Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-01-15
Letter to the Springfield Republican.
"a HOPELESS TASK -
Owen 10 Regard % MaterialIzatIon.

| We, who have made so palpable a
mistake in the Katie King affair,
must be content, for the time, to be
| laughed at and set down as credu-
lous and illogical. This is al. fair
enough. But, on the other hand, is
it logical thence to conclude, as in
your editorial of Dec. 22d, it is ex-
pressed, that ''it will be hopeless
task to awaken the public to again
entertain even the possibility of a
real naturalization of spirits?'
This is question of the ages. st.
Paul decided it in the affirmative,
and based Christianity on the decis-
ion. Christ was not risen, he said,
'tif the dead rise not;" and if the
dead rise not, he declared the faith
of his eo=belieyers to be vain.
He may have been wrong. The
dead may not return IN material
form, as the eVangelists tell us that
Christ did. We may be fated never
to stand on the same platform of
evidence for the immortality of man,
as did the apostles and some of the
early disciples. But do you serious
ly decide that we shall never be so
fortunate, because a couple of trick
sters have been found out in Phila-
delphia, or, if you wish, because
Robert Dale Owen and few Others
may have lost character for sagacity
as observersP
1ssues in which all that is most vi
tally important to our race is involv-
ed are not settled after such a fash
ion. This question of spirit Visitants
could never have been definitely de-
cided without being probed to the
bottom; and it is more likely to be
probed to the bottom now than ever.
Once awakened to its possibility,
the world will never rest till it is es-,
tablished or exploded.
Ihave, during long life, engag-
many of what were pronounced |
''hopeless tasks" and, very certain
ly, shall prosecute this to the end. |
There are researches in which, if no |
pains and industry be spared, hon
estly to fail is as reputable as'to sue
ceed in others. Nor, because of one
blunder, have I lost faith in myself.
Our failures often teach better les
sons than our successes. Like Cole
ridges wedding guest, if a sadder
man, / may also have become a wis
er one. / think it would be rather
difficult for a second Holmes to pull
the wool over my eyes
"Once to deceive was his, but twice were
mine" ROBERT DALE OWEN.
WILLLNG TO OB1IGE.-A very pre-
possessing young lady, canvasslng
for a popular book, stepped into the
ofice of a real estate broker in
Springfield, Mass, the other morning.
and finding the broker apparently |
1t leisure, asked him to look at her
book. The gentleman politely in
'ormed her that it would only be a
waste of time as he could not pur-
,hase it, 'tOh, never mind that"
calculated the vivacious young wo-
nan; 'tit won't cost anything to look |
It it, even if you don't buy. III
hould like to have you read some |
portions of it and see what it is."
The accommodating broker took the I
-olume and glancing at the title {
'age, commenced perusal of the /
This finished he be- /
,an at the first chapter, and read {
arefully and leisurely along. til
vas about nine o'clock when he COM \
nenced, and an hour passed silently 4
way. Then the book agent began /
o exhibit signs of nervousness. \
yhich were apparently unnoted /
y the broker, for he never raised a
is eyes from the volume, but read 9
teadily on. Eleven O'Clock came, h
nd the lady began to walk rather {
martly about the room, glancing '
OCCASIONALLY out of the windows. y
It noon the broker was still reading.
nd the agent wore a decidedly :
'oubled countenance. A few mo-
tents before one o'clock the broker
i'd the book down, leisurely don.
ed his overcoat and hat, and re-
arked blandly, "This is a very
bod book. / am sorry that / can. A
't read more Of it, but am obliged u
go to dinner. If you will call in
is afternoon ] will read some more WI
it." Il