The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-26

Dual existence, or more correctly dou-
BILE consciousness. is one OF the most re-
markable experiences as yet unexplained
by modern psychology. One Of the
strangest cases Of this kind fully authen-
ueated, is described by Henri de Parvile
~ the scientific review of the Journal des
Debats The case IN brief is: Emile X. Is
80 years OF age He is the son OF father
who was an odd character and at the
same time hard drinker, and OF a moth
er of exceedingly nervous disposition.
The young man is above the average in
intelligence and was distinguished at
school. He studied medicine first and then
law, graduated in the latter and Is n mem
ger OF the Paris bar lie can be hypnotized
az any moment, and he has every symp-
tom or pronounced hysteria. such as par
oANsms, disturbances OF the senses, UNI
resi-, etc. A sharp noise disquiets him;
Whistle' beat OF drum or the reflex of
mirror puts him to hypnotic sleep. One
DAY ne entered ca fe on the Place de la
bourse, sat down opposite a mirror. saw
MS feneN and dropped TO sleep. Taken 10
the hospital he awoke. On another occa-
SION ne mad "A case in court. the Judge
young lawyer fell asleep. 1t is under such
conditions that the case of a double ex-
/ lsteTfee develops tfe fUrgpts t1ts PAST az
together and assumes q sort of second ex-
istence-becomes another self. which 's
totally different from the original He
comes and goes, makes trips on the rail-
foad, visits people ha nevcr knew hefDrs
and CANDLES, though he is otherwise not
addicted to play. Suddenly he awakes
with shock and Knows absolutely moth
ing OF what he did during his second ex-
istence. His second self has disappea red
and the first has returned as If there had
been no interruption.
There are, I'm fact two Emile Ks On
september o. 1855. he had a quarrel with
his father-in-law, which excited him 10
such an extent that crisis occurred. and
with IL appeared the second self Three
weeks later he was found in a proViuee
500 miles distant from Paris Where he was
and what he did during the interval is alb
solutely unknown 10 him. I.atcr on Il was
learned that he had called on rural
clergyman In the Department Haute-
Marne- had visited -ti.4t.le int
vicinity, where he raised general havoc
destroyed books and papers, and broke
furniture He also borrowed $40 francs
which led TO his citation before court IN
Bassy, where he was accused Of fraud and
sentenced In his absence. On May II, 1889
Latin in Paris. Two days later he awoke
In hospital in Troyes. Since his dinner
IN the restaurant he remembered nothing
I'm Troyes he missed mis- overcoat and 4
pocketbook containing 226 francs. While in
his normal condition he remembers moth
ing of what he did during his second oy-
istence: the latter becomes plain 10 him
IN every detail as soon as he is placed i'm
hypnotic sleep. When rational he knows
nothing or his exploits during all these
weeks; In his hypnotic condition he re-
lates all the details of his travels. He
borrowed the 500 francs because he lost
his money IN gambling; he mentions the
amounts lost and the names of the other
players He also relates in detail what he
did after he left the restaurant I'm the
Quarter Latin lie took cab and drove
to the Eastern Railroad depot. There he
took the l:25 n. m. train for Troyes. where
he arrived at 521 and went TO the Hotel
du Commerce, being assigned to room No
b, I'm this room he placed bis overcOat
containing his pocketbook over the back
of chair, and then went 10 cafe on
The Place Notre Dame. Later on he call
ed at a merchants, visited az Mr. c., re-
naming there till o'clock at night. and
then retired.
The next day he rose at o'clock. break
tasted with Mr.. c.. and then went out for
"A walk on the street he suddenly bc-
came IN and spoke Of II 10 policeman.
who conducted him 10 the station whence
he was taken To the hospital All these de-
tails were later on proven as absolutely
correct Six months later. after All he had
done in Troycs was learned from himself
durins a hypnotic trance. he was request
ed 90 write 20 the management OF the
Hotel du Commerce and ask for his over
coat lie could not understand why ne
should do this. bur he did ~. and to his
surprise he received not only his over
cost. but The pockethook with the 12s ,
francs Upon the ground of hs explana-
tions made during the hypnotic trance
the court which had sentenced him for
fraud was informed OF the strange case.
the trial was revived and the sentence |