The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-08-06
A REMARKABLE STORY,

"Yes, I had some strange cases dur inc the twenty years that was in prac- tice, but they were not as numerous as 4hose I meet with now, in these days of bypnotism, trance and clairvoyance," said old Dr. Lacroix, with his fine smile, which was such an irresistible mix +ure of bonhommie and sarcasm, oyerspreading his ruddy, hand- some countenance. "A great many strange things fall occasionally un- der the observation of an old man who for years has been q 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 a
 useless member of society, with apatho- 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. Gases of deliberate you understand deliberate trance, have not been unknown"
 "Oh, yes = hysterical women." said one pretty girl.
 ourc+ar;ool xvn,aD aud yomep mt hysterical," rcjoined the doctor. Some ten years ago I happened to find my self in little German university town. These are dull little towns, but l like them. They have their charms. liked this one especially because I 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 liked their youth. their reckless eXhuberance, their unspent brain and strength. Naturally it was the medical student upon whom I eX- pended my warmest sympathy ard in- ferest.
 There was especially certain young ,countryman of ours for whom I had conceived a very kindly feeling. He was A 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 used to say to him, when are you going to settle down for good? When will you become serious" He had, side by side with his frivolities, a vocation for his profession which had caused me to prophecy more than once that when he had done sowing his wild oats there was the making of something tolerably remarkable in him.
 "Tm serious now,' he said to me one day. He had, in fact, entered with come across a 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 need have no scruples about accompanying him.
 "'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- planation of her extraordinary condi- ton can be found. The trance states | continue to manifest themselves every | day at the same time. Old Devereux-- MT. DevereuN-has very little confi- dence in the German physicians. He would only be too glad to have an Eng | Iish M. b., even though not practicing | one, to take an interest in his daughters | case. I've been admitted, and I'm sure h2 will he equally civil to you"
 Mr. Devereux, upon our reaching the -Archdukc hotel, did indeed welcome us with cordiality which was effusive. lie had, in greeting us, the manner of man shipwrecked on the planet of Mars who had suddenly fallen in with two Familiar beings from mother earth. had suspicion that, had our meeting been under circumstances less product fe of anxiety for him, he might have somewhat tempered his welcome. He was rather obviously the man of money whom sudden gains have inflated beyond his normal size. His early advantages had also, rather obviously, been rudiment- 'sry; nor had there been any apparent later effort to remedy such deficiencies. rTesumably, however, Mir. Devereux ma" no consciousness of any shortcom- ngs in this direction. His large coun-