The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1874-05-21
[From the Sacramento Record.l
THE OAKLAND SPOOKS.

i
The house of Federal official, at Oakland,
is SAID to have been the scene, during the past
week, Of an unlimited quantity of those pecu-
liar manifestations which are commonly at
tlibuted to disemboded spirits. There is no
thing new in the phenomena as recounted.-|
The upsetting and violent transportation Of
heavy articles of furniture, etc., appear to be
nearly tue only form OF manifestation favored
by the mysterious intelligences,' as the spir.
itualists call them. though inasmuch as the as
sumption that su b doings are the work OF in
telligent beings presupposes motive, and as no
motive whatever is apparent in this or any 9th
or similar occurrence, the explanation can
hardly be regarded as satisfactory. If, how
ever, The occurrence of these singular exhibit
tions is capable Of authorization beyond o
doubt, it must be worth the while OF scientific
men to interest themselves in the solution of
the mystery. Hitherto the staple answer of
scientists to all inquiries concerning kindred
matters has been that they are impossible
which simply means that they cannot be &C
counted for Oh any OF tie theories employed to
explain the process Of natural things There
are, however, in this day and age, great many
people who hold that the proofs Of the occur
renee Of these incomprehensible outbreaks are
far 100 stron: to be dismissed with simple de-
nia' OF their possibility, and while very many
of these douoters reject the idea Of spiritual
interference, they nevertheless regard the fact
Of the phenomena rs so fully established that it
is tae duty OF scientists to face the problem.
and apply 10 it rigid methods Of Investigation.
OF course if the spiritual hypothesis is assum
ed, there will arise all manner Of conjectures
as 10 The motive Of such manipulati0ns, aud
such conjecures will afford ample opportunity
for ridicule, and for tue introduction Of those
sneerins deprecations Of superstition which
tue scientific mind is so far above. But if it
be merely Insisted upon that there are cases in
which certain uaiural laws, supposed to be toll
erabIy well understood. are very evidently in
irin.rd, or reversed, o. ignored, and that with
oui any visible agency. the matter becomes one
which cannot with any regard for the interests
Of truth and knowledge, be neglected by those
who are devotins taeir energies to i''e elucida-
ion of natural laws. II may be fairly assum-
ed that ID realty these phenomena do not pre-
sent any infractions OF law, but are manifesto
tions of law hitherto untraced II it is posi-
bic for m arm chair weighing half hundred
weight to rise into the air, remain in suspen-
sion between the ceiling and floor Of the room,
and in taat position reyolve with such rapidly
that its outlines are undiscernable, Of course
there is rational explanation OF the occur
renee, though it may not be a rational expla-
nation 10 deny the fact. In tue absence OF any
attempt at scientific investigation, moreover,
superstition has uninterrupted play, and the
masses, who usually refer everything Incom-
prehensible to supernatural agencies, are con-
irmed in their beliefs For the credit of the
sense of those who have gone over to the ma
iority it would be we'll 10 have these semioc
casional furniture orgies cleared up, for it is
not pleasant to contemplatea future state in
which the energies OF the departed are devoted
to the manipulation Of the chairs aud tables o
the survivors, for no Imaginable purpose. The
spook business in fact is altogether too monot
onous to be tolerable, aud it is an insult to any
thing in the form of intelligent beings to sup
pose them capable Of such carfyings on. The
old. ashioned ghosts, which used to appear dra
matically. 10 winding sheets and chains, and
ALWAYS caused the candles to burn blue, were
respectable fctions when compared to these
supposititious supernatural baggage.smashers
and the latter should either be exercised witt
Ibell. book and candle, or reniorselessly explain
ed into position where they can be handled
Comfortably in an orthodox scientific way.
Il
/ DoS Plat. in the Capital, thus vindicate'
General Grant: 1--WE meet the President al
most daily as we pass the Executive Mansion
soinc to and from our Office. and while hi'
countenance is not that Of teetotal Jonadat
|or Dashaway in good standing, there is nothing
lin his manner to indicate the frightful excess
with which he is charged. He looks to US IKE
4 boz. cicant who puts himself outside OF . bot
ltle or 80 at dinner, and retires ut night 10
happy state of elevation that is as far from 90
Ibriety as it is from drunkenness" GA
r. TAx-pAYEes.-Ove sixty cents Of ever,
dollar you pay for taxes, goes to pay such bill
% $40 600 900 year for crime, So, ,OOO. 600 fo
pauperism, and $i2, 2,ooo, 900 for insanity, all in
ldoced by intemperance Why not economist