The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-06

ing from the ediStance in the gloom
tall, gaunt, specter-like person clad in a
gray robe. AS he approached | noticed
that he was wondrously thin cheeks sun
ken In, deep-set eyes, and altogether the
mien of a Franciscan of old. In fact, the
whole atmosphere was monkish. 1t re-
called to me the stories l had often read
of the monasteres of the medieval days,
1t seemed as If l had gone back four or
Ave centuries of civilization There was
no greeting in his demeanor My inter
prefer handed him my letters, and he
shuffied off, to disappear as mysteriously
as he came. Another fifteen minutes
wait Then he returned and labpriously
opened the gate. Not a word passed his
lips, either TO myself or to my companion.
He signed us to follow him, which. Of
course, we did.
We found ourselves, after traversing a
parallelogram some seven or eight feet
long, planked on every side by a low
matched roof covering what would be
called the cloisters in Catholic times, and
was shown into what seemed small
antechamber. There, very shortly after,
came to us a man the very reverse to
the one we had seen; an athlete in APP
pearance, strong as to sinews, heavy in
build, neither fat nor lean and possessing
a cOuntenance that one would say at the
jump was one of great intelligence. He
was kindly in his greeting, neither shak-
ing hands, however, nor bowling. And j
took my demeanor from his. He asked
us why we came there, and / replied that
l wished to witness the mysteries of the
Yogi. He told me that, unfortunately, this
was the time of year when they were in
retreat He explained, as well as he
could, that they were an ascetic order,
not given to the display of their powers TO
strangers. ! made bold to ask the pur-
pose of the sect, and he explained that
they were ascetics; that they believed In
the exercise OF religion through the Wis
ual sense, that is to say, the powers of
a perfect man could be so developed as
TO appear miraculous to the imperfect.
And what wonders they accomplished
were through the direct interposition OF
Budha with God. This conversation may
have lasted some twenty minutes, and II
took place standing / felt like dropping
from my feet l was so tired; but, hav-
ing a purpose in view. l could not ex-
pose my weakness. This man, who, II
seems, was the superior Of what we would
call the abbot of the order, asked us
to partake of the repast then due. We
accepted willingly, and entered a large
refectory, perhaps seventy feet long by
about twenty broad bare of everything
excepting one long table, benches and two
or three smaller tables at the end. To
one of these we were assigned, while the
abbot took his position alone. Then the
members of the order filed in In perfect
silence. The repast consisted of milk
curds, honey and a specie of unleaveneo
bread, heavy as dough. We were treated
10 small portions of kid, but remarked
that nobody else in the place ate any, IN
FACT they were not served with it, Most
ly they looked like the man who originally
let us into the gate; occasionally two OF
three words of conversation that appear
ed to be necessary, but no general talk
And, during the entire repast, never saw
one smile permeate the countenance OF
any there.
In my search for information. / feel
bound to say that l met with disappoint-
ment. The abbot q know no better name
10 call hm) took me out into the yard
that is surrounded by the parallelogram
showed me recent grave, and said
..Ohe Of our brethren sleeps there" As
there were marks of graves all around
the place. this struck me as OF no partic-
ular significance, and, observing my look
of establishment, he spoke to the inter
prefer. who translated his meaning thus
''This man made an infraction of one OF
our rules. He has been condemned tC
forty days solitary confinement He Is
confined here He will live" In short,
was told. and asked to believe, that hE'
man being lay three feet under this earth
and would be resurrected at the end OF
his Imprisonment, and remain as whole
as before Ten days of his time were
up. l confess that the temptation came
over me for a moment to remain thirtS
days here. and witness the resurrection
hut the necessity of returning to the
states forbid. l was assured by the PEG
ple on the outside Of the village that thei
had seen the burial of the man, thouyi
he was alive, that he submitted to hi'
fate without a murmur, and that, at th'
IL. all fhC%a VIII
cared would be invited to witness th'
fact that he came 70 life again. Here 4
the only evidence that / have witnessed
IN India of a feat that has been muci
talked about II am to believe twentl
or thirty people who told me the sam
story this fact did actually exist But
cannot speak Of my own knowledge. AT
ter awhile, we went into small darS
ened room that Is to say, two lamps stoo.
! behind u.s. and two Others far In 'front.'
/ The abbot asked me II ] desired an eN
annie OF their powers. told him tha
/ that was the principal reason Of my com
] ing there. Then, see thisl' said he on
4 of the monks rushed forward, and coilc'
a section of slight rope, threw It into tn
! air and then scrambled up IT, ] saw az
! mainly as my eyes can sec. the rop'
/ thrown up and the man disappear, hau'
over hand, beyond my line OF vision Bu
| / have not the slightest doubt that II WI
/ an optical Illusion. There was darkness
| ali around Nothing could have beer
easier than for the trickster TO throw tn
rope. disappear in the black shadow am
dummy be pulled up.
AT any rate, that is the way l explained
one of the most mysterious and celebrated
tricks Of these Yogi. There Is no donb
In NV mind that these men, while perfe't
\ Nv sincere in their religious belief EN-
| piov tricks TO affect the mind OF the ig
norant. and give them the name Of mira
/ cles. II has been done before In othe'
| religions. The bare truth seldom obtains
| IL must be accompanied by some super
natural manifestation.
And here / got the full exemplificatior
| OF Il. These people are mortal as our
| selves. But, while our magic IS ever
| nlaIn 70 the unfnitlated as pure trickgry-
/ the neater the better-these people have