Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-07-21


he Esprit of the Times" from which paper
we copy it. is the only true version that has
over been offered to the American public.
The belief in visions, wraiths, and super
natural warnings-not to speak of well-dc-
fined ghosts-is foible or weakness confined
to no age or country-no period OF civiiza-
ton. In short, the problem Of a mysterious
connection between the denizens of this and
another world is one that never can be solved,
except by stout denial, similar to that which |
materialists venture as to tie existence Of a |
never-dying soul. This belief moreover, is |
not confined to the ignorant, DR., johnson, |
the photographer was firm believer IL the |
possibility Of such events; Colonel Gardiner
and Lord Lyttleton are other witnesses;
Goethe in several passages gives evidence OF
a similar conviction; Schiller and the Grimms,
to mention none else, INDUCED in like notions.
Hence, then, if the case be not quite clear,
and the evidence not wholly ihfallible, room
is still for further Illustration; and the narra-
tive about to be related is decidedly one in
point, and, as being more than usually well
authenticated deserves an attentive perusal.
1t is extracted from an old German manu-
script, included among a number of other
documents left by Count Horn, q celebrated
Swedish minister towards the close of the last
century, to the University of Gottenburg, IN
the archives of which il has been found by
the Cheyalier Engstrom, who few years ago
was British consul there. The paper in
question is written In choice Lain, and is
evidently the production of no commonly
complished person. The results with only
few of the reflections, are given in the strange
narrative that ensues, which certainly is one
/ of the most startling that has ever been met
| with in modern times; for TO the formal doc
| ument, on which it is founded, the names of
! six witnesses of high family and character
were annexed. 1t may be added, also, that
the tile was current for century i'll Sweden,
and cited as omlnous, long, long before the
events received their accomplishment. But
to the point.
Charles the Eleventh, of Sweden, who
as all the world knows-was the father Of the
great Charles the Twelfth. that long proved
successful rival to Peter the Great, a
downright despot, and yet as willy and as sage
sovereign as ever presided over the court OF
| Stockholm. Oligarchcal before. the country
hitherto ruled by mobiles and wealthy bur
ghers, yilded once to its sovereign, who
forced the states general to confide the entire
, power to himself, who, though enlightened
beyond his age, nobe-spirited, and sincerely
attached to the Lutheran religion, was, oil
the other hand, cold, dogged, infexible. anc
; simply man of facts, without judgment o
Imagination.
At the time of which we speak he had jus
lost his unhappy consort, Eleanor-Uulrica
and although report said that his own harsh
> ness and cruelty towards that lady had has
J tened her eud, he showed his esteem for be
memory by a grief more touching than coul
:, at all have been expected from nature mad
cla Id, -sy,on n
in his peculiar way-that most accordant wit
the nature of stern and positive man; h
became, in short, more stern and tacitur
than ever; and as his nature led him to stat
and military occupations, these were only th
more increased. in order to distract his after
ton from the domestic oalamities that ha
befallen him.
d. The early cleaning of late autumn, whe
the wind and sleet gave dreary presage of
quick approaching winter, found this gloom
monarch i'm his cabinet at Stockholm, seat'
in his dressing robe and slippers before a hu;
FIRE, such as (before the days of artifci
te' warningl was indispensable in SO cold a c
mate. Seated in his huge armchair, al
er. thoughtfully leaning his head upon his u
- raised arm, he scarce perceived the presen
as of his cham mberlain-the celebrated astron
he mer, Tycho Brahe, who was the deposita
of all his secrets-and he paid even less
he tention to his physician, DR.. Baumgarte
ho who, though he doubted Of everything ell:
ok had the most implicit faith in medicine, a
IT. had SO well succeeded in convincing the XII
as of his ability, that on that very evening
he had been summoned to give him advice a
provide cure for some real or imagina
)r- disease.
2" As courters should do, they patiently W
ted the royal pleasure; but though the nl
lot drew on apace, the king, contrary to his CT
lbs tom, failed to wave his hand as a signal
their departure for he was vacantly gazi
ed on the fire, and though weary of his after
ants, yet feared, from some cause that
out could not explain, to be left alone. 1
count saw that his presence was far fr
agreeable, and had more than once limited
rs fears that his Majesty required repose; bu
silent gesture Kept him in his place bes
ms the monarch's chair So likewise with Bau
OF garten; his profession seemed to give him
liberty of saying how Injurious late no
tn: might be to the kings health, but his o
'dy answer was scarcely audible through
ma teeth: 'sThe king will mind hlmssok;
ing there mani am not sleepy yet
Such words from so absolute mona
uai were conclusive; aud the courtiers were c.
PEELED to try different subjects of conversa
'm SUCCESSFULLY to keep their masters spirits
ana but they all failed. The king, in short,
in one of his darkest and most revoltIng I
II pers; aud this made the courtiers posi-
axe not little painful AS for Baumgarten
was remained silent; but the Count Brahe,
lit lieving that the kings sadness procee
Of from grief at the loss Of his queen. gazed
while on portrait Of her hung near