New-York tribune., 1908-02-23
Drawings by Joseph Clement Coll

he writes was to communicate the results II some
Of my investigations into the physiology OF sleep,
and yet. as the hour drew nearer, stronger waXed
within me the fear that l should become confused.
lose myself. and finally stand gaping speeches., De
fore nv audience. Ny heart beat violently, Its
very strings seemed TO tighten and breath came
and went, when one looks down INTO q yaWnlng
abyss At last Il struck elgt- As cast a last glance
at nv notes. became aware 70 my horror. that the
cham OF ideas was broken and the links lost beyond
control Experiments performed a hundred times,
long periods which l had thought myself able 70
repeat word for word.-al seemed forgotten, swept
away as though II had never been.
Nv anguish reached a climax . great was my
perturbation that The recollection OF Il IS DIM and
shadowy. l remember seeing the usher touch ne
handle Of the door. and that. as he opened It. ]
seemed 10 feel puff OF wind n my face; there was
q singing N my ears. and then found myself near
table the midst OF oppressive silence. as though
after plunge IN q stormy sea had raised my head
above water and seized hold OF rock N the center
Of the vast arnPhltheater
How strange was the sound OF my first words.
Nv voice seemed TO lose itself great wilderness
words scarce fallen from my lips to crernbe and die
avav. After . few sentences lerhed out almost
mechanically perceived that had already finished
the introduction 70 my speech and discovered WITH
dls-7av that memory had paved me -alse Just II
that point where I had thought myself most sure.
but there now no turning back. and 50. n great
confusion. I proceeded The hall seemed envelopeo
n mist Slowly the cloud began to r. and here and
there IN the crowd | could distinguish benevolent,
friendly faces and on these fixed my gaze. as man
struggling with the CllngS 70 q -Oatlng spar.
Could discern too the attentive count erlanceS OF
eager listeners. holding hand to their ear as though
unwilling TO lose q single word and noddng occa-
sonaIIv in token OF affirmation And lastly. saw
-1lvsef n this seInICIrCle alone. hunbled dlscour-
aged. deIeC-ed-Lke sinner at confession
The first greatest emotional disturbance was over
but nv throat parched- my check burned my
breath came n gasps. my voice was strained ana
trembling The harmony Of The period was often IN
te--71Lted n the middle by a rapid INSPIRATION or
PAINFULLY drawn OUT. the chest compressed 10
lend force the last words OF a sentence But to
nv 1ov II spite OF all the ideas began 10 unfold OF
their own accord following each other IN regular
order along the magic thread 10 which l bIlndlE
cIurg without a backward glance and which was 70
lead me out OF the labyrinth. Even the trembling
Of the hands which had made me shake the -nsrrl-
ments and drawings | had from time 10 time 70
exhibit ceased 10 last. A heavlness crept over my
whole BODY the muscles seemed stl-Ien. and ny
knees shook
Toward The end felt The blood begin 70 circulate
again. A few minutes passed, OF which remember
nothing save great anxiety. My trembling voice
had assumed the conclusive tone adopted At the
close Of q speech. was perspl-lng. exhausted my
strength failing glanced at the tiers OF seats
and Il seemed 10 that they were slowly oIenlns
IN front Of me like the Jaws OF q monster ready 10
devour me as soon as The last word should Teecho
within It's throat