1895 THE MICROSCOPE. 105 



Again, we ask how can it be arranged unper so high a power to 

 get a human hand into the field of vision. It is ordinarily 

 supposed among microscopists that not over the size of a needle 

 head can be observed at once under the highest powers. To see 

 a finger is practically as impossible as to see a hand. Unless 

 the words were written too small for unaided human vision, they 

 could not be brought within the field of vision at one time. 

 But to write so finely with a finger or even a pen is an impossi- 

 bility. 



'The second," he says, "was one of great difficulty.'' Having 

 heard that the astral body leaves and the soul departs at the 

 moment of dissolution he watched for an opportunity to observe. 

 "The time finally came where I had proper conditions of light, 

 etc., where a man of more than ordinary spirituality was being 

 called over to the silent majority. AVhen he was about to cease 

 breathing and a sudden tremor passing through his body an- 

 nounced his hour had come, we (two obervers) passed 

 our heads under the black cloth and bent our eyes intently 

 upon the object glass. Particles of dust in the air were 

 magnified several thousand times, and for a time their 

 motion kept a perfect dazzle upon the glass. Then a thin 

 violet column of vapor gathered into a soft cloud apparently 

 formed over and about the body. Particle seemed to seek par- 

 ticle as if by some molecular attraction, until the outline of an 

 object was clearly distinguishable. As it grew stronger, it 

 seemed the vapory form of a man rapidly assuming a more 

 perfect shape, pure and colorless as the most perfect crystal, 

 having changed from the violet tinge. There was at this mo- 

 ment an awful stillness. An indescribable feeling came over 

 us. Words are inadequate to describe our feelings. We bent 

 our eyes intently on the glass until particle after particle came 

 into the shapeh^ form of the man we knew so well. 



It lay floating about a foot above the body, apparently 

 moored by a slender cord to the breast of the corpse. The face 

 was the face of the man, but far more peaceful and beautiful in 

 expression ; the eyes were closed and the new form apparently 

 seemed asleep. We wished he might awake, when the cord 

 that held it to the clay house parted, a gentle tremor passed 

 through the beautiful form, every limb of which was of a per- 



