The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-08-08

II bostOH, aug. f.-HdS every one within
himself double personality? Is there a
second self concealed in every human be-
ing? This is question that is engaging
great amount of attention just now at
the hands of the Society for PsychicaI Re
search, and some of the results already
obtained by the investigation are remark
able. to say the least. One of the latest
hypothesis, for example, is that this se:-
ond self is none other than the dream
self-the shadowy image of our true seis,
that in the silence of the night passes
through so many strange scenes and does
such very extraordinary things.
The DOppel Ich, as the Germans call it,
is Mr.. Hyde, in Stevenson's famous story
II many respects, as observed in other
ways, ii resembles the dream self Its
moral tone is low; IL has cunning rather
than intelligence; Ii possesses d most vivid
imagination; its memory Is keen, and its
reason dull. Indeed, In all of these points
1t approXimates TO the psychical condition
Of the primitive savage
\ dreamer commits without conlpunc-
ton immoral acts OF which he would be
incapable in his waking moments: Il is
Mr.. Hyde that is abroad in an imaginary
world, unrestraned by proper sense of
right and wrong. Likewise when a man
Is drunk. the second self appears, and he
does things that horrify him afterward-
as Dr.. Jekyll was horrified al the crimes
of his wicked double. This Doppel Ich Is
the mob self. which gets uppermost in
an excited crowd, so that. like hypnotized
persons, they will respond to any sugges-
ton offered by a leader. and will perpe-
trate cruelties which shock and amaze
the individuals composing the mob, when
the frenzy is over.
Double Self Saves Life.
At the same time 1t would be a great
mistake to suppose that the second self
is always wicked. On the contrary, il
often prompts to good; but it is extremely
emotional, and has a way of acting upon
impulse. A case where it seems to have
saved a life is reported by Dr. Richard
Hodgson. Secretary OF the Psychical Re
search Society, the scene OF the occur
renee being a Back Bay hotel. II was
just before the gas was lighted, and was
already growing dUsky in the corridors,
when resident guest stepped out OF her
own room to go TO the elevator. She was
advancing precipitately toward Il, when
the sight of Il man standing In front Of
the elevator door caused her 70 stop short,
that she might not run into him. The
lift showed the form Of the man plain
ly enough. What was her amazemcnt
when the elevator came up. brightly
lighted inside, to see, first. that the door
Of the shaft was wide open (haying been
left so by the caTelessuess Of the boy
in CHARGE, and that the entire well was
thus exposed But d second fact was far
more startiing-yhere was no man there,
Yet. the appearance Of the man, or the
lady's impression OF his appearance there,
undoubtedly saved her from plunging
head-hrst down the shaft.
Many persons would be inclined 10 call
this a ghost, but the up-tO-date scientific
theory is that the woman's 'sub-cOnscious
SELF perceived the open doorway At q
distance and promptly generated the H.
lUsory figure 10 avert the fall. This the
CRY r1ay not be correct. but II Is accepted
because IL IS least improbable.
Case of Double irntity.
Perhaps the most interesting way in
which the second self appears il In caseg
OF so-caIled duplex identity" and Of
these one Of the most remarkable on rec /
ord Is that OF Ansel Bourne. a farmer
and itinersnt preacher, who, on January
II, 1871, went from Coventry, X. l., 10
Providence. and drew So from q bank |
This was the last seen OF him lor TAO |
months. at the END Of which time he I
turned Up in NCrristoWh, Pa, keeping 4 /
small variety store. under the name II A. /
j. Brown. OF what happened during The /
ts5 months he never had the slightest 1
recollection. One meTning (MsTch 40 h. I
woke Up, found himself sbed IN a strange I.
place. summoned help, aud obtained al /
outline Of his recent history. Al his re- |
quest q telegram Was sent 10 his nephew 1
IN Providence. and he was returned 70 |
the bosom o. family which had mournea |
him as eead He said that be remen- /
sered nothing after going 10 the bank IN I
he had never known "A mar I
named A. J. Brown. and be could nor 1
imagine why he should have chosen 10 4
engage IN a bus.nsEs he knew nothing OF. /
On the other hand. the people who had 1
dealings With him IL NsrFist0wn de-
clsrea that they had never noticed any /
thing unusual about him.
Explained By Hypnstism.
Here was q clear case OF gecsndsrv 1
self. separated completely for a time /
from Ske normal even day self, and DR. 4
hodgson sought an opportunity 10 inves- /
tlgsts IL. Having obtained BouFne's ger
mission. be hypnotized him. and then AK /
"a him what his name was. The preach /
~ replied that bis name nes Albert John 1
Brown. ans ~ response 10 further gaea-
IONS, gave a clear and succinc; account
subsequently, verified BY Or. Hold son's i
iva iBqulrles-as 10 his proceedings dur
hs TIE mysterious tho moaths- After