The Cape Girardeau Democrat., 1896-08-08
A REMARKABLE STORY


"Yes, 1 had some strange cases dur
fng the twenty years that | was in prac'
tice, but they were not as numerous as
those ] meet with now, in these days of
hypnotism, trance and clairvoyance, ~
said old DR.. LacroiX, with his fine smile,
which was such an irresistible mix
ture of bonhommie and sarcasm,
Overspreading his ruddy, nand-
some countenancr. "a great many
strange things fall occasionally un-
der the observation of an old man
who for years has been wanderer;
an old idler who for his sins inherited
one evil day just enough of the goods of
this world to turn him from an ener-
getic, hard-working physician into n
useless member of society, with pathO-
logical interest in his fellow beings and
the queer positions in which he finds
men placed on the cheSsboard of life.
But in all the neurotic phenomena of
which we have been speaking one has
always to take account of the cases in
which the subject has surrendered him
self or herself voluntarily to the same,
or, indeed. possibly, induced them
The old doctor paused and looked
around at his audience of ladies with
twinkling eyes. Ceases of deliberate
you understand me-deliberate trance,
have not been unknown"
"Oh, yes - hysterical women" said
one pretty girl.
''Hysterical women and women not
hysterical," rejOined the doctor. Some
ten years ago 1 happened to find my
self in little German university town.
These are dull little towns. but I like
them. They have their charms. liked
this one especially because [ had made
the acquaintanceship of some of the
students and quickly fraternized with
them. They doubtless looked upon me
as an old duffer whom one might as well
humor. And 1 liked their youth, their
reckless eXhuberance, their unspent
brain and strength. Naturally i was
the medical student upon whom l eX
pended my warmest sympathy ard in
terest.
There was especially certain young
,countryman of ours for whom l had
conceived very kindly feeling. He was
n pattern young man. He was exceed
ingly poor in the lucre of this world,
and he spent far more of his time than
proper in duels. and adventures of
more tender character He had, when
he chose TO settle to his work, a rapidity
of mental processes which Outran the
efforts of the plodders in no time. But,
hang it, sir l used to say to him, when
are you going to settle down for good?
When will you become serious?' lie
lad side by side with his frivolities, 4
vocation for his profession which had
caused me to prophesy more than once
that when he had done sowing his wild
oats there was the making of something
folerably remarkable in him.
"Tm serious now he said to me one
day. He had, in fact, entered with n
graver countenance than usual. I've
come across very interesting case. l
want you to help investigate it. Half
the professors in the town are talking
about it.
You don't mean that trance case at
the Archduke hotel?'
THAT very same
He assured me that I need have no
scruples about accompanying him.
1.-The young lady's father - De
vereux is their name-is so frantic with
anxiety that he is quite willing anyone
belonging to the profession should see
and prescribe for his daughter. Noex-
PLANTATION of her extraordinary condi-
ton can be found. The trance states
continue to manifest themselves every
day at the same time. Old DevereuX-
Mr.. DevereuX-has very little conf
dence in the German physicians. He
would only be too glad to have an Eng
lish N. D., even though not practicing
one, to take an interest in his daughters
case. I've been admitted, and I'm sure
he will he equally civil to YOU"
Mr.. Devereux, upon our reaching the
Archdukc hotel, did indeed welcome US
with a cordiality which was effusive.
He had. in greeting us, the manner OF a
man shipwrecked on the planet of Mars
who had suddenly fallen in with two
familiar beings from mother earth.
had a suspicion that, had our meeting
been under circumstances less product |
i've of anxiety for him, he might have |
somewhat tempered hiswelcome. Hewas |
ratherobviously the man of money whom
sudden gains have inflated beyond his
normal size. His early advantages had |
also, rather obviously, been rudiment- |
ary; nor had there been any apparent |
later effort to remedy such deficiencies.
Presumably, however, Mr.. Devereux
had no consciousness ot any shortcom-
ings in this direction. His large coun- !