Observations placeholder
Madame Sophie Chaproniere sees the double of her maid
Identifier
011307
Type of Spiritual Experience
Dying
Inter composer communication
Hallucination
Background
This is rather interesting. The dying usually themselves see figures that indicate they are 'on their way', but in this case it was Madame Sophie who saw the hallucination as an indicator.
Its a pity the doctor was not so incompetent, then we might have known what she died of.
The phrase 'At that time she enjoyed perfect health' was there in the original description. One does not normally die when in perfect health, although it sounds as though she was quite old.
A description of the experience
Death and its Mystery, At the Moment of Death; Manifestations and Apparitions of the Dying – Camille Flammarion
from Sophie Chaproniere
I was in my bedroom and was undressing with the help of my chamber maid, Madame Gregory, who had been in my service for 41 years. As she was taking a bracelet off I saw suddenly appearing behind her and about 2 feet away, a form which resembled her absolutely.
At that time she enjoyed perfect health [sic].
I said to her ‘Why, Madame Gregory, I see your double this very moment!
She answered me smiling ‘Really, Madame!’ and seemed in no way impressed.
The following Sunday she announced that she felt very tired and ailing. I sent for the doctor, who diagnosed the case as a slight indisposition.
Despite this favourable diagnosis, she died suddenly on the following Wednesday. Her death took place at almost the same time as that of the appearance of her double to me a week before.