Observations placeholder

Flammarion, C., Carroll, L,
Death and its mystery: before death, proofs of the existence of the soul

A case of vision and also of exact hearing from a distance from Monsieur Doutaz, the curé at Domdidier, Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland. Here it is, somewhat abridged:

It was in the middle of November of the year 1859. At the time I was eighteen years old. I went to bed and to sleep.

I do not know how long Morpheus had rocked me in his arms, when a strange vision appeared before my mind. I saw the sorrowful face of my dear old father, speaking to me from my old home, which was twenty-four kilometres from the town near Fribourg where I was living:

“My dear Joseph" he said, "it is with great sorrow that I am writing to tell you that your poor sister, Josephine, is dying in Paris."

" I was awakened by this vision but said to myself at once : “Ah! bah ! It is a dream !" At that I went to sleep again.'

But behold, the same vision appeared again, exactly as at first, with the same sorrowful look and the same words: "My dear Joseph" etc., "but your mother does not yet know the sad news."

“This time," I said, jumping out of bed, “I no longer believe it's a dream," and under the painful impression of a sorrowful reality, I dressed and looked at my watch: it was half-past twelve.

When day had come I set out for the college. As I had some material to get from my room, I went up to the house, which was left in the care of an old concièrge. I had barely entered when I saw the good old man coming toward me, holding a small package in his hand. He said to me:

"A gentleman who has just arrived from your home has asked me to give you without delay this present sent by your father, for it is of the utmost importance."

I opened the package at once. It was accompanied by a letter from my father, written in great haste; I read:

“Dear Joseph, it is with great sorrow that I am writing to tell you that your poor sister Josephine is dying in Paris. But your mother does not yet know the sad news. The telegram reached me at about ten o’clock this evening. I did not think I ought to tell your mother, for the moment. It is now eleven o'clock. At half-past twelve our deputy will leave for the Grand Council. I will put this in the package which your dear mother prepared for this occasion. Try to arrive here without fail to-morrow evening. lt is impossible for me, at my age to fulfil this sorrowful duty. You, alas! will represent us."