The San Francisco call., 1896-02-09
A WOMAN WHOSE TWO DIVERSE
NATURES BECAME ACQUAINTED,
BY w. q. MORROW.

1.-THE recent publication of an account by me
of a resident of San Francisco who lost four
wears by living a life in that interval which
was totally strange to his ordinary experience
has called forth the following remarkable doc
ument written and addressed to me by
woman, who begs that her identity be not dis
closed. 1t will be seen to differ radically from
the case which presented in way which the
document itself explains. Apparently it is
written in all sincerity and for very useful pur-
pose as it informs those who may be thus af-
ficted concerning some matters which will
have a strong interest for them; but it has a
wider usefulness than that in approximately
unveiling one of the profoundest mysteries of
the human mind, and in suggesting wonderful
possibilities to all.-W. C. MI
am about 80 years of age, have a fair
education and, as may be supposed, am of
a nervous temperament. Up to the time,
about four years ago, when 1 fell down a
stair and suffered a severe injury of the
brain 1 was perfectly healthy, not at all
nervous, inclined to quiet life and seden-
tary pursuits, and was hard student of
music, in which. by reason of the posses
sion of what were supposed to be uncom-
mon talents, it was my great ambition to
become famous.
Ny mind was slightly deranged by my
fall, and hence | was taken to distant
city as soon as | could be moved, in order
that l might be treated by famous spe-
cialist in nervous disorders. / quickly re-
covered my physical health under his min
lstrations, but the remarkable part of it
all was that my whole nature was changed.
Not only that, but | had forgotten all the
experiences of my prior life, having even
lost every trace of knowledge of my lam
guage. | was kept secluded in santa
rum for several months, during which
time had to learn everything as would
an infant; but progressed very rapidly
and when discharged was competent to
pass as an ordinary girl.
The most fascinating subject with which
had to deal was a study of my former
life as it was detailed to me by my patient
mother, who was my constant instructor
and comfort. 1t was clear to her and to
the specialist having charge of my case
that I was another being entirely. 1t is
interesting now to reflect that preferred
my new self to the old, and that l
cherished certain contempt for the
creature whom 1 had supplanted. 1t
never occurred to ME at that time that
there was really only one of me, and that
these two strangely different Identities
were merely distinct manifestations of
single character.
1t was only long afterward that this
wonderful phase of the subject occurred
to me, or that l came to realize the i'm
portanee of seeking out the mystery which
lay behind my condition. In those early
months l assumed merely that my old
self had been destroyed and that new
and wholly separate character had sup
planted it. | know now that such an as
sum ption was absurd, and that there was
neither destruction nor creation. Had I
been, in that new condition, as earnest a
student as was before and am now, nv
subsequent discoveries might have been
easier and of far greater value. 1t is for
the purpose of showing how l brought
these two parts Of me to an acquaintance
with each other that this is written.
From having been a student with un-
common musical talents and high am
bition, l was now merely such q girl as
one sees in fashionable society on every
hand-light-hearted, pleasure-loving, de-
voted to the frivolities of life, cheerful,
fond of dancing and society, possessed of
no ambition and blind to every sense of
responsibility and power as a comely
young woman. 1t could hardly be ex-
pected of such girl that she would set
herself to any serious task, much less one
so strange and bewildering as that of
solving the complex mystery of her mind.
For a clear understanding of all that
happened afterward it is necessary for me
to reopen painful chapter of my life and
seemingly violate the reserve and good
taste which should form part of woman's
character. But it affects the subject of
love; and as this and all that it leads to
constitute the most vital interest of life,
drag it forth in order to show how COM
pletely / changed-how the very funda-
mental principle of nay existence appeared
in different and opposing aspects.
l became deeply attached to young
man whom I met IN the fashionable So.
ciety to which l belonged. He was identi-
cally like all other young men who find
pleasure in such life. His habits were
good, his dress faultless, his dancing per-
feet and his ability as a critic of art and
decorated china most entertaining. We
we've very much in love with each other
and were arranging to be married (our ap-
preaching nuptials having been already
announced), when another extraordinary
happening befell me.
1t came about in this wise: My physician
never lost sight OF me, but made a deep
and almost daily study of me. 1t is not
for me either to condemn or praise him for
an experiment which he made upon me: :
it is necessary merely to say that I con-
sented to it. My mother was violently op-
posed. for, to tell the truth she was not at
all backward in making me know that she
preferred me as l was then to the earnest.
serious student of former days. She her
self was a woman of society, and
as | was her only child she had
looked forward to the time when I
should participate with her in the pleas
ures of which she was fondest. But | had
inherited the tastes of my father, who had
died when [ was a child, and so | was
great disappointment to my mother, and
no spiritual or mental sympathy had ex-
listed between us before | tell down the
stair. After that occurrence she and I
were in perfect accord and she was yerv
hoonv over the fact Nat,,raIly Sba foorod