The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-12-30
The Power Of Mind
Over Matter
By MARGARET c. DEvEAUX


fection the nature of which seemed to
puzzle him. During this time visited
a friend of mine wlF lived in city.
On my arrival I was shown to my
room, the two rear windows of which
looked down into back yard, but there
was side window which looked di-
rectly into another side window Of the
next house, the interval between being
but few yards. My friend threw open
all these windows and left Inc to make
my toilet.
AS soor as she had gone went first
to the rear windows and looked out,
then to the side window. There, star
ing, looking ut me, was my counterpart
Indeed, myself. i started, and she
started. Then, covering my face with
my hands, | turned away and buried
my head in the pillows on the bed.
How long | remained there | cannot
tell 1t was probably but a few min
utes, but it seemed n long while. l
was sure that my nervous afIliction had
produced the apparltion. | had seen
which l awoke with a violent heart
beat, but l had not considered that
matter of moment. But now | had APP
peared to myself in broad daylight.
had before me the frightful prospect of
passing into insanity.
Not for the world would have my
hosts learn of my infirmity Some per-
sons must tell of all their aches and
pains and forebOdings il only for SYM
pathy; | concealed mine AS soon as
had pulled myself together | arose
and without looking at the window
where l had seen myself went down
stairs without having changed my dress.
told my friend that | was a poor
sleeper and hoped that in the morning
would not be awakened by too much
| light pouring into my room. She said
at once that she must put me into an
other chamber, since the one occupied
| faced the rising sun. This was exactly
what | wanted, and l slept that night
| in an apartment facing the west.
| l intended to make an excuse to so
away the next day; but, seeing no
further signs of myself, was persuad-
ed to remain. My friends, who knew
| that was in poor health, We're eX-
! tremely kind to me, and nowhere else
| could / find rest ard comfort us could
! with them. AS | grew stronger Il de-
| sire came to me to look out of the
! window where had seen my double
| and perhaps l would see her again.
! But so great was my dread that dared
not go into the room to make the trial.
made several attempts TO conquer
my fears, but they were failures.
My hosts had lived many years in
the locality and knew several of their
neighbors, all of whom owned their
own houses. / was invited to different
social gatherings among them and
shortly before l left the place was
asked to dine next door. in the very
house where | had seen myself stand
ing at the window. / scarcely dared
accept the invitation, and yet how could
refuse, for those who had invited me
were very dear friends of my hosts
tried to think of some excuse that
would not be considered such. but tried
in vain. When Informed of the invi-
tation | pretended not to hear, and it
was accepted for me, with other guests
of my hosts, since we were all invited
together.
AS the time drew near thought
should make pretense of feeling unable
to go, but within me was secret de-
sire to see if the apparition would
come to me there Between this dread
and desire | hesitated till it was time
to dress for the evening, then went up
to my room in such state of indeci-
sion that when it was announced that
it was time to be off was but half
dressed. Mechanically | completed my
toilet and, going downstairs. suffered
myself to be led out passiyely.
The room into which we ladies We're
shown to leave our wraps was on the
opposite side of the house from that
which stood beside the home Of my
hosts. This was relief to me. There
was no reason for me to dread the
spot where / had seen myself; but,
then, nervous person is not amena-
BILE to reason, and l was in condi-
ton of nervous weakness not far from
a general breakdown.
} With the exception of myself, there
} was a very homogeneous party, and
even | after a glass or two of wine
was sufficiently braced to enjoy my
self. The dinner passed off so pleas
antly and l felt so stimulated by the
wine drank that | began to have a
desire to visit that part of the house
in which l had seen my counterpart.
When we went upstairs for our wraps
ran up ahead Of the others and fol-
lowed the hall in the direction of the
place of the apparition. After turn
Ing at an angle l came to door which
opened and walked into bedroom.
Facing a window which knew look
ed out upon the side of the house of
my hosts was a pier glass
Never in my life have experienced
such relief as when the fact occurred
to me that had mistaken my reflec-
| Il