Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-08-24
Communications.
Ghosts i'm Grave Yards.

Il
There are great many persons who
are afraid to pass close by, or through a
grave yard after night, and many declare
that they have actually seen the spirits Of
the dead, moving around over the graves
Now it is no marvel that under these cir
cumstances many one would sooner 60
a mile around, than to pass near the
haunted spot. We are all. by nature, in
clined to be credulous and superstitious
The more ignorant person is the more
ready is he to believe in the supernatur-
al.
You and l dear reader, may have never
seen these ''grave yard ghosts" Yet we
may have among our acquaintance, a
friend whose veracity We consider to be
unimpeachable. That friend positively
asserts that he has seen these operations.
Light, and lightly luminous; seen them
too all of a sudden, upon some dark gloo-
my night, when no thought of anything of
the kind was in the mind to conjure up
such vision from the effects of the imagi-
nation. Puzzled and mystifed, yet from
our own personal experience, doubtful
and skeptical upon the point We know not
what to think about it. Baron Reichen-
bach, German who has thought and
studied for years upon such subjects, says
there are now and then, persons peculiar
l. organized, whom he calls ''Sensitives," :"
who when they are in very dark places,
can see lights, and feel cool or warm says
emanate from both organic and inorganic
substances from chrystals from places, and
from animals and from persons that are
not perceptible or visible to any one of
different or common temperament. And
therefore you see that one of these ''Sensi-
tives'' passing through, or very near grave
yard on dark night, would be very apt
to sec 'grave-lights" upon the newly
made graves, some large as the human
form, others small, creeping on the
ground, like dwarfsh spirits, all Pickering
and waving here and there as if alive and
in motion.
Now these are facts well proven. and
as such, should be known to every one,
and the causes fully explained on natural
principles, and when this is generally
done we shall hear of fewer ghost stories
and haunted houses, and there will be nc
more poor ignorant way-farers, half fright
ened out of their wits by ''corpse-lights. %
1t is time these old superstitions should be
done away with, and true scientific facts
take their place.
When people learn that these lights
these ghosts. these grave-walkers. are
nothing but carbonate of Ammonia, Phos-
pharetted hydrogen and other like gasses
which emanate from the decomposing
bodies and which wave and flicker with
the wind, as a torch waves in the breeze
they will no longer continue to fear them
as something supernatural and awe-inspir,
ing, but will look upon them only as ma
tural phenomenon, the same as they now
Go upon the little FREELY, or piece o.
phorcscent wood, or any other thing
which emits or radiates light in the dark
One scientific philosophical explanation
of such an apparently mysterious manifes
tation," is worth more to the Ignorant
and credulous than would be whole
ocean of Books nonsenscs," and hum.
bugs
Though wonderful are Natures laws
There's no effect without a cause;
These causes seek and you will find
That Ghosts and goblins leave youl
mind,
And trust and peace will there abide /;
My faith in this is bonefide,
For 1 have felt and known these fears
All through my young and girlish
years,
But when the blessed truth was found,
How joyous then the hearts rebound.
ELMIRA DRAKE SLENKER.
Factoryville, Tenn, Aug. 10th, 1871
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