The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-03-28

AsToR LIBRARY HAUSEED-LIBRAHfAN
coeswEIL HAS THREE INTERVIEWS WITH
TIE SPECTRE.


The New York Evening Post is res
ronsibls for the following ghostly tale,
published in its editorial columns, and APP
psrently written by the poet editor him
SELF 1t prsfaces the story with the re-
mark that "as it has been solemnly assev-
Grated before mixed company Of some
twenty persons, and afterwards rstailed
and repeated so much as to be almost the
town talk, we are committing no impro-
priety, we trust, in stating the circumstan-
css rs far as we have been able to discov.
err them
To understand the circumstances ofthis
remarkable apparition more fully, the
reader should remember that DR.. Cogs-
well, the efficient Librarian, has been for
some time engaged in the compilation Of
complete catalogue of the library. AL
though over a year since it was commeu.
ced, The work has only reached the letter
P. DR.. Cogswell is an unmarried man,
and occupies sleeping apartment in the
upper part of the library, the janitor resi-
ding in the basement. 1t Is the rule of
the library to diamiss visitors Mt sunset,
and during the evening and night no in.
dividual beside the janitor and his family
remain in the building.
Against the advice of his friends, DR..
Cogswell devotes hours of the night that
should be given to repose, to the pursu-
ance of his work on the catalogue.
Some two weeks ago the doctor was at
work as usual on the catalogue. 1t was
aboat eleven o'clock at night, and having
occasion to refer to some books in dis
tant part of the library, he left his desk,
took his candle, and, rs he had often done
before, pursued his course among the
winding passages towards the desired
spot. But before reaching it, while in
the alcove in the southwest part Of the
older portion of the building, he was
startled by seeing q man, respectfully
dressed in citizens clothes, surveying 3
shelf of books. The doctor supposed it
to be robber, who had secreted himself
for the purpose Of abstracting some ofthe
valuable works in the library; after step
ping back behind a partition for mo-
ment, he again moved cautiously forward,
to catch glimpse ofths individuals face,
when to his surprise he recognized in the
supposed sob5er the features of physi-
clan (whose name we forbear giving)who
had lived in tho immediate vicinity Of tbs
library, an who had died some six weeks
ago! 1t should be borne in mind that
this deceased person was mere casual nc
quaintance of DR.. Cogswcll, not an init
mate friend, and since his death Dr.. Cogs.
well had not thought Of him.
But the aprarition was in the presence
of a man not easily scared. The librarian,
SO far from fainting or shriaking,ns might
reasonably be expected, calmly addressed
the ghost:
Dr., said . you seldom, if ever.
visited this library while living, Why do
YOU trouble us now when deadr
Perhaps the ghost did not Xix, the
sound OF the human voice; any w.y, it
gave no answer, but disappeared.
The next day Mr.. Cogswsll thought
over Ii, matter, attributed it to seme OPP
teal delusion, and in the evening proceed
ed with work "a usual. gain he wish
cd 10 refer to some books, and again WIS.,
tied the south western alcove. There
again, as large as life was the ghost, very
calmly and placidly surveying the shelves.
Mr.. Cogswell again spoke to it.:
DR.. -, said be, again ask you
why You, who never visited us while liv-
ing trouble us now when deadg
Again the ghost vanished. and the un-
dannted librarian pursued his task with.
out interruption. The next day he exam
med the shelves before which tho appara.
ton had been standing, and by singular
coincidence, found that they were flled
with books devoted to demonology, witch
craft, magic, spiritualism, DC.
The third night, Mr.. Cogswell still, de-
termlned that the shade, spirit, delusion,
or effect ofindigestion-whatever it might
be-should not interfere with his duties.
again visited tho various books to which
he wished to refer, and when occasion de-
branded, did not fail to approach the mys-
TIC a!cove. There again was the appara-
ton, dressed precisely as before, in a gen.
tleman's usual costume, "a natural as life.
and with hand raised as if about to take
down book. Mr. Cogswell again spoke:
CDR. he said boldly. This ia
the third time have met you. Tell me
itany Of this class of books now disturb
you? If they do, l will have them remov-
ed
But the ungratsful ghost, without &C.
knowledging this accommodating spirit
on the part of its interrogatsr, disappear
cd. Nor has it been seen since, and the
librarian has continued his nightly rssesr-
ches since without Interruption.
A few days ago, at dinner party at
the house of a well.known gentleman, Mr..
Cogswell related the circumstances rs
recorded, as nearly as we can learn. AS
some Is people were pres int, the remar-
kable story was soon spread about. A
number of literary NOR, including an en-
lnent historian and others, heard the reci--
tai, md though thew atfrihuto NJ IT,,