The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-09-05

phantom machinery invented by poets t.
clothe with the se,nblence of reality theil
dreams and fancies, can DO traced in 8
great measure the existence in the mind
of the eredality which renders the fear
in question possible, opening an intro.
duction for it into the heart excited by in
explicable phenemena or circumstanced
whore such pheaomena might. accord
ing to our superst!tious beliefs, easily oc-
cur.
Without entering into an analysis Of
the fear itself, beyond the remark that
any extraordinary sight or sound not
Immediately explicabIe by tho eye OF
ear to the understanding (as a steamboat
to the Indians or comet to our ances-
tors) it is legitimate cause of the emo
ton, as we'll Rs the possibility Of the oc-
currcnce ofsuch sights and sounds, for
believing which We have seen man pro-
pared, first by natural superstitious in
cliuation, and secondly by peculiar ed
ucation,--I will only further add, for the
purpose of brief introduction to an an
ecdote Iwish to relate, that there is an
other fountain of knowledge, from which
we drink at later period than childhood,
as well rs then, whose waters are strong
ly impergnated with this superstitious,
fear-rrovking credulity: mean the sto
rics of ghosts which lave been seen and
heard in all ages and countries, reveal
ing important secrets, pointing out the
places whore murder has been committed
or treasure concealed, foretelling desths
and calamitios, and forewarning men of
impending dangers. Hundreds of books
familiar to all have been written upon
this subject and form an extensive de-
partment of our literature, especially OF
on, older literature. s
The philosopher attempts to account
for such phenomena by referring them
to optical illusions or disoriered condi-
ton of the brain, making them subjective
instead of objectirs realities.
But one is continually being puzzled and
perplexed with evidence contradicting
this hypothesis, which, upon any other
subject priori credible to the reason
and Judgment. would be roceivedss sat-
and decisive without moments
hesitation. In truth, with all the light
which science is able to shed upon it, and
all the resolute shutting of the eyes OF
points which no Calculating theory is
available to explain, there arc facts in
this department of supernaturalism which
stagger the uubelief of the stoutest skep-
tia.
1t is constantly urged. among other
objections to the cradibility of supernat-
ural apparitions, that the names of the
witnesses have singularly and suspicious
ly disappeared,-tbat you find them, up
on investigation. substantiated thus: A
very worthy gentleman told nnnthar vary
worthy gentleman, who told very in
telligent lady. who told somebody else,
who told the individual who finally
the incident to the world.
There are, however, as just intimated,
instances in which such ambiguity is al
together wanting. Among these is one
so well authenticated by well-known wit
nesses of uudoubted veracity, that, hav-
ing never before been published, | ten-
ture to relate it here.
NV informant was Professor Tholuck,
of Halle University, the most eminent
living theologian in Germany: and the
principal ecclesiarch of the Prussian
Church. He prefaced the account by
assuring me that it was received from
the lips of De Wette himself. immediate
" after the occurrence. that De Wette
was an intimate personal friend, q plain,
practical man, of remarkably clear and
vigorous intellect, with no more poetry
and Imagination In his nature than just
sufficien: to keep him alive, lin word ,
that he would rely upon his GOODNESS Of
Judgment and accuracy of observation,
under any possible combination Of c'r-
cumstsnoes, as confidently as upon those
o. any man in the world.
Dr. De Wette, the famous German
Biblical critic, returning home one even
inc between nine and ten o'clock, was
surprised, upon arriving opposit' the
house in which be resided, to see bright
light burning in his study. In fact, ne
was rather more than surprised; for he
distinctly remembered to have extinguish
ed the candles when be went out, an
hour or two previously, locked the door,
- =. L., ,,,.Lat sxh,eh IN.