St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-06-10
! THE TIMELESS MAN


THE TIMELESS MAN !
NoME fifty years ago the world wa:
~ startled by the news of the tragic
end of Godfrey Warren, whose suddeI
accession to vast wealth had been tn,
talk of society. The true story of hi.
death was never told, but it was known
that he died mysteriously and alone
One of Mr.. Warren's descendants now
offers us the following veritable record
OF the strange circumstances which LED
to his unhappy ancestors miserable
end. 1t is weird tale that will linger
long in the memory.
Godfrey Warren suffered from one OF
the most singular hallucinations the
world has ever known. He believed
that SO far as he was concerned time
went infinitely faster than with other
people. In the midst of a conversation,
with his mind seemingly intent upon
The subject discussed, he would inter-
rupt the speaker to consult his watch /:
then. replacing it in his pocket, he
would nod with an exclamation of i'm
patience. as if annoyed at the fight
OF time. His mind travelled with the
rapidity of lightning from one subject
to another, until at length his speech lost
coherency and became unintelligible
He had been an inveterate smoker; now
he no longer INDUCED in this recrea-
ton; he had no time. His favorite
books, his violin, which he played with
considerable skill, lay neglected. Mean
while he rushed about breathlessly.
with the air of man to whom the loss
of a moment meant death.
go SLOW" said his family physician.
Il can't the young man would re-
spond with a sigh; ''there is SO much
for me to do"
1t was at this period that his friends.
solicitous for his welfare, persuaded
him to put himself into the hands of
physicians. Worn out by their en-
treaties and his own fears, Warren
finally consented. After lengthy con-
sultation, the tribunal decided that. as
the reckoning of time appeared to be
his sole malady, the remedy lay in his
being placed in quiet locality and de-
prived of the records of passing events.
Perfect seclusion for the patient, they
argued, would bring mental repose.
And his fathers old friend, Prof. Her.
bert, agreed to take charge of him.
Warren proved a docile patient. He
parted with his watch willingly, and
abandoned himself, without regret, to
the rules prescribed for him.
Accompanied by the professor and
his daughter, he arrived safely at the |
retreat. So intent was he upon being |
cured of his mania that on their journey |
Warren had failed to note revolutions |
of the carriage wheels, and had even
become interested in the young girl, |
who regarded him cnriously, as she |
might a new planet.
The apartment assigned to him was |
large circular room, flooded with sun
light. The walls were hung with charts
of the heavens, while on the floor were
spread Persian rugs of brilliant and in
tricate designs. Altogether Warren
was pleased with his new quarters.
Certainly it was pleasant room. Yet
there was something missing.
He frowned slightly; then his eyes
fell upon sun dial of ancient pattern.
He quickly turned away, affecting
not to have noticed it. The professor
and the girl retired, and as he heard
them descend the circular stairway he
smiled. His eyes were fixed upon the
dial. and dream of JOY lit them. He
would be able. with practice, to calcu-
late the exact time of day. He could
have danced with delight at the k
thought. yet he shuddered at the pros
pect. That night he retired early in II
order not to think of time.
The next morning he began to rebel
at his confinement. He thought of him.
self, young, rich and ambitious: a re-
cluse confined in an observatory. with
no companions save charts and books.
and no record of the passing of time. !
Life was going on else I
where. People were keeping appoint a
ments hourly. Railway trains were
numbering over the country, all sched- S
uled, timed to the minute. Soon he
would not be cognizant of the day of
the week, month or year.
Oh. if he had his watch, He sat for
hours with his fingers held upon his :.
Palse, counting its beats. Sixty time
siNty-that made an hour. At length
he began to mark the walls with a ,
pocketknife, each time cutting deeper.
I'he seconds he indicated by dashes, :,
he minutes by dots, and the hours by !.
stars. Soon he removed the maps and !.
.harts in order to continue his chron-
,logy. Days passed, during which he
tie little, staring absently at the serv-
int. who had lately begun to mani :
est fear of him. Time that had at
irst appeared interminable now seemed
airly to fly away from him. He would :
walk the circuit of the room. moving :"
I regular speed. counting as he went. "
'hen he would quicken his pace until, !"
/ his calculation, he completed ten of :
hese revolutions minute.
Upon one occasion the professor u
allied upon him. and Warren shouted: =
Thief! thief! give me back nv x
vatch!"
The old man retreated hastily, and
ow the patient was visited by no one p
ut the servant, who contented himself II
nth knocking upon the door and leav- RI
1g the tray of food outside. I'm
Warren was growing insane. He be- C
an to fear himself, but what he dreaded Vi
lost was the loss of time. To Warren r,
me was deity, alternately worshipetl. m
and feared. IN
eumaer had passed without any vis- Il