CHAPTER XXVII.

"LA BELLE FRANCE.”

"Star of the brave! thy ray is pale;

And darkness must again prevail!

But, oh, thou rainbow of the free!"-BYRON.

LEAVING London about the 1st of October, Mr. Peebles crossed the English Channel, from Dover to Calais, in a steamer good as the best, which he styles" filthy, and positively detestable." The project of tunneling the channel he made a matter of scientific prayer. The French soldiery, the peasants in their harvests, the luxurious gardens, the entrance into. Paris, "Queen of the Beautiful," assured him he was surely in a foreign land. "How unlike England!" he exclaimed. “There all is solid: here all is gay and volatile." During four weeks' residence in Paris, delighting his senses with the purity of its air and the floral exuberance of its fashionable streets, walking the Boulevards in meditation, he thus summed up the warning lesson of his prophecy in a letter to "The Universe," dated Oct. 6, 1869,

"Paris is France. Sundays are its gala-days. The citizens are proud of their fountains, gardens, beautiful Boulevards, and massive libraries, all open to the public. Under this display and grandeur, however, lies a maddened volcano. Its fire and flame already cause a half-subdued rumble. Gog and Magog are sharpening their weapons. That Napoleon's health is frail, none dispute. The sins of his youth are fruiting out into fearful pains and penalties. The grave invites his body to hasten: a rich worm-feast is promised. Then comes another revolution: mark the prophecy!"

Ere a year rolled by, what he prophetically foresaw is now fulfilling in the unparalleled war between France and Prussia,-Napoleon a prisoner, the empire broken, Paris in a siege, a republic organized; and struggling for life, and all Europe in a political ferment. What the augury? Ask the spirit oracles. "Poor France! weep for Paris! weep for the slain of thy sons and daughters! She will rise again rejuvenated!"

Whilst in Paris, Mr. Peebles was the guest of Mr. Gledstanes, an English gentleman of position, engaged in Spiritual literature. Having traveled extensively in India and China, he gave him many valuable items of Oriental politics and religion, for future discourse. He says, “I am ever at school, a pupil."

Leon Favre, then Consul-General of France, brother of the distinguished Jules Favre, both Spiritualists, became his fast friend. They locked arm in arm, embosomed in deep friendship, his French brother descanting so fervently upon the "new religion."—"Fifty thousand, Monsieur Peebles, fifty thousand Spiritualists in Paris alone!" exclaimed he, with a rapture of light in his countenance; and then, in graver aspect, he informed him of "a reign of blood close to the doors,' scenes which the spirits had sketched in prophecy, exactly as impressed Mr. Peebles whilst before walking the Boulevards. America had to emancipate her slaves on a crimson sea, ere the Spiritual religion could be planted: so France, with the guilt of fashion staining her moral character, enervated by luxury, can rise only by the force of arms, breaking her monarchy, and marching to education and liberty.

In company with Mr. Gledstanes, he strolled into Petite Pères, Church of "Little Fathers; " where M. Jean Baptiste Vianney, Curé D' Ars, exercised his wonderful gifts of healing by the laying on of hands in the name of the Virgin Mary. The names of thousands he healed are there inscribed on elegant tablets: so the place was holy to him, not because of the temple, but because there holy deeds were done by spirit-power.

But these deeds of the Catholic healer he found equaled, if not excelled, by those of Henri Auguste Jacob, of our Spiritualistic times.

"Jacob was a Zouave and musician, playing upon the trombone while in the army. Having avoided intoxicating drinks, soldiers' slang, and other vices common to military life, and, withal, being very kind-hearted, he was exceedingly popular in the ranks of his fellow-soldiers. He is nearly six feet high, has black hair, dark hazel eyes, regular features, and a head rounding up in the coronal region, something like that of A. J. Davis. He is about forty years of age, and in religion nominally a Catholic. He sees spirits, feels their presence, and, guided by their inspiration, prays to them and God. Some twelve years since, while marching through the streets of Paris with his regiment, he saw a poor crippled child being drawn in a carriage by its parents. The child had not put its feet to the ground since it was two years of age. An irresistible influence seizing Jacob, he went to the child, and, placing his hands on it, said firmly, 'Get up and walk;' which, to the joy and astonishment of the parents, it did. Hundreds who were standing near witnessed this. The next day a score came to him, all of whom were healed or improved.

"The French are an excitable people. Soon hundreds flocked to him daily from all ranks of society, troubled with 'all manner of diseases,' as in Christ's time. It is calculated that he cured fifteen out of every twenty who came to him. Impossible to receive the crowds in the barracks, a friend, M. Dufuget, a prominent citizen and merchant in Rue de La Roquese, opened his house, business-place, and workshop for the reception of sufferers. A thoroughly good man, M. Dufuget himself became developed as a healer The throngs eventually increased to 2,000 a day. This blocking the streets, he was warned to desist. Not heeding the policemen's warning, he was arrested, and thrust into prison, — all of which might have been expected in Imperial France. How it reminds one of those old apostolic times, when Peter, James, and John, and others, exercising spiritual gifts of healing, were 'cast into prison!' Through the influence of friends, he was after a time released, remaining incog. If using his gifts, it was in private. Prejudice gradually gave way.

"Five minutes before the hour for healing, he steps into the room, takes a peculiar attitude, clasps his hands, requests perfect silence, and, asking them all to engage in silent prayer, he departs. He is naturally a reticent man. Coming into the presence of his patients the second time, he looks at each intently (not allowing them to speak or point out their ailments), and then touching each, tells what he can and can not do for them. His powers are much greater when there is a throng present. He does not insist that people are healed when they are not. His remarkable powers, he continually affirms, come from God, through good spirits and angels. The masses that come to him are of the common people. It was the 'common people' in Bible times that 'heard Jesus gladly,' - fishermen and herdsmen. This is the second,' the continuous coming of Christ. . . "None accuse him of being mercenary. His mission is an important one; and he is working it out beautifully, for the good of humanity. Blessings upon the French Zouave!"

Knowing that the enlightened governments are Spiritualistic, in America the people accepting the new religion, and in Europe the kings and queens, he writes, "Alexander II., of Russia, is worthy of his title, liberating father.' The emancipation of millions of serfs was concordant with the genius of Spiritualism. The angels ordered it: they are our saviors ! ”

Departing from England was leaving brain; coming to France was finding heart. With M. Pierart, the scholarly editor of the "Revue Spiritualiste," and author of the popular "Drama of Waterloo," he enjoyed a feast of soul, everybody was so polite, so obliging! Anna Blackwell, a lady of high social position as a literary writer, introduced him to Madame Kardec, the "beloved" of Allan Kardec, whose works are so valuable for reference on the question of reincarnation; and there he procured, and subsequently published, the remarkable career of this medium, known for his virtues.

Introduced to M. Pierart, a scholarly Frenchman, he was again reminded of the truthful words of "Aphelion," inspiring deeper confidence at every step in life in the wisdom and fidelity of his

spirit-band, encircling him so lovingly during those foreign experiThis savan said,

ences.

"Egyptian civilization was in a hight of glory 15,000 B.C. There was no adultery. Marriage was probationary seven years: if then agreeable, to continue fourteen years; and then, if desirable, through life. After fourteen years, no separation. Children of divorced parents took the mother's name, and were the intellectual and moral property of the government, educated at the public expense. 'Plato,' he added, 'drew his best conceptions from those ancient Egyptians.'

On hearing these statements, Mr. Peebles exclaimed to himself, "O Egyptian hierophants! lead me to your sunny clime, and teach me the wisdom of modesty!

Under the courteous escort of Baron de La Taille des Essarts, celebrated for mediumship, Mr. Peebles rode through the panoramic scenes of the country, passing the Park St. Cloud, the River Seine, Montmartre, Arc de Triomphe, Place de La Concorde, Notre Dame, Hotel des Invalides, the Pantheon, flower-gardens, and fountains. He said of this journey to Versailles, "In fulfillment of a spiritprophecy, this is one of the happiest days with which the Infinite Father has ever blest me.” A prophecy? Yes: long years ago, in his early Spiritual experience with Dr. Dunn, Madame Elizabeth promised him the privilege of visiting the scenes of her earthly home in the palaces of the kings in Versailles. Thither now! " Is not

destiny a reality?" he asks. "Are we not the subjects of higher powers? Do not angels shape our lives as do geographers meridian lines?

He walked in those "six miles of picture-galleries in these old Bourbon palaces, finest in the world!" Here he found a picture of the angel as she was in her girlhood, copies of which he procured for such a worship as a loving heart only knows how to offer in acceptable service. Mr. Peebles argues the claims of the Bourbons! Why? Ask "Queen of Morn"—why.

"There is a grandeur in the soul that dares

To live out all the life God lit within.”

Weeks rolled by with the swiftness of days amid the gayeties of Paris; but "Stay no longer " came the spirit-order: "hurry to Asia." On the way, via Lyons, he entered the valley of the Rhone, charmed with its beauty, ruined walls, and castles of feudal times, querying as to the cause of such blight; when, tracing it to the Church, he exclaimed, "God save America from Roman Catholicism, or any other

priestly power!" In that manufacturing city, after visiting the mu seum, botanical gardens, halls of sculpture, and St. Pierre University, -the "redemptive agencies of Lyons," he paused before the Place de Serreaux, where in 1794 so many were sacrificed to the so-called Goddess of Liberty by the guillotine; when the shout of "Down with the Bourbons!" was followed by a dynasty more fearful and bloody. He seemed to hear the cry of martyrs from the ground, pleading "for free education to all the masses as the only safe guarantee of equal rights. Change the shout to 'Down with Popes!' and burn all guillotines ! "

Stopping a few hours at Marseilles, he improved them by a survey of its spacious harbor, its vineyards, and olive orchards, the crowds. of idle men and women, the Catholic priests parading the streets in gorgeous gowns and robes, himself the gazed of all the gazers; for his disgust of such lassitude made him taller in dignity than ever.

His steamer, classically named "Ilissus," was to him the world in miniature; for among the passengers were Sicilians, Frenchmen, Greeks, Nubians, Syrians, Arabs, Armenians, himself a longbearded "Spiritual Pilgrim," of America, - all attired in their several national costumes. That suited him exactly, "unity in diver

Selecting from the many idioms, he there most heartily indorsed the opinion of Madame de Staël; who said,

"If I were mistress of fifty languages, I would think in the deep German, converse in the gay French, write in the copious English, sing in the majestic Spanish, deliver in the noble Greek, and make love in the soft Italian."

Entering the straits of Bonifaccio, they sailed by the shore of Corsica; when the very air seemed to report the destiny of bloody heroes, of which the fated Napoleon the First is an example. Remembering he was commissioned to the Old World as a peace representative, he wrote,

"My mind reverted to that 'man of destiny, born and nurtured on this rugged shore, whose star, after culminating to the zenith, sank extinguished in blood at Waterloo, to rise no more. Was war well for him? was it well for English Roundheads to behead Charles I.? was it good in the excitable French to murder Louis XVI., Maria Antoinette, and the sainted Madame Elizabeth? . . . . Kindly-tempered justice, goodness, and love are the only redemptive powers in the universe. 'Love your enemies: bless, and curse not!' said the sweet-souled Nazarene."

Seeing Caprari on the north and east, where Garibaldi retired