Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-03-23

ing apartment in the upper part OF the libra
~, tn ianitOr residing IN the basement. 1t
is the rule of the library to dismiss visitors
at sunset. and during the evening and night
no individual besides DR.. Cogswell and the
jtnitor and his family remain in the build
ing.
Against the advice of his friends, DR.
Cogswell deyOtes hours Of night that should
be given TO rep use, TO the pursuance Of hls
work on the catalogue. Naturally anxious
u hasten forward its completion. and fired
with all the enthusiasm of professed bi7ll-
opole. his labors in this tedious and difficult
task are almost incredible. At the same
time the work Is of that dry. statistical char
acter which is by no means suggestive OF fan
ciful apparitions, nor Is the indeatIgaoie
compiler a man easily swayed by the passing
delusions Of the eye OF brain.
Some two weeks ago Doctor C0gswel was
at work as usual on the catalogue. 1t was
about eleven O'Clock at night, and having oc
casion to refer 20 some books in distant
part Of the library. he left his desk. TOOK has
candle and as he had often done before
pursued his course among the winding pas
sages toward the desired spot. but pe-
fore reaching it. while IN an alc)vh M the
southwest part Of the older portion. OF the
building, he was startled by seeing man,
respectfully dressed IN citizens clothes, sur
veying a shelf Of books. The lctor sup
posed il TO b. a rObbtr who had secreteI HIM
self for the purpose of abstractns some OF
the valuable works in the library alter step
ping back behind a PARTITION for a moment,
ne again moved cautlousv " forward O. catch
a glimpse of the lndyituais ace. Wnen ID
his surprise he recognized IN the supposed
rohber the features of "a physician (Whose
name we t,rbear giving. who had lived IN
the immediate vicinity OF the library, ana
who had died some six weeks ago lt should
be borne in mind that this deceased person
was a mere casual acqu lutinr' ol Doctor
Cogswell, not an intimate friend and since
his death Doctor COgswell had not thought
Of him.
But the apparition was in the presence of
a man not easily scared. The librarian, 50
far from fainting OF shriekins, as might rea-
/ sjna' " be expected, calmly addressed the
ghost
"Dr-.' 50 SAID he. ''you seldom, if ever.
visited this Library while living. Why do
YOU trouble us now when dead?
Perhaps the ghost did not like the sound
Of the human voice; any way, il gave No. an-
swer bat disappeared.
The next day Mr. Cog-well thought over
the matter, attributed IL To some optical de-
lusion, and in the evening proceeded with
his work as usual Again he wished To re-
fer to some books. and again visited the
southwestern alcoye. There again. as large
as life, was the ghost, very calmly and llac-
idly surveying the shelves Mr.. CJgsweN
again spoke to il
Or" " said he, again ! ask You, why
/ YOU who never visited the Library while lJv-
/ ing, trouble il now when ADJ
Again the ghost vanished, and the un-
/ daunted Librarian pursued ms task without
/ interruption. The next day he examined the
/ shelves before which the aVpariti0n had been
standing. and by a singular coincidence
! found that they We're filled with books devot-
/ ed TO demonology, witchcratt, magic. spirit
4 ualism. &c. Some of thes, books are rare
/ TONES, several centuries old,written IN Latn,
/ illustrated with quaint diagrams, and redo
/ lent Of mysticism while on the next shelves
are their younger brethren, the neat spruce
works Of modern spIrtualIsts, OF Britain,
! Davis. Edm0nds and others. The very titles
! on these mystic books ara suggestive. There
are the Prophecies or Prognosticarlus of
| Michael Nostradamus, a iolIo Published lii
! London in l6-2 Albamasar de C5nicctlonl-
I AtIltl VI
! the Necromancers Glanvil on Witches and
| Appartions Cornelius Agrippa Bodn 5
! Demonomania Lilly's Astrology and oJuer>,
a perusal of any of which would efecually
| murder the sleep Of a person Of ordinary
nerve for at least a half "a dozen nights. Ii
was these volumes that appeared 70 attract
the apparition.
The third night, Mr. Cogswell. still deter
Al 81 i .frfar.
| effect Of digestion-whatever 1t might be
should not interfere with his duties, again
visited the various books TO which he wished
to refer to. and when occasion demanded,
did not fail to approach the mystic alcoye.
There again was the appartion, dressed
precisely as before, in a gentleman usual
costume, as natural as life, aud with a hand
raised, as if about To take down book. Mr..
Cogswell again spoke
- DR.. --,'' he said, boldly, this Is
the third time | have met you Tell me il
any Of this class of books now disturb you
If they do, will have them removed.
But the ungrateful Oh st, without ack-
nowIodging this accommo dating spirit on the
part of its interrogator, disappeared. Nor has
1t been seen since, and the librarian has con
tnued his nightly researches without inter
ruption
A few davs ago at dinner party at the
house of a well known wealthy gentleman
MIR. CoCswell related the circumstances a
above recorded, as nearly as we can lea
As some eighteen or twenty people were pres
ent, the remarkable story was soon spreat
, about 4 number Of literary men, lnclud
ing an eminent historian and others, hear
the recital, and though they attribute MI
Cogswell's ghost-seeing to the STRAIN and ten
sion Of his nerves during hIs too protracte'
labors at the catalogue, they yet confess tina
the story has It's remarkable phases. Bot
/ Mr.. COgswell and the deceased physician
were persons Of practical turn OF mind
and always treated the marvellous ghost
stories sometimes set afoa- with deserve
contempt And. as they were not at all IN
innate. it will be at least a curious questlo
for the psychologist 10 determine, why III
idea Of this dece sed gentleman should com
t to Mr. Cogswell's brain and esolve ltseil In
: to an apparition, when engaged ID dry sta
Y tistical labors. which should efectullly ban
e ish all thoughts Of the marvellous.
:, Acting on the advice Of several friends, Nj
If Cogswell is now absent on a short trip {
e Charleston, to recuperatc his energies. III
r indefatigablc industry, his devotion 10 th
q interests of the Library, and his great et
y clency as a librarian, render it highly desr.
: bic that he should enjoy recreation an
It repose, and not endanger his health by a to
= close application to his duties. In regard
;, the apparition we will make no comment.
}. but give the story as related by Dr. Cogswel
: as we are credibly informed, and as 1t h'
II already been talked about in various hterar
n and dom este institutions.
d A recent traveller, speaking OF the Chimes
" town Of PekIn and the first impressions
y stranger receives on entering within Il
= u l. h.o ~ rrr.lnr