The Tomahawk., 1917-02-22
THE CARFAX CURSE
m Y acquaintance with DIR. Phi

l. tie Greek was in America
as his governments representative
to some international congress, !
think Of penologists, at Boston, ana
after he had withdrawn from 1t
in disgust he made my house his
Headquarters while he engaged IN
some special research work. The &C.
quaintance ripened so rapidly into
friendship, and then into intimacy,
that when the doctor invited me to &C
company him to Europe, where he had
some engagements to fulfill, I could
not resist the opportunity. My prac-
tice was almost entirely hospital work,
and fortunately 1 found no difficulty
in obtaining representative to I'LL
my post during my absence.
So much to explain how we hap
pened to be in England during the glo-
rious summer of 1911. 1mmanuel
found England to his liking, chiefly, l
think, because medical men there ex-
tended a more kindly attention to his
theories. although / fear he made few
converts ImmanuepS claim that re-
incarnation would be found to solve
most of the problems of abnormal
psychic states could not be expected
to find recruits in a century still DOM
mated by Huxley and Haeckel and the
great materialists. Nowhere, fancy,
can one find more stubborn, out and
out doctrinaires than among medical
men. But the doctor did not mind.
He went blandly about his way, win
ming friends disarming enemies, and,
Incidentally, making cures.
When Sir John Carfax invited us to
spend week at his fine old mansion
in Buckinghamshire we both accepted
with considerable satisfaction. Sir
Johns place was one of the historic
county seats of England. Originally
priory, it had been confiscated from
the order by Henry VIII. and given to
Francis Carfax, shrewd lawyer of
that age, for services rendered in con-
nection with that monarch's marriage
to Anne Boleyn. From him it had
passed down to Sir John, in the direct
line. but never through the immediate
heir. This Sir John explained to us
as he conveyed us from Great NARROW
station in his automobile.
IT mentioned to you, Doctor Imman-
uel, that my son, my only child, is
dangerously ill., he said. Eyes, he's
dying, and I know it, doctor, and there
is no power on earth can save him
unless you" He broke off. II know
you have accomplished wonderful
cures" he continued. Il can't pretend
to believe in what you believe, but"
Here he ended, for his tongue was
running away with him, and the blunt
country gentleman was no metaphys1-
clan or flatterer, either.
But you are willing to stake your
faith against your unbelief," said Doc
tor Emmanuel cheerfully. Good! l
am no faith healer, Sir John; believe
even the most orthodox of my oppo-
nehts have never accused me OF any
but orthodox methods Of practice. My
theories, you understand, are the base
ON which I stand to take action. But
to believe-why, abuse me as much as
you please, whether succeed or
fail"
/ was sure no one could ever abuse
the kindly little man as I saw him ar
guing excitedly with Sir John. AS
have said, he disarmed all his enemies.
But it was hard to ask a twentieth
century English gentleman to accept
reincarnation.
eff you can save him, doctor" con-
tinued our host, II can only say that
you will have my deepest gratitude.
But I fear it is hopeless. He will be
the last of the line, and his mother Is
dead. l shall never marry again.
why are you SO respondent as to
the possibility Of a cure?" asked I'M
manuel.
Sir John looked at our faces search
lngly. "You have never heard of the
Carfax curse?" he asked. well
perhaps it is regarded as an amusing
superstition even in England, among
those who have heard of it. But
among those who know it is anything
but a jest. Doctor Emmanuel for
nearly four hundred years the first
born son of the Carfaxes has died in
childhood Arthur is seventeen; he
has outlived them all. But he, too,
must go. l know it. 1t was prophesied
by the last prior, Ignatius, as he strobe
out of the chapel after his last mass
there
'Those curses are potent things"
said Emmanuel. $50 much l know.
They do come true, by reason of the
strong subconscious impression which
they leave behind, to be transmitted
from generation to generation. OF
course the curse is nothing. But If a
man begets son, believing that he
will never grow to manhood, and if he
bases his life upon that theory-why,
it generally comes true. But I inter
rupted you"
1.-THE last prior, Ignatius, made this
prophecy to Francis Carfax, my an
cestor, somewhere about the year
1916" said Sir John Carfax. That
the priory should never descend from
father to son through the frst-born