New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-03

~ he time and I suffered much distress OF mind from
a due the days Of Der lat illness Letters mad f
lowed FROM place 70 place, but 1t was only tne cur
O Sno S snss my To-
England; and only reached home Ia time 70 a."as
was only experienced when found myself again set
tied in my rooms at Cambridge There Is 20, hish
at ttmes Of trouble produces unpleasant feelinss
the day There Is alsSaSR Among snes
college friends there are some who will be friends ior
hfe yet at the time the interchange OF usas cson
these special friends relates almost Wholly 70 81
work or college interests There is nothing honenRs "a
social rangements at college, 80 soon ~ . oone
sported" for the evening lonely feeling I'D. 70 rs
on, which affects some OF those who nave NO
TO brood over There is reIuse ~ end
at nv mothers death had so far accustomed my sen
to associate college successes VIII tS my for
studies They could no longer gam n1 have had
n sH aher esene but speak Of the actually
experienced Now, whether the DreaknR w -, ny han
nena6 oeraipIy had never found college life 30 lonely
and unpleasant as during the rrst Term u ~ n,,its
from which then suffered may have had something W
do with the singular instance OF senroecepoon ""'
had on one evening particularly may say nm
reasonably, owspired hsd sat Sa sH L0 me
10 bed and went sleep still under their lnnuenee
cannot remember my dreams- SIG cream had anu peT
fecty clear remembrance OF their TENOR wnen IT'S
wski9s they had PasSeq to he noted however that
ga under the influence of sorrowful dreams when
swoke. AT tins time the lgat OF Wauin g sw with
out surprise any conscious ieeing OF IeAy ~ r.
standing the foot Of the bed in sG %b MsI sae
tic wonderful" Her face was pale, though not WIN sne
psor OF hie her eLpreSSOhh ItonS IN her ewes And
now mental CONDITION followed. MY leas sou
agnre saw was neither my mothers spirit nor an I'M
real vision felt certain was not looking at pnsn
tom OF the brain which would show Itself wtnout anu
eOualV certain that really existent hpiIt
there before Yet the longer looked. the mort per
recall any objects 10 my bedroom which could be mis-
takeuor shrouded ghost; but my memory was Dusy re-
calling the OF the dead and my BRAN agans
the of my Will tracing these features IN tne
figure which stood before me- The deception grew oio
complete until could have spoken aioua a. y.
living person. Meantime my mind had suggested anu
rejected the idea Of trick played me Dy one o
whatever it was which stood before me- 1t was not a
breathing creature selfrestraned into sosoiute sun
How long remained gazing at the ngufe os st
remember; but know that 1 continued steadiasty
looking at it until bad assured myself that 60 my wa
in It's probably unhealthy condlton t1e PiGturg , wa
perfect in respects. At last raised my mead from
figure But 1t wac quite unnecessary hau no' ~,
my head three inches before the gnOst was gone au III
it, pace-or rather In its place. but five or six feet
further away, hung my college SuPce. 1t was quite
impossible to restore the illusion ~ Iesuhhg iny LOT
NOR position. The mind which moment before had
been completely deceived, rejected completely the
idea of resemblance: There was nothing even IN lne
arrangement of the folds or the surplice 10 JUS
tify in the slightest degree an illusion which
nevertheless, had been perfect while ~ lasted
counted have said that the ewes shone with tears
the explanation rather commonplace over my sur
pce had hung rowing belt and the siiyered buckles
(party concealed by the folds VI the splce shOhe III
The moonlight.
Mr. Proctor, however, admits that there are some
facts in ghOsstOres which not entirely covered
by his explanation. There are some narratives
which, if accepted in all their details must appa-
rently be referred to supernatural causes. But 1T
should be borne in mind, that these narratives III
every instance have come from believers In ghosts
and spirits, and without calling in question their
veracity il is possible that degree of deception
may have taken place i'll some stage or other of the
story. Mr.. ProctOrs suggestions on this point are
marked by discrimination and good sense. With
the sncerest reverence for the spiritual facts of
ture and humanity, he has no morbid craving for
the preternatural desire 10 extend the limits of
experience beyond the clearest proofs of reality.
lie admits the existence of apparent facts that have
not yet been harmonized with our present systems
of knowledge, but which may form legitimate
subject of scientific investigation In this case,
however as in other problems of human thought,
must be guided by the light of intelligence and
not by the paTtales of affection or the treacheres
Of fancy,