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6
THE HESPERIAN.
mind to throw off the whole burden and refresh myself by a
trip through the country; so I took my bicycle and trundled
off, smiling at the prof, as I passed. At eight o'clock that
evening I was passing through a wood ten miles from home.
As I turned abend in the road I distinctly saw the professor
over among the bushes hunting, 1 suppose, for a plant he had
told mc of. There was no mistake. It was a brilliant night and
I knexo my professor. How was it? There was no railroad
within five miles and he evidently had no horse and never
walked far. The one train that reached the five mile point
had passed thai place long before I had spoken to the profes
sor at home in the morning. A feeling of terror seized mc,
And putting all my spare force into the bicycle I sped home,
passing the professor's house just as he entered tlw door of
the laboratory. I did not retire that night. In the morning
I had before me a synopsis on the material and immaterial.
At sunrise the professor suddenly opened my door and seated
himself at my table. Before I could cover my work, he had
the manuscript in his hands. He read it rapidly, then threw
it from him.
"You're right," he said hurriedly, "I knew I could not
long keep it from you, having your suspicions, but, my boy,
don't carry the thing as far as I have. It will ruin your life."
He sat down and closed his eyes. "Now I will tell you about
it. You have only gone part way. The mind can leave the
body and take no visible image of the flesh, or with the im
material flesh or image. Feeling and motion is due to thisim
material part which in the form of limbs and hands is the ex
act counterpart of the physical, with which they mingle. The
will moves this immaterial part and as it moves, it lifts or
draws the physical with it. See with what ease the immater
ial can move without the clay, but it must stay with the phys
ical for a time. That is all I shall tell you about it. It would
do you no good to go farther. Do not try to find the method
by which the separation of the two is carried on. Promise
me that you will let the infernal subject alone."
He arose excitedly and stood before me. I promised. He
sank back into his chair with a look of relief.
"When 1 was not much older than you," he began rapidly,
"I tried all this. I discovered the laws that governed this
union, and I experimented with it fully until I could easily by
force of will perform the separation. Well after a
time I was sent to an asylum for lu
nacy. The people had seen mc at dead of night running
through the street like wild. Poor things! They suffered
fright. My mother was a widow. I was her only child. When
they carried mc struggling to the asylum who wouldn't
struggle? it broke her heart, and she died not long after. I
left the body and went to sec her once, but she was frighten
ed at first and afterwards calmed down and wanted me to sit
close by her, so that her head could rest on my shoulder. She
had made up her mind that they had discharged mc at the
asylum, but I was immaterial; she could not touch inc. The
next day I was locked in my cell, for had not one of the at
tendants seen me on the lawn? In some way, they did not
know how, I had gone out and came in again. Weli, you see
me today,alone, almost an old man, without one to love
me." He bowed his head and I went to him and laid my
hand gently on his shoulder.
"Professor Black, as long as life is in me there will be one
to love you."
"I thought it was the mystery about me that held you.
You do not know how I estimate the regard you just now ex
pressed. Life will not now be so lonely." Then he turned
back to the old subject. "I practiced the separation until now
all there is to it, I wish to be at some place and I am there.
Let it alone, boy. Go back to your school and make a happy,
useful man. Pursuing this science will never help you nor
any other." He arose and put the "material and immaterial
synopsis into the fire, and coming back, laid his great hands
tenderly on my shoulders.
"Good bye, dear boy."
An hour later they brought mc word that he was dend.
M. l. R.
ALL FOOLS DAY.
Exams arc done,
All fears are gone,
Of tutors, flunks, and rules.
Today we're again
To tire our brain
As witty April fools.
The preppy dear,
Without a fear,
Will make his little pun;
Then with laugh and roar,
Think o'er and o'er:
"There was never such a one."
Look out, O Fresh,
For the wiles and mesh
The Soph this day may weave,
That wicked beast,
Has never-ceased
Such lambkins to deceive.
I've heard of glue,
Of sharp tacks too,
And goats professors made;
Bells painted nice,
Big ponds of ice,
Whither trembling freshies strayed.
Hark to the croak,
Of the mammoth joke,
The Senior perpetrates:
"Look there!" he cries,
"See those green eyes!"
And grandly absquatulates. c. E. w.
THE SENIOR.
The long school year was almost gone
And sultry June was passing by
When Senior's work would be done,
And books receive a grand good bye.
Night had wrapped his mantle round,
And merry laugh of youth and maid,
Borne by the gentle breezes, found
A Senior in his room had staid.
He sat amid his many 'books,
No light to drive the darkness out,
But the moon, as the curtains shook,
Cast a bright flood of light about.
Cruel fate had crushed him low,
And on his face in language plain,
Had written there a talc of woe.
At last he rose and said with pain:
"'Tis nearly o'er and I must go.
Six yearsof toil with little rest,
And profs who ne'er could mark me low,
Have not secured rewards the best.
a Id, cruel world yawns for me,
stage I must play my part,
and drear my lot must be,
ed's heart with me depait."
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