, 1872-12-08
THE CALIFORNIA GHOST,

IN the lobbies.
THE CALIFORNIA GHOST.
As tho Christmas holidays approach, we must
get ourselves in readiness for the usual number
OF witches, and ghouls, and spools that come
popping up through the trap-doors Of holiday
literature. The January magazines will be filed
with ghost stories, and the weekly and Sunday
newspapers will team with recitals calculated to
freeze the young blood Of tho nurseries. Fairy
land and spirit-land will open wide their gatesa and
amateur mediums will contribute their visions
and speculations to the common store Of lmpos-
sibilities. We apprehend, however, TINT the
Christmas writer's will find it difficult to produce
fancy ghost-story that will compare in Won
der With genuine one that comes from the Pa
cifc Coast. Here is ghost that appears with
his credentials. He not only showed himself to
one person, but conversed in the hearing of 9TH
ers. He was persistent spirit, and hoyered
about for nearly week. He appeared to his
little child uamed Agnes McDonough,-a good
girl, who had been recently confirmed in
the Catholic church, and who dutifully called in
the priest to take professional view Of the ap-
partition. Rev. Father Monague listened to the
conversations between the child and her de-
ceased father, suggested the questions she
should ask, noted the answers, and reported the
whole case to the Catholic Guardian, Bishop
O'Conncll, of Marysyile. The Bishop himself
ia puzzled. He has finally accepted the appari-
ton, under the strong evidence that has been
submitted to him, as means for combating
the materalistic tendency Of so-cal1ed scientific
men - but, at the same time, he advises the
Catholics to ''go Slow" to "put on the brakes"
and to " listen to the never -erring voice Of the
Church"
The California ghost evidently Jared better
than the majority Of the Inhabitants Of Poker
Flat and Red Gulch, for he reported himself
from Purgatory. His revelations concerning
the undiscovered country are interesting. He
had been in Prrgatory Elk years, and knew good
deal about it. The boundary Of this favorite
stopplns-place is rather indefinitely given es
next to Heaven, though the ghost WAS ignorant
as to whether it WAS one Of the planets
or one of the fixed stars. The relative
location Of P11rgatory Us to the earth was
more definitely determined. The deceased Mr.
McDonough said that it was " only five minutes'
distant The Inference ID that Purgatory is
good deal nearer earth than Heaven, and that it
is considerably easier for good Catholics to reach
~ .t1rt
McDonoughs ghost, is rather obscure. He says
that the punishment is "by fire." but subse-
quently admits that his body is in the grave and
the soul and body are completely separated after
death. He fails to explain, however, how the
soul, being thing irnmaterial, is punished, and
purged, and purified by fire, though
he insists that the aspect OF
Purgatory is that Of slight and smoke" His
account Of the treatment Of the deceased is not
unlike that in Byron's 'sLast Judgment" He
describes the Lord on the judgment-seat,
with the Savior at his side, and two rows Of
white angels behind them. The angels have
wings, according to the late 11r. McDonough,
and, instead Of standing, keep up a futtering
motion which enables them to retain prominent
position when they like, In fact, this direct ac-
count from spirit-land tailies very evenly with
popular idea as cleaned from the old
painters, whose angels Kaulbaeh so much
despises. Mr. McDonongh is q conservative and
law-abiding ghost. He says that the only res
cue from Purgatory is to be found in masses and
prayers On earth, and expresses his conviction,
after six years personal experience that massea
are trife more efhcacious than prayers.
The late 1Ir. MoDonough is also a practical
kind Of ghost He wastes no time in unearthly
demonstrations, utters no terrifying sounds
and attempts no black1nailing abuse. He
does not seek revenge for murder, anc
has no desire to straighten out com
plicated wills. He is very straightfor
ward ghost. He exhibited a disposition to dc
whatever he could for the future prospects o1
his friends on earth. He didn't know whether
Plus X. would triumph over his enemies OF not
but was sure that the Catholic religion is tht
only true religion. Though spirit hinaelf, tht
| late Mr. McDonough was entirely unprejudiced
and, when questioned in regard to splritualism
he replied: s1Its all nonsense" Whether thit
can be construed against the reality Of Mr. Nc
Donoughs unreal appearance or not, it must be
| admitted that the expression was one o1
! blunt, impartial, and disinterested frank
ness. His visit to his daughter was mad'
| just prior to his going to Heaven
! having served out his time in Purgatory. He
| had already announced his departure at II