A Strange Twin

Robert Owen's book

One of the strangest stories about a doppelganger was chronicled in Robert Owens 1860 book, Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World.

Emilie Sagee lived in 19^th Century France. She was a single lady who made her living as a schoolteacher. She was pretty, likable and a good teacher by all accounts.

Despite this, she had trouble keeping a job, in fact, she was forced to move from town to town.

The reason for this is she had a ghostly twin who haunted her. This apparition since birth had plagued her life. For her twin was no ordinary ghost, it was a doppelganger.

She was fired from eighteen teaching positions because of this doppelganger.

It was during her time at her 19^th position that it was clearly documented what was happening. She obtained a position in Latvia at the Pensionat von Neuwelcke--a prestigious school for girls.

While teaching a French class in front of thirteen students, her twin appeared out of nowhere and proceeded to mimic her every move. Though all her students could see this ghost, Emilie could not.

During another lesson, this doppelganger appeared in front of the class sitting in Emilie’s chair. Emilie at the time was out in the school garden. Two brave students approached this apparition.

One of the girls tried to touch her, but her hand went straight through her. Later she reported it felt like her hand had touched a substance that felt like cloth.

Emilie’s twin would often follow the class when they took walks together. It always kept its distance. Again only Emilie’s students saw it, never Emilie.

It was also seen standing in the classroom doorway imitating Emilie’s every move. Not surprising, with these strange sightings Emilie lost her job at this school as well.

It is said that it is a blessing Emilie never met her own doppelganger for it is believed this would have brought her further bad luck.

A doppelganger is the exact double of a living person but is an apparition. In German doppelganger means, “double walker” for these phantoms are not ghosts in the traditional sense. They instead are a projection of a person who is not deceased.

It is like a person who has split in two or has the ability to be in two places at once. It is believed that Emilie’s doppelganger often appeared because she had a driving need to be a good teacher.

The following is a short video that highlights this story.