The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-08
Melancholy Sricide-spiritual Manifesta-


In another part of this paper will be found the
melancholy narrative of the death of one of that
deluded class of individuals who have allowed their
minds to be led away from the path Of common
sense by the impostures of those arch humbugs the
sol. distant spiritual rappers. He died by his own
hand, his intellect being of course, beyond his
troll, and his reason this point total wreck.
Constant communipgs, he fancied, with another
world, had untitled him for sojourn in this for
whose habitual companions are the shades of the
departed, the converse of the living could have but
few attractions. Insane he was no doubt, but still
not o prey to such form of insanity is familiar
to the medical faculty his memory was good, his
perceptive faculties unimpaired, his reasoning
powers most subjects complete, his Of right
and wrong correct, and to all outward appearance
he was calculated to be valuable member Of
society butt the single question to the rela-
ton of the dead and the living, his notions were 50
radically wrong that. from his point Of view, death
must have been desirable consummation, and
future state the acme of bliss What comparison
can there be, to the mind of believer in spiritual
visitations, between the chequered web Of a mere
earthly lfe and the glorious existence of spirit,
&c ing, N1nkipg, and watching over those who are
DEAR and contemplating, from an eminence far re.
moved kom cares or passions, the trials, tempta.
tions, triumphs and disappointments Of the men of
this world Had We faith implicit, none of Us
would hesitate for instant if the choice were of
fered u.s. Suicide in the Of the deceased SEEM
cd to him logical, reasonable act You cannot
blame him, you who encourage the juggleries to
which he fell victim; on the contrary you ought
to envy him.
Leading, as belief in Spiritual manifestations
must do, to insanity in form other, the pity
which is at first awakened for those who deluded
by the votares Of the creed quickly changes intoiu
dignation, and the sense of the ridiculous is soon
overpowered by strong feeling of anger. One can
conceive, perhaps, that nursery and boarding.
school girls, in whose minds love Of the marvellous
too often prevails over more rational impulses,
should honestly believe that their grandmother
spends the evenings, when she is not otherwise
gagged in Paradise, humping on tables, or dancing
rather violent jig with her favorite arm chair
that the good old dame is chatty ever, and be-
ing deprived Of more convenient means OF articula-
ton, has to scale of percussons the floor
or the table, and cheerfuy resigns herselfto some
what copious use ofthe monosyabes yes and no. that
TIE fpirit, which has obviously taken some trouble
to visit the sublunaIy world, is, notwithstanding,
quite content to convey to her dear relatives harm
less little pieces Of intelligence, generally bearing
on the number Of her children their age, and their
place Of reldence, and seldom INDUCES ia any reve
aton CORRESPONDING than the fact that she her
self was married twice, aud trusts the quessioner
viii be good girl. ThAt young ladies' and even
boys should be found to believe ell his, We must
perhaps, admit; but we are bound to ex preas oar
utter unwiliingnesa to credit the fact Of the
sion Of any sane man, in the possession Of his full
reason, to theory so obviously and thoroughly
absurd. Whether Reiohenba,h be or be not cor.
rect in his assumption Of the peculiar properties Of
the odic force-hoHsyer the sounds which are bea.l
in the presence o. mef,a are prodlced--we are j n
PEELED TO assert empha,ically our opinion that
man who seriously believes that he has conmuued
with the dead through their agency, Is, on that par
t.eular point mad His madness may NOT be dan
gafous-he may be unable 10 distiug uish tho
sound Of hammer under tho floor from the rep
Of ghosts knuckles without necessarily ohoking
! Lis wife and roasting the baby-he may believe
that hold faced femeie whose society on earth had
been particularly selec., has large circle Of
| scquantaIce in heaven, without fsncying himself
the Shah Of Perss installing Betsy the cook for
Queen Victors b.. he viii not the less be radical.
/ " and hopelessy mad Il be is Of scientific turn
If mind, the ingenious problems whieh sre Involved
IN the German theory. Of y neT, unknown force,
may 81 FRS. divert BIZ attention ifJn lere danger
co.. channels but IL TIE end, he eannot choose but