A CHANGELING.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 519, 13 May 1880, Page 2

A CHANGELING.

Slit, —I hear a groat deal of conversation going on in the town as to the be-

havionr of a gentleman belonging to the learned profession in Carlyle. One explanation of his strange''conduct reminds me of a German idea in the middle ages that it was possible for .two-human beings to exchange souls--1 don’t mean in the sentimental sense of two lovers doing so—but it was then imagined that one, person’s soul could actually migrate into the body of another, taking up all the relinquished functions of. guide and motor. Dante carries, out the idea still further*,' stating that he, saw ,in the Third Circle of the Inferno the soul of a certain gentleman undergoing torture whilst that gentleman was supposed by all jiis friends' to be still alive and welh ■ On Dante expressing bis surprise to bis conductor, hc ; was informed that the sufferer really was dead, but that immediately on the departure of the soul a demon had taken possession of die corpse, which appeared again to live. Nobody believes in Dante’s .visions now ; but the idea of the transmigration.of souls is not quite obsolete. ■ I fancy a change of this may be the reason of the strange conduct shewn by thegeiitleraah about whom all this; depreciatory conversation : is taking place. It cannot be from mne whose refined air of gentility and urbanity we have all admired that expressiots, of cajlqus selfishness can come. It is not possible that, a mind enriched' with the classical ‘ learning 'of a university education, : with : the arts winch “ soften. maimers" and teach humanity, could reject the claims of .ho’pless suffering, and that too,in a way only to be , described as a relapse from common charity. It is not because we know it cannot be, that “;guidc,' philosopher, and friend” upon whbselips we hung in !apt attention who sends these coarse 'cxpV&ssioils-(now-being, quoted from lip to lip) as his proxy to the sick bed and the darkened room. No, it is not he. “ Metempsychosis," the changingof souls, must have beeitat work here; and with what delight would we hail the ineptal physician who. should restore the lost urbanity, the conspicuous gentleness and charity;’’which erst distinguished our. friend .the • professional “ changeling.’* ’ /, - ' 1 ' '.CROUP. ' —I:- - -a- ■- —'