The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-04-19
: remember this conversation almost


rupted.
Although he was not admitted to
practice medicine In America-for
money, at least-Dr. Phileas IRl-
manuel. the famous neurologist who
had come from Greece to attend some
conference or other, was frequently
called upon to give his services gratis
to those who knew Of his special skill
in cases of obscure nervous diseases.
It had come to be understood that he
could be consulted most evenings dur
ing the remainder of his stay, and on
this evening he was expecting visit
from a gentleman who had sent him
a rather urgent letter, making an ap-
pointment. Consequently Paul Tar
rant and l ought not to have fingered.
But the Doctors conversation was
always fascinating, and neither OF US
could tear himself away. DR.. I'M
manuel, posted before the fire in his
consulting room, his hands beneath
his coat tails, was haranguing us, and
we were listening.
you mean," interrupted Tarrant,
that if only the theory of reincarna-
ton were admitted into the pharma-
copeia, physicians would have a COM
plete method of treating these cases
of aphasia, amnesia, and secondary
personality that you have been Illus
trating?"
mot secondary personality. Tar
rant" returned the Doctor irritably.
There is no such thing. Say rather
incomplete personality or lumber
room personality but not secondary
personality
"Put it this way" he resumed. 1T
i a favorite illustration of mine, but
! is the best l know. Suppose that
Mr.. Lewis Waller, whose impersona-
ton of Henry v. has made him
universal favorite. should be cast In
the role of Hamlet. Well, now, per-
haps he has eaten too much or too
little, perhaps he has bad cold or
some mental trouble which temper
arily upsets the co-ordinative faculties
of his mind. Well, instead Of begin
ming his famous SOliloquy he begins
the speech before the battle of Agin-
court, in a moment Of absentminded-
ness. Is that secondary personality,
Tarrant? Not at all. He has simply
pulled Henry V. out Of the lumber
room of his memory in place OF Ham
let.
so it is in these cases that have
mentioned. These people who forget
who they are, or imagine they are
others-they are really one and the
same individuality, but instead OF
playing the parts assigned to them IN
this incarnation, they pull out
some old part which they played ff-
teen hundred or three thousand years
ego. We live"-I remember these
Words of the Doctors vividly in the
light of what followed them-"We
live, my dear Tarrant, very much
deeper and bigger life than you or /
have any idea of. It's the deeper life
that counts, not this surface life with
its conglomeration of chances and
accidents. We live at once the whole
life and the part life. The trouble
with us is that we center our per-
sonalities in the superficial top layer.
Then followed an agitated ring at
the bell. and a minute later the at
tendant was showing the patient In.
DR.. Emmanuel, like most big men, did
not keep his patients waiting in order
to magnify his own Importance.
The man who entered was we'll
dressed, handsome, aristocratic look
ing young fellow of about eight and
1fo a To Q6I6l1X
but Tarrant, instead Of accompanying
me, went up to the visitor and greeted
him cordially.
"Why, Morton, / haven't seen you
for ages" he said Nothing serious,
I hope, with you or Miss Digby, that
brings you to our friend Immanuel!"
"You know each other?" asked the
Doctor in surprise.
Tarrant smiled. "Jim Morton and
I have lived on the same block for
years." he answered. II own most OF
1t now, but there will always be space
for Jim's house"
Then was introduced and we start
ed to go. But Morton detained us.
You'd better stay, Tarrant-and
your friend, too" he said. THE news
will be all over town tomorrow or the
next day, and upon my soul I'd rather
it leaked out piecemeal than have the
revelation strike everybody at once.
Please sit down-both of YOU"
We obeyed, and couple of minutes
later Morton was pouring out his
troubles to DR.. Emmanuel.
81 don't think you know my fiancee,
Miss Katherine Digby," he said. "Of
course you don't, seeing that you
have never met me before. / suppose
I forgot for the moment, meeting Tar
rant here, that you aren't one of our
set. You see," he said alphabetically,
everyone in the neighborhood has
known us for a good many years."
Emmanuel checked him gently. 81
am to understand from your letter
that Miss Digby suffers from some
nervous trouble?" he asked.
st don't know" exclaimed the other,
starting out of his chair and sitting
down again. 81 hope so. Indeed l
do. But if it is true, what she told
me-that she was married seven
years ago"
Tarrant gasped and checked himself
upon the verge of an exclamation.
saw his lips form the word "impossi-
ble," and he began shaking his head.
eff it is true" cried Morton, Il don't
know whether to be more sorry Tor
myself or her."