Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-08-06
"A REMARKABLE STORY.

Eyes, | had some strange cases dur
ing 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 rudy, nand-
some countenance. "A great many
strange things fall occasionally I'M
der the observation of an old man
who for years has been a 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, hardworking physician into
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"
Hhe old doctor paused and looked
yeound at his audience of ladies with
SS'inkling eyes. Gases 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 l happened to find my
self in little German university town.
These are dull little towns, but 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
rs an old duffer whom one might as well
bumor. And liked their youth, their
reckless eXhuberance, their unspent
brain and strength. Naturally Il was
the medical student upon whom 1 ex-
pended my warmest sympathy and in
terest.
There was especially a certain young
eountryman of ours for whom I had
conceived very kindly feeling. He was
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, n
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.
I'm serious now he said to me one
day. He had, in fact, entered with a
graver countenance than usual. I've
come across Il very interesting case. !
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?' 3D..
That very same."~r
'He assured. me that / need have nc
scruples about accompanying him.
:. 1.-THE young lady's father - De,
vereux is their nhme-is so f-Sntic with
anxiety that he is, quite willing anyone
belonging to the profession should acc
and prescribe for his daughter. Mock
PLANTATION of her extraordinary conii
ton can be found. The trance states
continue to manifest themselves every
day at the same time. Old Devereuxl-
Mr.. DevereuX-has very little conf
dence in the German physicians. He
would only be too glad to have an Eng
fish NJ. D., even though not practicinl
one, to take an interest in his daughter's
case. I've been admitted, and Pm sur,
he will he equally civil to you"
Mr.. DevereuX, upon our reaching The
Archdullc hotel, did indeed welcome vi
with cordiality which was effusive
He had, in greeting us, the manner of
man shipwrecked on the planet of Mar
who had suddenly fallen in with tw,
familiar beings from mother earth.
had suspicion that, had our meeting
been under circumstances less product
Eve of anxiety for him, he might hav
somewhat tempered hiswelcome. He wa
rather obviously the man ofmoney whom
sudden gains have inflated beyond hi
normal size. His early advantages hat
also, rather obviously, been rudiment
airy; nor had there been any apparen
later effort 10 remedy such deficiencies
Presumably, however, Mr. Devereu,
had no consciousness of any shortcom
Angs in this direction. His large coun
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