
in 1t. and so don't care to see anything
of it, and picked up my hat and started
for the door. She persisted, however,
naming over some prominent people
who We're in the circle. so I at last con-
cluded to go.
Il had hardly sat down before the
medium announced in writing a cer-
tain name, which at once recognized
as a patient of mine who had died a
year before. never pretended to know
the name. but 1t came persistently until
finally the medium announced it was
for the doctor. I controlled my eX-
preston so that l would give no clew
that / knew the man, when l was
dumbfounded by having a slip of paper
handed me in the handwriting of my
former friend and patient. which read :
1 am very sorry, doctor, l did not
ask your advice the last time I saw
you. Don't let others follow this mis-
erable, unhappy wretch / pretended
not to understand. but the truth was
was chilled to the marrow. The man
whose name was signed to the message
was patient and dear friend who was
so misguided as to doubt the existence
of God. He had a lingering illness. and
when l saw this was going to be fatal.
/ beseeched him to consider his condi-
ton as he approached the awful valley.
told him he could not live more than
a week and tried to induce him to make
his peace with his Maker.
Refused to Argue the Question.
He resolutely refused to argue the
question until one day, when l saw
the end fast approaching. tried with
all my power to make him see the error
OF his ways. l remember he raised
himself upon his elbow, and, pointing
his shriveled finger at me, he said.
In tones provoked by anger:
Doctor, it's no use of your talking.
AS have lived, so / will die and as
he sank back on his pillow / gave up
all hope. l left him to attend another
serious case, and was detained longer
than ! expected, but when ] returned
to my office found a note asking me to
come to the house Immediately. hur-
ried. but when ] arrived he was dead.
don't know what he wanted to say -
.me. but here, In a strange company,
came a message to me-a horrible mes
sage, full of regret and repentance