Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-09-07
For the Chronicle.
WHO WAS 1T !!
M JOHN sYLyEsTER.

spiritualism and that which j now
relate, may have its tendencies in the
same way, and without entering into
the various arguments pro t con- in re-
ference to this agitated, though soul
inspiring thoughts, the reader will in
dulge me no doubt in few reflections
upon its vast import Man, in all ages
of the world, has believed in spiritual
affinity, the Arab hordes and Semitic
tribes, the Hindoos, the Chinese, clas-
sic Greece, and regal Rome, and the
sable negro in the entagled jungles of
his native home, these, all these, yea
more, Christ, and the Apostles, and
the Christian church. have lent their
aid and devoted their influence to it.
Is it possible that Socrates, Pythagoras,
Moses, the Prophets, and Christ were
all ignorant of the mistake under
which they labored 2 And it is most
unquestionably true, thatif the church
favors materialsm in all of it's phases,
it must do SO at the expense of the
Spiritual claims of Christianity. If
materialism per Sc, be true, then no
revelation was ever given to man and
all the worlds professedly inspired
teachers, have been vain impostors, or
visionary enthusiasts. Eay
The myriadssof the human race,
come and go, and are forgotten they
bud and bloom as the wild prairie
flowers, and like leaves Of autumn fall
unnumbercd to the ground If mate
rialism be true, a cimmcrian darkness
environs humanity as generation after
generation passes away in mournful
succession. and they become silent,
voiceless, and hushcd forever. If this
hypothesis be true, what is the universe
of God vast charnel house of cor
ruption, decay and death, a monument
that covers eternal silence, gaudy
pageant of yesterday, glittering spire
Of to-day, and ruined temple of to-
morrow
| did not, however, propose to dis
cuss Spiritualism, neither did / harbor
the thought of caivassing the various
subjects of psychology mesmerism,
galvanism, biology, odd-foree etc, etc.
My province now is to tell tale of
horror, wonder, and amazement, and
at the same time tale true in all of
its essentials. | am aware that the
writings of John Sylvester are receiv-
ed with some degree of caution, rela-
tive to truthfulncss, but permit me
here to state, that if | have seen more
than most other folks, We may be al
lowed the privilege of attributing it to
the horoscope of birth; / know now
of no more lucid explanation to give
and if this reason is not altogether sat
isfactory to the indulgent reader,
ask his submissive delay until the full
developments of Daniels time, times
and an hdE
On Friday, June 18th, 1913, at noon
precisely, | was taking dinner with a
friend in Robertson County, Tennessee
during the meal, / recolected an ap,
pointment for taking depositions at
o'clock p NJ. in Trenton, Todd Coun.
ty. l was nearly thirty miles from my
appointment, and felt the magnitude
and importance of the law suit which
was then pending,in Clarksville, Tenn
Wherein John Doe was plaintiff, anC
Richard Roe defendant, in which case
the said dispositions were to be read
and said case was most likely to be
called up for trial on Saturday, june
10Th. | had forgotten my engagement
up to the hour of dining. | quietly
remarked to my host, that | had i'm.
peratiye business in Trenton at 4
o'clock, and with his permission ]
would hasten the meal, and be off. Al
half past twelve, / mounted knight
and rode forth. | will be excused for
a1unrtipo iuot a Ynn,nopt tn ,nXy nnbl,
horse. He was somewhat above the
usual size, though wiry, active and
gentle, in color, dark chestnut sorrel
and luckily for the present reputation
of Longfellow and Bassctt, it is vel
that knights" " prowess eliminated
just twenty -fouryears ago. Twenty-foui
years a period fraught with pain
anxiety and solicitude to the human
race, but when placed in juxtapositior
to that Of the equinal race, it may as
well be twenty-four years A long
period to some, a shorter one to others
within its radius, many a mother
heart has leaped withjoy at the birth o.
a bright eyed babe, and wept with Jew
ish anguish at its early blight; within
its cycle, many father soul has beer
inspired with the budding bloom OF
youthful innocence, and e'er its matu-
rity, has been called upon to follow the
jewel to its silent home. Home is moi
home, when all is cold, comfortless
and checrless Home is not home
when all is dark, dreary, and desolate
Home is not home, when the heart il
torn and lies bleeding at the altar o
death. Home is not home, when oui
bright images and cherished idols are
transplantcd to the Spirit land, Home
then" is where the heart is, y
But it may be that ! am DEPRESSING
to some extent, for which | am dis
: posed to offer no apology, seeing that {
few thoughts scattered by the way
side, may be productive of ultimat,
good. As | rode from my friend
house, (though mounted upon Il higl
mcttlod steed, and travelling rapidly
thoughts of other days crowded them,
selves upon semi-phrenzied brain
but Notwithstanding this, | was not
Unconscious of the very great oppres
; sive heat The sun glared down upor
horse and rider with a tropic force
and the air was blighting and blastini
in its tendencies 1t had not raine(
for nine consecutive weeks, not {
cloud had been seen to float in the ON
nious looking atmosphere for five con
secutiye weeks, and neither had zc
phyr famed oppressed humanity foi
the same lcngth of time. Did all thes,
weird and strange phenomena forebodC
anything? Tis said, that "comins
events cast their shadows before" Il
this be true, then indeed was nature
marshaliug her forces for some dire
conflict. was now travelling at the
rate of ten miles TO the hour, anC
knight bore himselfup, and breasted