The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-11-09
Mr.. X, NEW YORK ;
A Story of Hypnotism.



Astral body was not an expression
entirely without meaning for me when
| first met SimcoX. If any one had
then asked me what the term meant,
| would certainly have made some at
tempt to define it, although my detini-
ton would just as certainly have been
vague and unsatisfactory.
1t was through Clarence that | met
Simcox. The two had been friends in
Ceylon, as understood, though how
or why never knew, and it always
seemed strange. Clarence's business in
Ceylon WAS coffee planting, and it
seemed that SimcoX's WIS astral bod
les. The only natural thing about
their old acquaintance seemed to be
that Clarence always knew queer PEG.
pie, and surely Simcox was queer.
"Why. how old do you take me to
be?' he asked me suddenly one day,
when had said that something or
other had happened before his time.
And when | answered that he looked
to me to be about 40 he laughed quite
heartily.
1t so happened that this conversation
took place as we We're walking to-
gether to Madison square, where we
were to visit an exhibition of paint
ings, old and modern.
When we had spent about a half
hour ranging through the galleries
SimcoX and found ourselves standing
before a portrait of a Spanish prince,
who. | believe, lived somewhere about
the time of Queen Elizabeth The
figure was dressed in armor, except for
the head. which was bare and showed
IA fine head of dark chestnut hair.
This is the picture | wanted you to
See" said SimcoX. Lets sit down on
this settee and take 1t all ill.,"
| could not remember that Simcox
had said anything to me about seeing
any picture in particular.
We'll. what do you think of it," Sim
cox asked me presently.
Fine" | said
II suppose it u.s." said Smcox. Il sup
pose it is fine. People have been saying
that about it for 300 years | suppose
all the lords and ladies of the Spanish
court said 1t was fine when they first
saw it. | wasn't there
You're not quite so old as all that?'
| interjected thinking of the mystery
of his age.
NO" he said, smiling, mot quite so
old. And wouldn't have been at the
court of Spain either But there is one
criticism the lords and ladies might
have made. though | never heard that
they did"
whats that?"
Simply that it isn't true to life"
But you don't mean TO say it isn't
lifelil.eY | said in astonishmcnt.
what mean is that it isn't as much
like the original as ii might have been.
1t would have been just as easy for
Nelasquez TO have made it perfectly
true. don't see why he didn't never
did. On the whole. ii doesn't natter
his hghness. His Jaw was not nearly
such a cruel looking square thing as
that. And yet the painter has taken
the trouble to curl and lengthen aud
dandify the mustache almost out of
recognition"
"Why. Simcox." said. you talk as
if you knew the original in the flesh"
well" he said, Il don't and do.
You see my dear fellow, to know "A
mans astral body is about the same
thing az knowing the man In what You
call the flesh You use the crude term
of "A w0rnont MEDIEVAL philosophy An
astral body may produce at times
faint impression on the eye. but it
stands Ia reason il must be exact"
1t occurred to me at this point that
SmcoN needed fresh air. | had never
before heard any one talk in this glib. |
matter of fact way about astral bodies
Either Simeon was crazy or there was |
something uncanny about him. in spite |
of his brisk. happy, everyday manner
"Oh. you're surprised. are YOU he |
said. chucki,ng To himself II might |
have Guessed that man who talks |
about knowing people in the flesh
would be. Let's have "A practical dem |
onstra ton
Good heavens | exclaimed. You |
don't mean to tell me that you are go.
ing to raise the ghost of this Old Span
iardY'
II don't raise ghosts Simcox an
swercd. with some impotence. "or be
lieve in them. But If you are going to
get fdgety and as this is public
place. let's go to, my rooms
Take one more good look at the pic |
ture before you 60" he said, and pay
particular attention to the chin, mus
tache and eyes. I want you to see II