Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-11-25
Doesticks Sees the Spirit-Rappers.

Being satiated with the ordinary common
place things of everyday life, and having heard
a great deal about the mysterious communica-
tons telegraphed to this our ignorant sphere,
by wise and benignant spirits of bliss, through
the dignifed medium of old chairs, wash stands
and card-tables we three, (who had met again,
determined to put ourselves in communication
with the next world, to find ont, if possible, our
chances of favorable reception when business
or pleasure call us in that direction.
Up Broadway till we cam to an illuminated
three cornered transparency, (Which made Bull
Dogge smack his lips and say "oysters, ~ which
informed us that within u large assortment of
spirits Of every description were constantly in
attendance, ready to answer inquiries, or to run
on errands in the spirit world, and bring the
ghost Of anybody's defunot relations or friends
to that classic spot for conversational purposes,
all for the moderate charge of twenty-five cents.
(Damphool, who had been there before, said
that these dedicate Ariels' were the spirits of
departed newsboys, who are thrown out Of their
legitimate business, and strive to make an
honest living by doing these eighteen penny
jobs.)
Entered the room with becoming gravity and
overcoming awe. Two old foozlesin white neck
cloths and no collars, a returned Californian in
an Indian blanket, two peaked -nosed old maids,
a good-looking widow with little boy, our own
sacred trio and the "medium," composed the
whole of the assembled multitude. The ssme
dunn +" aforesaid was vinegar complexioned
woman-very ruby nose; mouth the exact shape
of the sound hole to o vioin-who wore green
spectacles and petticoats of equivocal purity.
The furniture consisted of several chairs, n
mirror, no carpet, a small stand, large dining
ro%%b oy hoJS fca1
washstand and bookcase, with writingdesk on
top. After some remarks by the medium, we
formed the magic circle, by sitting close together
and putting our hands on the table. Bull
Dogge took big drink before he laid his pom
derous fist by the side of the others. After a
short length of time the table began to shake its
ricketty legs: to flap its leaves after the manner
of wings, and to utter ominous squeaks from
its crazy old joints. Pretty soon, "knock"
under Damphools hand he trembled and turned
pale, but on the whole stood his ground like
man. Knock knock, in my immediate vicinity
looked under the table, but couldn't see any
body-knock, knock, knock, KNOCK, directly
under Bull Dogge's elbow.
He, frightened, jumped from his seat and
prepared to run, but, sensible to the last, he
took drink, felt better-reyerently took off his
hat, and said s'd-n it and resumed his seat.
Knocking because general-medium said the
spirits were ready to answer questions-asked
if any spirit. would talk to me-yes, Come
along, l remarked-noisy spirit announced its
advent by a series of knocks, which would have
done honor to a dozen penny postmen "rolled
into one." Asked who it was-ghost Of my
uncle-(never had an uncle )-inquired if he
was happy-tolerably. What are you about?
principal occupations are, hunting wild bees,
atchin co&-6 CHI min In, bar md
making hickory whipstocks. How's your wife
sober just at present. Do you have good
liquor up there yes, livery emphatically.)
What is your comparative situation ?-am in
the second sphere; hope soon to get promoted
into the third, where they only work six hours
q day, and have apple dumplings every day for
bye-wife wants me to come and
spank the baby. One of the old foozles now
wanted to talk spirit-was gratifed by the re-
mains Of his maternal grandmother, who ham,
mered out in series of forcible raps the crafty
ing intelligence that she was very well content
ed, and spent the most of her time drinking
green tea and singing Yankee Doodle.
Damphool now took courage, and sung out
for his father to come and talk to him-(when
The old gentleman was alive, he was Zone of
EN- '')-on demand, the father came-interest-
ing conyersation-old man in trouble-lost all
MS money betting on horse race, and just
pawned his coat and spare shirt to get money to
set himself up in business again, as pop corn
Damphool sunk down exhausted,
md borrowed the brandy bottle.) ....5 a.
Disconsolate widow gets a communication from
ler husband that heis great deal happier now
than formerly-dont want to come back to her
no thank you-would rather not. Old maid
INJURIES if husbands are plenty-to her great
:,s,, ,oJ hat In, son Ia
10Y asks if, when he gets into the other world,
ne can have long tail coat-mother tells him
10 shut up-small boy whimpers, and says that
he always has worn q short jacket, and he ex-
poets when he gets to Heaven, he'll be bob-tail
Angel.
Damphool's attention to the bottle has re-as
sured his spirits, he is easily affected by brandy
one glass makes him want to treat all his
he has two bumpers in him he
owns great deal of real estate, and glass No.
makes him rich enough to buy the Custom
House, and he now ventures another inquiry Of
MS relative, who shuts him up by telling him as
ne gets sober enough to tell Maiden Lane from
\ lighthouse, to go home and go to bed.
Went at it myself; inquired all sorts of things
rom oil kinds of spirits, sblack spirits and
white, red spirits and gray Results as fol-
ows: by means of thumps, knocks, raps, and
'plEltual kICkS, L lcdiucu lHdt oStApooH auA Il
Hercules have gone into partnership in the mil
inery business. Julius Caesar is peddling APP
,les and molasses candy. Tom Paine and Jack
Sheppard keep q billiard table. Noah is run
ling canal boat Xerxes and Othello are
Irving opposition stages. George III, has set
Up a caravan, and is waiting impatiently for
Kossuth and Barnum to come and go halves
Dow, Junior, is boss of Methodist camp-meet-
Dg. sBfls sac |
Napoleon spends most of his time playing
penny ante with the three graces. Benedict
Arnold has opened a large beer saloon, and left
for S. A. Douglass, white man, John
3unyan is clown in circus. John Calvin, DR..
Johnson, syksey, Pintarch, Rob Roy, Davy
tones, Gen. Jackson, and Damphool's grand
ather are about establishing travelling theater,
having borrowed the capital 1.-TWO per cent. a
month they open with How to Pay the
sent.'' Dr. johnson in fancy dance; to con-
Jude with ssThe Widows Victim,' the prin-
ipal part by Mr.. Pickwick. Joe Smith has
Fought out the devil, and is going to convert
rophet into Mormon paradise. Shakespeare
las progressed in his new play as far as the
ourth act. where he has got the hero seven
niles and half up in = ballon, while the dis
consulate heroine is hanging by her hair to a
limb over o precipice; question is how the hereto
over shall get down and rescue his lady-love
,efore her hair breaks; or her head pulls off. Il