Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-06-15
Superstition,
An Interesting Incident.
Strange and True.
For the Fayetteville Observer.

y
me through the columns of your
most excellent paper to open up a
communication with the outer
world upon subject which has
troubled the minds Of men, ever
since the violation of the law of
God, by Adam and Eve in the
garden of Paradise? The world
is in agitation upon the subject of
superstition from Maine to Califor.
MIA, from the Atlantic shore to
the Pacific wave, the mental and
emotional CONSTITUTIONS Of men
are haunted by an inexplicable
spirit, inspiring them alternately
with hope and fear, while the be-
ings thus possessed, will enthusi'
astically assert their unbelief in
the existence of such Spirit.
have yet to see a man who is moi
more or less superstitious. lie
may boast of his philosophy and
boldly declare his unbelief in the
evidence presented in behalf Of
the doctrine of superstition, yet,
if you will follow him through
life and carefully note his meander
ings as a citizen of the world. you
will perceive the superstition:
element standing out in bold relief
There appears to be a disposition
upon the part of tie more en-
lightened and educated people, tc
impress the minds of those WHIT
are less favored in life with the
fallacy of the theory of supersti
ton; yet, they find it matter of
impossibili:y to shake off the
letters which have been riveteC
upon their own minds respecting
superstitious faith. While
have no faith or confidence IL
superstition as guiding star tC
our destinies in life, yet, there
are some circumstances, which
were 1t not for the grace of Goo
sustaining us in temptation anC
trial would, inevitably, drive us tt
the conclusion that there is moth
ing real-that our destinies art
under the control of an irrpspon
sible agent or director, whose hab
itation is in the imaginations of
men. | shall not attempt to ex
plain the philosophy of super
stition, for it has none. Let ,
single case or example, illustra
tive Of the influence of supersti
ton upon the human mind, ant
the seeming infaIlibility of it
teachings, suffice for the present
A well known and respectabl
citizen of Lauderdale county, Ala,
was arrested by federal authorit,
and lodged in prison at Fort Della
ware. Time passed sluggish.
with him, while in prison. Man,
long and weary months ha'
passed and no intelligence fror
his family had reached him.
The condition of the country, an,
the absence Of his family were
of course, the subject of his med
itations and his dreams. In thi
frame of mind he fell asleep on
night during his stay in prison
and the mind, ever wakeiul anl
active, quilted the prison walls,an'
with lightning speed winged it
way to the rural cottage of GU
sleeping prisoner, lowering will
sweet delight over the innocen
forms of his soIrowing wife am
children. While sleeping upol
his hard bed, our prisoner dreamed
of receiving "a letter from his old
est daughter, which upon belnI
opened revealed nothing intelli
Igible TO him, but an unseen visitor
at that moment whispered ant
said to him, that exposing the let
ter to heat, would reveal its con
tents to him in ineligible charac
tiers from the pen of his own child
In ecstacy from this strange com
munication. he awoke, and behold
it was a dream. But, SO vividly
was his mind impressed with thu
dream, that he could not forget it
The next day he received jus
such a letter-blaDk and unintel
ligible. He held the letter 20 th'
fire and had full description of
Colonel Phillips Raid through
North Alabama, in the hand
writing Of his daughter, as he hac
dreamed it would be. This mar
ritive is fact, for the truthfulnesI