Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-10-16

WHEN l AwoKE WAS IN MY OLD ROOM.
had puzzled mankind for ages, | could
be the greatest benefactor the world
had ever known, and with all this con-
seriousness Of power felt the steady
ing influence of twenty other minds
holding me back from wild specula-
lions, carefully considering and sitting
my plans and theories, throwing out
everything impractical and visionary
and giving thorough consideration only
to the most worthy 1t was enormous
power. but power under perfect con-
troll, to which it almost seemed moth
ing was impossible.
was all on fire with enthusiasm and
consented unwillingly to the nights
rest on which the doctor insisted be-
fore beginning the great work of my
life.
But in the silence Of the night, after
the electric communication had been
severed, the case assumed q different
aspect. More and more | realized that
this tremendous power in which | had
SO exulted was not permanently under
my own control. 1t was doubtful if
even the inventor could always control
II. Certainly some, perhaps many, of
the individuals in the combination were
not only mental, but moral degener-
ates. Even suppOsing that the doctor
could retain control during his life, he
was far advanced in years, and who
could be his successor? Instead of con- |
ferring the greatest benefits on man.
kind. what could prevent the machine
from being used for the vilest DUR
poses. dragging down instead of build
Ing up the human race to the enrich
ment of some willy scoundrel and the
great delight Of the worst maniacs in
the combination?
sometimes the case assumed a grim
~ humorous aspect. l thought of the
student who called up devil to bring
him water and was drowned in the eff
Tort to stop him. thought of the men
tai struggles of the man who might
some time sue the machine for libel
and his vain efforts to fix the RESPONSE
Dllity on any one. even pictured the
DeW1lderment Of st. Peter when a spir
It whose responsibility was divided in
TO twenty-one parts should apply to
MIN FOR admission, and the possibility
IL each spirit having to answer for the
sins of the other twenty was not pleas
int to think of. .
But I need not deny that what influ. {
'nced me most strongly was the t
thought of the bright eyed girl In nv
native village and the future we had ,
banned together, now lost to us for
'ver.' More and more the conviction
vas forced upon me that the doctor s
lad robbed me of my life's happiness, s
'erhaps Of my hopes of heaven, and as r
ieep at length Overcame me my last |
bought was one of bitter resentment. t
When l awoke was in my old room a.
4 college, no one, not even myself, q
moving how I came there Whether ;,
ne doctor had become alarmed at the ~
1citement caused among my friends 9
y my disappearance, whether he de- v
lded that my capacity was far below tt
Is requirements or whether he kindly q
elented and gave me back my individ N
al existence l shall never know. for II
died soon after, and his secret died M
18th him. But there in my pocket, as | :,
al placed them, still rested the evil >"
ences OF the machine that thought 1
he poem. the love letter, the Grafton pc
10 the story. all far more nearly per- tv
CT than any ordinary mind could bro. or
Ice and all in that exquisite hand. So
riting. n,
1t seems like only hypnotic dream. Va
I'd yet-there are the documents 10