The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-08
VANIPYISES.

peoulsting on the use and misuse of words, an
iuirer after truth may, without eQuivocation,
b0nably doubt whether the word "super-
lhral" has any true meaning or real signif-
pc. II Mr.. William Hewitt should see-as be
n has seen-three-legged tables dance wild
{Angoes; If he should hear--as he often has
n soft music discoursed by harmoniums
thed BY invisible hands; If Mr.. Home, defy
4grsvitatiOn, should ascend to the ceiling and
about, as he so often has done, l do not
" that anybody has more right to call these
Seu supernatural than have to doubt the
D recorded. Made cognizant to human nature
Vhe great resultant of law and fsrces, which
1gree to call simple Nature, how can any
iifestsion of human senses be justly called
RmsturalI
lhere must be beginning to all discovery.
tnomens observed before the reason of them is
te apparent always seem mysterious. The
ftion show an apple, gross, corporeal thing
NnAterial entity, to adopt the language of
hee-gets into the middle Of an apple dump
n provokes no nine days wonder now but
was when the case puzzled king. Solomon
Y wise man, and so was Socrates, and so was
Bhi would they not have considered it a mys-
Jus thing had they seen messages sent by
Vric telegraph to places thousands of miles
10 When PiZarro Rwoke the echoes of the
os of the Incas by firing off his Spanish
Npieces, wonder whether the Aztec priests
lot regard the case as supernatural. Upon
liberation, think Mr.. Hewitt, Mr.. Home,
Eevery other gentleman who has had visional
Hons with the spirit-wOrld, who has touched
4 fringe OF which Mr.. Hewitt somewhere
Es-the peculiar fringe which, according to
N descends upon earth from some celestial
Blsterer's shop up abOVe--will own, on con-
fation, that nothing that has happened or can
fep, nothing which has been seen or can be
that has been heard or can be heard, that
peen felt or can be felt that has been smelt
N be smelt, should be justly called super
raj.
dm one of those who have come to the con-
%on, that more harm comes of believing too
than of believing TOO much. For my part,
ieye almost every thing that Is recorded by
Iot goOd repute, provided that my own eXpe-
2does not dtsprove IL; and in u general way
xIeve everything that is recorded by a lady.
yes world of trouble, this unlimited faith;
hs the merit of being logical, moreover,
Rg regard TO the axiom long accepted by
Bans, that IL is wholly impossible to disproye
Ration. After making this confession of faith,
not seem wonderful in the least degree
have been study ing the manners and Gus
III OF spirits, hoOgoblns, creatures of the ele-
n, such rs undines, sylphs, saamauders,
pes, fairies, and the like; witches, wizards
Hrers, augurs, necromancers of various couu-
n ana of various epOChs creatures, in short,
NsOme people denominate-incOrrectly as |
I've, and have sought 10 prove" super
al." Yes, l have been studying them all in
recording Pagei from the mouldy and
h.eaten tones Coeval with the discovery of
Tng TO the railway volumes with many
ked binding, reminding one of the part-
led coat of Benjamin. Yes the things falsely
Supernatural" have been studying them
HLd not carefully in the least degree, those
b so horrible, so dreadfully curious, so dan
His withal, concerning which some few ex.
Htory words shall presently be written-the
Eeripg, bloodthirsty vampyres-Y Yroucolakas
Noucalakas of the Greeks.
Hbaps there never was yet an extraordinary
NatiOn vOuChsatel 10 the faith ful, concerning
skeptics and sceters-people of science, as
Wcall themselves, those men of dwRrfed and
Kyzed minds, so beautifully portrayed by Mr..
Ham howltt-baYe not suggested some mean
lgrovelling imputation, the acceptance of
E wonld reduce the fact narrated TO the cate
III OF mere supers itions, fostered mostly by
ches and by priests. Accordingly, in respect
Hnpyres, have seen the statement made that
assumption of these creatures as realities is
ble 10 a certain pretension that an individual
&lunder sacredotal ban, and being inferred,
not decay after the manner of honest
Hes committed TO earth.
bretension, indeed as If the learned Michael
p, who wrote learned book, ode Mastica-
Mortuorum in Tumulis," is not worthy of
Nidence-as II the learned book of similar
Unpublished by Philip Rehrius, could leave
HpatteT in doubt. | grant that the recitals
Nehed by these learned authors do not abound
such deeds Of active vampyredom as form
bject of popular tradition in places where
Vfredom Is most rite but they are conclusive
Hthe main basis of belief on which vampire
MFaalss affirming the nrpnnCittOn that
n corpses have been known 70 retain a sort
hprious life, to move In their graves, to eat
Ever came within reach Of their unhallowed
90 be heard munching and masticaiug
kwine-whenee the title Of the book, "De
tcatione."
hosts, hObgoblins, and, 70 be short, all other
which cerIain superficial thinkers call
Nnatural had been made matter Of study long
q tables began TO speak, or even to turn.
u learned Calmet gave much attention TO pneu-
, Ogyi ride his book in proof of II. think
llOwing sentiments, enunciated in the pre-
Hf that book, will come commended to the
aciAtiOn of many; and would humbly call
y readers attention 10 the highly important
sHthe learned writer accOrds, In the science of
-called supernatural, TO the particular hob
ns Or by their leave we may call them sO)
ich shall have TO treat.
always a matter Of regret, writes Calmet
/. preface, 10 have deceived ones self; aud il
rigorous (speaking in religious sense) TO
ON insufficient grounds, TO deny rashly,
ain in wiiful ignorance, or to voluntarily
"A Bhe wrapped in superstition or illusion. A
deal will have been achieved by an indivi-
q who has learned how to doubt wisely, in
- fTay that he does not allow his Judgment to
beyond his testimony. That which has
8 Impressed me in the matter concerning
D / trent is the recitals ] have met with OF
Ies or "reyenans" Of Hungary and Baya-
Poland, of the "Broucalaques," or Vrou-
Ias, so called by the Greeks all excommu-
. bodies, which, It is said, are unable to
remark has been made by the Rev. II.
Itmas, translator of Calmet's book, "Sur les
fihons," that Calmet seems less disposed 20
W in yampyredom than In any other mani
llon Of the so-called supernatural that
n ho receives the attestations of almost
lsort of appaTition without cavil, yet the
divino-rather indirectly than directly
20 throw some sort Of doubt upon the his
PfNempyres. The reverend translator starts
fpothesls to account for this, which probably
Pe IN some measure correct. He says that
fecords OF YampyTedom have especially be-
Tto people holding 10 the Greek or Eastern
II w when reason q French divine would
uhhkeiy 70 eayil at the testimony handed
IN feiation 70 these beings. l-f.-
pAPg Il may be here just as we'll, before pro,
ngferther, 70 explain, for the benefit OF such
who may require the information, What