New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-03-19
The Haunted House.

In two articles preceding this, we have given a
detailed account Of visits to the house honored
with the reputation Of being haunted. Since our
last, having had an opportunity of making more
thorough Investigation, we reduced the confused
state OF things to the following facts: First that
the manifestations were confined to one room and
the adjoining entry or hall; second, that one out
side the door upon the steps OF III room not i'm
mediately connected could hear none Of the noises,
which, had they really existed, would have been
plainly perceptible; third, that the warmer the
room, the more remarkable were the manifesto.
lions and fourth, what the mind conceived seemed
at to take on the semblance of reality; as, for
example, if we looked to see chair move toward
us across the room it seemed really to perform
that action if We listened for the sound Of steps
they came plainly and distinctly to our sense of
hearing.
We had proved that the sounds could not be
heard by any one out of the sitting ROOM We
now determined to see whether the same was true
Of sight Requesting our companion to remain in
| the room, we went outside, and by the aid of
small box, obtained position where we could see
| into the room. Here we remained some ten min
utes Not the slightest movement was preceptible
Or sound heard. Upon returning to the room we
| found that the phenomena had been continually
apparent during our absence, our companion de-
claring upon his honor that the piano had moved
to the centre of the room, and several
chords struck. We invited him to change posi-
tons, and he took our place outside while we re-
NAMED to watch within. The result was the same,
and proved individually that the whole thing was
deception of the senses, not only of sound but of
| sight.
On each visit we had been conscious of a strange,
penetrating smell, of peculiar nature, though not
absolutely disagreeabe. We had noticed on that
evening especiay--the weather was cool-that
whenever the room was most heated, the scent was
most powerful and the phenomena most striking.
Its source was undoubtedly in that room. We
looked over the articles on the what-not and table
butt vainly. We examined the mirror, the piano
the curtains the furniture even, for our host had
given us carte blanche so to do. Nothing, On the
, nantel above the stove were two or three small
, vases, pasteboard box Eotf shells and beads, a
cologne bottle or two and little porcelain cup
with a filagree cover. With hasty glance we
were turning from them, when again that delicate
subtle smell penetrated our nostrils. What was it
: The vases were empty, the bottles, no. The cup
f ali that was it! The porcelain cup with hlagret
/ cover! Opening it, we found it partially fllet
with quantity of dried, withered berries, from
whence the peculiar exhalation we had noticed
/ proceeded. 4 -n.,
| a'What are these?" we asked.
e q Those?" said Mrs. ------. g can't tell yot
, brother who was on board the - steamer CANT
t home year ago, and among other things brough
y those He said they were used by the priests an'
e jugglerss. in that country, and are considered
k sacred' IL
y The mystery was solved. Here, then, was tn
famous berry a2TajrsoiI, which had been general
considered fabulous, the berry which, by its pecu
It liar properties had given such power to the chal
$ latans OF the East 1t has been in use for cer
o turies in India and Arabia and is mentioned b
& Latin writer's as long ago as the ninth century
. Caphis,, monk who spent many years in Arahii
gives the following description of it and its PROF
d critics, winch we translate The curious reade
Il will lind the original in Besehmann's &" Arcana,
Lepsic edition, cap. Ia. 1.-THE berry al l,lirsG
hath marvellous qualities, such as no man conceived
but he who hath SEEN The SAVIOR thereo
I though it hath not the narcotic powt
g of the opium drug, nevertheless exciteth ii
Imagination to an exceeding degree, insonuc
s that the perspective powers are led captive an
d seem to see and understand things which are not
t Or, in other words, it plays the same tricks wit
E the imagination and brain as opium or hashees
e without affecting one otherwise. We cou
scarcely believe senses, but the fact was thel
:, and there was no appeal from it, 1t seemed .
b strange that the sacred berry of the East, aft
having made the reputation Of dozen tgsyelin