Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-03-08
Mis1elIanecus
For the Buglc.
REPLY TO R. L. ALEXANDER.


tions which led me to write as | did. / believe
the human spirit to have been so formed that
through a faith prompting work, it can remove
mountains. The spirit moves first, then matter,
1t passes through and overcomes matter. We
know not of tho limits set to its action because we
have not seen the fully educated and developed
individual.
The fact is we'll established that the fixed deter
mined gaze of man will cover the ferocious spirit
of the wild beast. Is it not because Of the power
or of that essence, which uses the eye as an in.
strument? If my friend in the room wishes me
to read aloud, and ignorant of his thought, l still
feel the must, and comply with his unexpressed
wish, it strikes me as the direct action of mind on
mind, without the medium of language, and FIRE.
to be considered mere accidents. have been with
persons who treated me with kindly respect, and
yet without a known cause have felt myself the
object of unpleasant reflections, and frequently
learn atterward that my sensations have not existed
without cause. | AIN strongly repealed from the
presence Of a silently angry person, and often find
myself conscious Of their thought at the moment.
How often two persons in company think and are
about to speak the same thing together. BY ex-
animation we shall sometimes find that it has oc-
CURED to one, aside from the usual train of sug-
gestion, which is the common chain of thought.
Does the wise man disseminate no influence
aside from his words and deeds? / well remember
how gladly, many years ago, | sought the room of
o friend distinguished by unusual intelligence
and amiability, to write my compositions remark
ing at the time, that there was inspiration in her
silent presence, add l am aware that, that same
unexpressed influence left its impress upon me-
and has mingled with the effect which | may have
produced on those with whom l have since min
gled. l can't demonstrate it, but | know it by the
frequent reference | have made to it in efforts at
self-culture.
The peculiarities of this sphere, which surrounds
every person is, l think, quickly appreciated by
little children who have not yet learned to modify
their intuitive perceptions by the exercise of reas
on. 1t is an axiom among observers that the exercise
of a certain faculty or disposition by one person
will waken its like in those around him. For my
self, / know that the presence of a silent angry
person will rouse my combativene SIS while the
perse nce of an Intellectual person gives more
activity to my thoughts than would merely follow
from the few words spoken. The more powerful
the mind the more marked the effect. l believe,
therefore that the wise and eloquent men aside
from word or example, carry with them an unseen
and effective power which by transmission produ-
ces an unceasing chain of effects. In this con-
nectiou it NAV be remarked that in an interested
audience it is not the attentive eyes, on the cheers
alone. which give inspiration to the speaker
There is q strong tide of similar thought and
acquiessing will, which being concentrated upon
him gives wings to his thoughts and flow to his
emotions.
When one friend concentrates his mind upon a
thought and projectsit t, so to speak, to the mind
of another, far away, his thoughts may be there
repeated. Such experiments have been performed
and verified by notes and correspondence. l have
no other way of accounting for many facts of my
individual life. An acquaintance once said, 81
believe the timo will come when the laws of mind
will be so understood that one sitting here may
convey his thoughts direct to a friend who is in
the same plane of thought and affection in London
at any hour which they may agree upon. The
winds OF time have blown up some few straws,
which point toward such q fact. II it ever be-
comes understood as a general possibility, may il
not be made the instrument Of q great mora
power?
know nothing of the modus operandi of these
matters. 1t might be made a profitable subject o
investigation. Perhaps, before mind, space is an
INITIATED, perhaps there is a medium surrounding
the earth, which transmits nerve power, as air doe:
sound. In my Ignorance l still have as a yankee the
precious privilege of guessing.
As regards the next point, Mrs. F., a woman o.
cultivated aud well balanced mind, sees distinctly
and under circumstances, which would preclude
immigration and optical illusion, the form of hel
dacaassd child Her vision 10 oftan unwiSheh for
when she sees forms about her and describes then
to strangers who unexpectedly recognize the por
trait of some friend. The statements of man,
persons Of y~eracity, concerning these things, ar
entitled to SeG eff. 1t makes nothing clearer It
say. that the seer of such forms is claravoyant Il
read the past knowledge, and halfforgotten mem
cries of those around. Such things are seen il
solitude vivid and unexpected. This | say from
what | have heard, | speak from what l know
when | affirm that in the silence Of my room
have been started by the conscious ness thatspirits
were 10y me, and often delighted and Gained b,
new thoughts and ideas which came to me out o
the usual course Of suggestion. But the eyidenc,
which may salty me is no proof to another. Seel
and We shall find if such things be.
The last question to be answered is in regard t
the reformer. In this world when persons ente
as leaders upon a contest of general interest, eithe
with arms, words, or the pen, many others are Lee
by their sympathies in regard to the object con
tended for, to give their aid TO those who fight tn,
battle. Being satisfied that life continues beyont
this first home, and knowing no reason why thos,
laws to which mind is here subject, should no
ever in essence rule it, | concluded that those whC
were engaged for a truth would attract those o
another world, who have once dwelt here, and have
here striven for the same truth. The law regard
ing the silent transmission of thought if it exists
cannot be annulled, and they will inspire him.
With these premises l made an affirmation, which
by some must be called merely ''supposable'' be
cause they are not prepared to admit those prem
isss. Yours for truth,
A, L. L. r.