Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-10-01

an APparitton Seen, Heard and Touched.
The Paris correspondent of the Nation
writes:
My friend, Colonel Sir William D, an
officer in the British army, having seen much
service in various parts of the world, has been
for some time past residing at Paris with his
family, consisting of his wife, two sons, and
a highly accomplished and charming daugh>
ter. From Sir William and his daughter l
have the following story, which l give
changing only the napes and initials of the
party-exactly as they told it to me only a
few evenings ago:
The eldest son, when pursuing his studies,
a very few years since, at the Military Coll
lege of Sandhurst, near London, was on in
innate terms with another of the cadets, whom
we will call IIartly. Young Hartly was a
general favorite in the college, Il promising,
active young fellow, fond of the sports usual
ly played by young men in England, and es-
pecially addicted to cricket. One Saturday
afternoon, young Rartly having been absent
for some time from the college on visit to
his parents in London, the pupils turned out
for game of cricket. 1t was a fine sunny
afternoon the cricket ground was full Of
animation, and the game was going on mer-
rily. Presently, to the surprise and gratifi-
cation of all the pupils, young uartly was
seen to enter the ground, dressed as usual,
and looking in all reg poets exactly like mis-
usual self. He went up to the ushers and
shook hands with them, and with a number
of the pupils. All present appear to have
seen him perfectly, and to have felt pleased
atseeing him come back. Presently he threw
himself on the ground, took u cigar from his
pocket, lighted it, and began to smoke, watch
ing the game, meanwhile, with his usual in
terest, aud every now and then commenting
upon its progress, criticising this stroke, ap-
plauding that, and seeming as intent on the
game as any Of the players. At length he
suddenly drew out his watch, and started to
his feet, exc!aimng, 81 am wanted in Lon.
don at four o'clock. and must be off at once,
for l have but just time to catch the train, -
and rushed from the ground in the direction
of the railway station. Much surprised at so
sudden departure, several of the pupils took
out their watches and discussed his chances
of being in London by four o clock, as it then
wanted but few minutes of that hour.
Next day brought to the astonished in
mates of the college the news of young Hart
ly's death, which had occurred the preceding
day at his fathers house, exactly at. four
o'clock. He had fallen i'll during his visit
home, and, as was afterwards ascertained. had
not once left his bed from the time of his
falling i'll. 1t was also ascertained that during
the whole of that last day, through which he
lay in a sort of quiet stOpor. his mother had
never left his bedside. We've seen a real
apparition Cor once in our lives :" was the
shuddering admission of the cadets when the
news Of Hartly's decease reached them. But
the awkwardness of such an admission, and
the imPossibility Of classifying or explaining g
so incouvenient a fact as the visible and tam
gible presence of their comrade on the crick.
ct ground while he was really dying in his
bed in London, were too obvious not to pro.
duce certain reaction and so it came to
pass that, in course of time, the cadets gave
up the idea of having 'seen an apparitiou,' -
and settled down on the more coyenient hy-
pothesis of hallucination." a few of the
number, however, of whom young D-i is
one, persist firmly in their first belief in re,
gard to this remarkable incident, and stoutly
declare that they did see. touch and hear the
perfect image of their friend, though utterly
unablc-to explain the nature of such an ap-
| pearance.
A boys idea of having tooth drawn
may be summed up as follows: "The doctor