Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-10-17
Effects of the Imagination.

f. an essay entitled Notes on Ghoe..s
and Goblins' in hls recently published VOL
ume, 1.-The Borlcriaud Of Science" ;" Richard
a. Proctor gives an instance of optical illu-
sion experienced by himself, which apty
illustrate, the way in which belief in the
appearance ofa ghost might originate in a
superstitious age, or in any case where the
person experiencing the illusion happened
to have weak nerves or feeble wits. Mr..
Proctor 5 mother had died some months be-
fore the time Of which he writes, he was
then Cambridge stuLent, and the scene Of
the occurrence was his college. IL had on
one evening been particularly, may say
unreasouably, low-spirited | had sat brood
ing for hours over dismal thoughts. These
thoughts had followed me to bed, and
went to sleep under their influence. | can
not remember my dreams--l did dream, and
my dreams We're meancholy-but although
| had a perfectly clear remembrance Of their
tenor on first waking, they had passed alto
gether from recollection the next morning.
1t is to be noted, however, that | was under
the influence of sorrOwiul dreams when
awokc. Vt this time the light Of a waning
moon was shining into the room. opened
my eyes, and saw without surprise or any
conscious feeling of fear, my mother stand
ing at the foot Of the bed. She was not in
her habit as she lived, bat clothed in white
samitc, mystic, wonderful lIer face was
pale, though not with the palor Of life her
expression sorrowfal, and tears which glist-
encd in the moonlight stood in her eyes.
"And now Il strange mental condition fol-
lowed. My reason told me that | was de-
ceiyed By appearances, that the figure saw
was neither my mothers spirit nor an un-
real vision. felt certain that was not
would show itself Without and felt equal
ly certain that no really existent spirit was
there before me. Yet the longer looked,
the more perfect appeared the picture. |
racked my memory to recall any objects in
my bedroom which could be mistaken for q
shroudcd ghost, but my memory was busy
recalling the features of the dead, aud my
brain against the action Of my willy was
tracing these features in the tigHrc which
stood before me. The deception grew more
and more complete, until could have spoken
aloud is to a living person. Meantime, my
mind had suggested, and at once rejected
the idea Of trick played me by one Of my
college friends felt perfect assurance
that whatever it WAS which stood before me,
it was not a breathing creature seil-restrain-
ed into absolute stiffness. How long re-
manned gazing at the figure cannot remem-
Der, but know that continued steadastly
looking at it until had assured myself that
to my mind, in its probably unhealthy con-
dition) the picture was perfect in all respects,
Al last | raised my head from the pillow,
intending to draw nearer to tic mysterious
figure. Bat it was quite unnecessary. |
had not raised my head three inches before
the ghost was gone, and in its place-or
rather, not in its space, bat FIVE or six feet
farther away-hung my college surplicc.' .
"The tears which gli>tcncd in the moon
light,' Mr.. Proctor accounts for in this
way "Oycr my Surplicc had hung a row.
ing belt, and the silycred buckles (party
concealed by the fold, Of the surp.ice) shonc
in the moonlight