Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-08-08
The Spirits.

ances has been latterly dropping, viii doubt
less have a short season of revival, under
the excitement just beginning, concerning
the new Mystery of Edwin brood, which
story, so unfortunately broken off by the
decease Of Mr.. Dickens, has been completed
by that gifted novelist through 'meejum
in Brattleboro. The story concerning this
great " gull, " is a strange one, and the
popular interest in it such that both the
Springfield papers have devoted much space
to it. the Union containing eight columns
concerning the matter The letter of the
Brattleboro correspondent of the Republican,
from which we print extracts below, gives
the best statement we have seen, concerning
this last so-called spiritual wonder
With feelings somewhat akin to those
with which the inhabitants of Rochester
must have regarded the early spiritualistic
manifestations of twenty or more years ago,
do the people Of this quiet town regard
certain new manifestation of this strange
belief The Republican early in January
gave the first intimation that the Mys-
terv of Edwin brood" the last and unfin
ished work of Charles Dickens, was being
completed by a young, industrious and
somewhat illiterate mechanic, in an inland
New England town. through bis wonderful
mediumistic powers. 1t was some time be
fore the people of Brattleboro were brought
to realize that within their borders this
work was being conducted. and even now
very few know the individual who Is COM
pleting the task, or the certainly wonderful
results that he has achieved. 1t is a no.
ticeable fact that. of the few who have seen
this serial work, the larger number have
become converts TO his entire honesty in the
matter. while all regard it as in many re-
speets most wonderful work. 1t may be
remembered that he processes never to have
read the work which he undertakes to
complete. and was at first unable to
identify Boz" until. on relating the
circumstance of friend, coupled with an
account of what was communicated at the
time. the latter was led to believe that
the features were those of the great novel
ist, and upon producing a picture Of
Dickens to the medium, he exclaimed at
once, That's the man - The work was
begun last Christmas, and has now pro-
gressed 50 that the book will, according to
the statement of the spirit, be ready for
the fall market about the middle of Sep
TENDER. The completed and combined
work will make between 500 and GOO pages
there being one third more Of the new
than Of the DID, and will probably be
published in Springfield, although the ne
dunn asserts that its publication will be
subjected TO the direction of Dickens a.
thoroughly as has been the completion of
the work. 1t Is noticeable that the young
man, who corresponds with the world UNI
der the nom de plume of NJ. \. Hill. has
received many applications from publishers
who desire 10 bring out his work, while the
serial papers have long been wing for its
purchase.
Various reports have gotten abroad of
this new apostle of Spiritualism, and the
village folk are even now unable to iden /
tify the prophet, who Is without honor !
among them. One report makes him prin- |
ter, some IS years of age and regularly en-
ployed in one of the printing Offices, while 1
Others contend that he Is a mechanic in Es- 4
tey 5 organ factory. But, whatever he be, he 4
has righteous horror of the ubiquitous re-
porter, and is determined to keep his secret |
from the prying world, 1t being a cardinal
which he EFFORTS from those
whom he takes into his confidence that his
secret shall be sacredly kept. Another re-
port current in the village i that Hill. as
We shall call him, is not the medium pro-
per, but that the work i transmitted
through a female in his family. lie intends,
in a few days, TO retire entirely from the
world, and lock himself in seclusion to
iniSh the work.
The young man who is conducting the
letails Of the work, and who passes as ITS
author, is pleasant appearing
thorough enthusiast in the
work, conscious that anything in the ordi-
lary spiritual line would pail upon the
market, yet full of faith that this viii be
accepted by the world as a genuine dis
.lOsure from the great author His work
: not conducted with any method or regu-
arity, but as the spirit moves. COnversing
bout this he suddenly inquired - Have
-ou never had an irresistible impulse to 90
omewhere? | know what that impulse
calls me to be ready Sometimes
: Is utterly impossible to get anything, and
hen again, the work flows freely" In an
wer to the question whether he was con-
ciOus when in this state. he rejOined I
When you lay down to sleep can you tell
he moment when YOU became uncon-
ciOus?" He claimed TO be conscious of
othing, but that a man was there until
be sitting was ended, when the work Is
eiore him more or less. as may have been
ictated. lie thus describes Dickens 1t
the face of 4 thoughtful mana man in
eep thought, with his hand over l
is eyes, intent on something before him
peaking of his great undertaking, he says: :
No man living would ever undertake such
work with an idea that he could approach
harles Dickens. But when We come to
&c the work itself and find it to be com
lete fac-simile Of his ideas, with new
haracters and expressions-what are we to :
in Z lur it+tf he ind If fka I
ill existS:'
Of the work itself those who have read
lie continuation pronounce it unmistakably
the Dickens order, and this testimony is
iven by those not by any means prejudiced
| its favor. 1t opens with preface and
both brief, particularly the
tier. The dedication is to 1.-THE poor, the
)nest poor, who are bound by the iron
lnds Of poverty and the initial chapter
pens with the caption, ''What the Organ
lid" If we believe the fact that he had
ever read Edwin brood, the most remark
Die circumstance of all is the reproduction
the curious jargon or refrain of "Winks" =,
las ''Deputy"
''Widdy, Wildly wen etc.
is noticeable. among the minor points,
at in every case he adheres 20 the English
ethod of spelling when it differs from
Irs, as traveller is uniformly given with a
uble |.
1t is of course impossible to judge of this
lenomenon, undl the work appears and
the circumstances of its preparation are "
bjected TO careful scrutiny If it is of the -,
binary run of mediumistic productions, it ~
III be simply novelty in its pretensions;
it turns out to be an imposture, it will be
nply audacious; if it proves an approx
alton in any way to Diekens's work and
5 been wrought without study of him, it
II indeed be mystery.
81 HAIL COLUMBIA. in the Recollec- Ii
ms of Washington, recently published,
ours the following anecdote
The song of " Hail Columbia adapted u
measure Of the Presidents March, - was
itten by Joseph Hopkinson of Philadel-
ia, in 1898. AT that time war with
ance was expected, and patriotic feel
J pervaded the community. Mr.. Fox,
ung singer and actor, called upon Hop lie
lson one morning and said .'To-mor-
v evening is the time appointed for my
lefit at the theatre. Not single box is
Ten. and | fear there will be thin house. =
you will writeIme some patriotic verses
the tune Of the Presidents March, feel
re of full house. Several about the L