The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-10-05
STARTLED THE WATCHERS.


-
the Bier OF sohopsnhausR.
A very curious story by Guy Do Mau.
PEASANT has come to light In Paris. Ac.
eording to Maupassant's manuscript, the
story was told to him by German who,
with friend, spent the night In Schopen.
hauer's funeral chamber. The great Ger.
man philosopher had died during the
day, and his two admirers prepared to
watch over his remains during the dark
hours.
Said the German: 'Schopenhauer had
Just died, and we two had decided to
stay in his room until morning. Two
lights were burning on the table. At
midnight our watch began, and after the
two others who had remained with the
body till that hour had gone away we
took up our position at the foot Of the
bed. The face Of the dead man was un-
changed. It smiled. The wrinkle which
we knew so well was firmly marked, and
the countenance looked altogether 90 nat
ural that 1t would not have surprised US
IL our dead friend had opened his eyes
and laughed at m. Yet the memory Of
his profound thoughts weighed upon us,
and we felt ourselves surrounded BY the
atmosphere Of bis genius. The body of
buCu u0u Luo1 UC BLlucu OcdkA1 buI
the man himself remains, and not with
out fear can one remain In his presence.
We spoke about him softly; we recalled
those wonderful maxims Of his which
threw such q clear light on many Of the
dark problems Of life.
"I can almost fancy hear him speak,
whispered my companion, aud at the
mere thought we became still more un-
ooA cfiI1 GvoH
on the motionless, smiling face. Sudden
ly we felt weak and as though some
thing oppressed US. / stammered, I
don't know what IL the matter. but as
sure you am Sick Thereupon my COM
panion suggested that we should go into
the adjoining room and leave the door
open. and took his advice. Taking
with us one of the candles, we sat down
at the farther end of the other room in
such manner that we had full view OF
the bed and Of the dead man.
"Still. however. a strange uneasiness
possessed US. 1t seemed as though we
were wholly enthralled by the disembod-
led genius of the dead philosopher. Ali
at once we heard d slight noise In the
death chamber. We looked toward the
body, and then quite distinctly both of us
saw something white roll over the bed,
fall on the carpet and vanish under q
sofa. At the sight we sprang to our feet.
terrified beyond measure. Our hearts
beat wildly. ! spoke first.
Ibid you see itr
"Yes, saw it.
"'Isn't he dead, thenT
"'He must be-
"'What are we to dor
"'We must see what it MEANS was my
companions hesitating reply.
ST took our light, led the way into the
death chamber and then cast a hasty
look around. Nothing stirred. and ap-
preached the bed. The next moment,
however, a great terror seized me, for
saw that Schopenhauer was no longer
smiling. His face. on the contrary. pre-
sented horrible appearance. for his lips
were tightly pressed together, and in his
cheeks there were two great hollows. /
stammered, He 10 not Dead and stood
staring at him as though bereft Of my
senses.
'"Thereupon my companion took the
other candle and stopped down. and in
q moment or two he touched my arm.
but did not utter a word. looked where
he pointed, and saw on the ground be-
side the sofa something white that
cleaned strangely on the dark carpet. and
| saw at once what 1t was. II was Scho-
| to be in the act of biting. As the body
had decayed the fastening that held the
teeth In position had gradually become so
loose that they dropped from the mouth
and rolled from the bed on to the floor"