Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-17

IL SIauuaiy anu EelucUnbiy, lnbO tne eaFt1, ike
stake. Subsequently, Thorodd and several of
his servants were drowned and now their
ghosts were added to the spectral group. Every
evening, when the fire was lighted in the great
hall, Thorodd and his companions would enter,
drenched and dripping, and seat themselves close
to the blaze, from which they very selfshly ex-
cluded all the living inmates while from the
other side of the apartment, the ghosts of those
who had died of pestilence, and who appeared
gray with dust, would bend their way towards
the same comfortable nook, under the leader
ship of Thorer. This being very awkward
state of affairs in a climate like Iceland, Kiar-
tan, who was now the master of the house,
caused a separate fire to be kindled for the NOR
tails in On out.hopse, lsaving the great hall t.
1.-THE spectres; with which arrangement their
ehostsaina ssemod to bessatisfed. The deaths
from The pestilence continued to increase and
every death caused an addition to the phantom
army. Matters had now reached so serious u
pitch, that twas found absolutely necessary to
take some steps against the disturbers of the
neighborhood. 1t was accordingly resolved to
proceed against them by law (; but, previously
to commencing the legal forms, Kiartan caused
the unfortunate bed-furniture, which had been
at the bottom of all the mischief, to be burnt
in sight Of the spectres. A jury was formed in
the great hall the ghosts were accused Of be
ing public nuisances within the meaning of the
act in that case made and provided evidence
was heard and finally a sentence of ejectment
was pronounced. Upon this, the phantoms
rose and protested that they had only sat
there while it was lawful for them to do 80,
sullenly and mutteringy withdrew, with many
symptoms of unwillngness. A priest then
damped the room with holy-water--a solemn
mass was performed, and the supernatural WIS.,
itors were thencelorth non est inventus.
The incident Of the seal in this narrative will
remind che reader who has properly studied his
Corsican Brothers-and { as it is customary to
to ask on these occasions) who has not !--of the
ghost of the duellist as he comes gliding through
the floor to the tremulous music of the iddles.
The whole tale, in fact, falls in great measure
into the general class Of ghost stories but the
circumstance Of each person, as he died, adding
to the array of evil spirits, and thus spreading
out the mischief in Overwhelming circles, has an
affinity to the distinguishing feature of the Bru-
colac superstition. Still, for the perfect speci-
men Of the genus Vampire, we must revert to
the southeast of Europe.
Sir Walter Scott says that the above 90 is the
only instance in which the ordinary admnistra-
ton of justice had been supposed to extend oveI
the inhabitants Of another world and in which
the business Of exercising spirits is transferred
from the priest to the Judge.
voltaire, however, in treating of Vampires,
mentions similar instance. 1T is in my
mind" says the French wit and philosopher
" a curious fact, that judicial proceedings were
taken, in due form of law, concerning those dead
who left their tembs to suck the blood of the
little boys and girls Of the neighbourhood.- -
Calmet relates that in Hungary two officers ap-
pointed by the Emperor Charles the Sixth, as
sisted by the bailff of the place, and the oxecu-
toner, went to bring to trial a Vampire who
sucked all the rcighborhood, and who had died
six weeks before He was found in his tomb
fresh, and gay, with his eyes open, asking fol
food. The balif pronounced his sentence, and
the executioner tore out his heart and burnt it
after which the Vampire ate no more"
Voltaire's levity has here carried him mad
vertently, of course,) with smiling face into
very appalling region. tits an historical fact
that sort of Vampire fever or epidemic spread
through the whole southeast of Europe, from
about the year seventeen hundred and twenty
seven to seventeen hundred and thirty-fve This
took place more especially in Servia and Hunga
ry with respect to its manifestations in which
latter country, Calment, the celebrated author
of the History of the bible, has left an account
in his Dissertations on the Ghosts and Vampires
of Hungary A terrible infection appeared tC
have seized upon the people, who died by hun
dreds under the belief that they were haunted
by these dreadful phantoms. Military commits
sions were issued for inquirng into the matter
and the graves of the alleged Vampires bein,
opened in the presence of medical men, some o
the bodies were found undecomposed, with fresl
skin and nails growing in the place Of the old
with horid complications, and with blood in tn
chest and abdomen. Of the truth of these al
legations there can be no reasonable doubt, a
they rest upon the evidence of both medical ant
military men, and the problem seems to admi
of orify one solution. Dr. Herbert Mayo, in hi
Letters on the Truths contained in Popula
Superstition, suggests that the superstitious be
lief in Vampyrism, acting upon persons OF ner'
GUS tempcraments. prcdisposed them to fall int
the condition called death-trance in that stat
they were hastily buried and that, upon tn
graves being opened, they were found still alive
though unable to speak. In conformation {
this ghastly suggestion, Dr. Mayo quotes th
following most pathetic and frightful accour
of Vampire execution from an old Germa
writer -" When they opened his grave, aftt
he had long been buried, his face was found wit
colour, and his features made natural sorts
movements, as if the dead man smiled. II
even opened his mouth as if he would inhale ii
fresh air. They held the crucifx before hin
and called in loud voice, See, this is Jesr
Christ who redeemed your soul from hell, an
died for you Aftor the sound had acted O
) his organs of hearing, and he had connecte
perhaps some ideas with it, tears began to flo
, from the dead mans eyes. Finally, when, aft,
: short prayer for his poor soul, they proceede
to hack off his head, the corpse uttered screecl
and Turned and rolied inst as if IL had been ali,