The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-08-03
REASON AND GHOSTS.
From. Hens Pictures Of Irarel

During the night passed at Goslar a |
very extraordinary thing happened to
me. Even now cannot think OF it with |
but have terrible lear OF ghosts.
What is fear? Does it come from the
understanding or from the temperament
This was Il question which | frequently
discussed with DR.. Saul Ascher wnen we
accIdenty met at the Cafe Royal in ber-
lin, where | used to dine. He always
maintained that we feared Il thing be-
cause we recognize 1t on rational
grounds rs fearful Only the reason, he
said, was an active power. not the tenn
permanent. While ate and drank to my
hearts content, the Doctor demonstrated
to me the advantages OF reason. 10
wards the end OF this demonstration he
used to look at his watch and always en-
ded with ''Reason Is the highest prncl-
ple." Reason Whenever hear the
word | seem 10 see before ne DIR. Saul
Ascher with his abstract legs, with hi,
long coat oil trinscendentai gray, and
with his stern, freezing lace, which
would have done Tor Il table ol diagrams
in !, book OF geometry. The man was
terminate Observation-Disclosures the poor
man had philosophical everything noole
out OF llle.-all sucshlncs all beliefs,
every flower, and there remained moth
inS Tor him but the cool, matter tact
! grave. lie had Il special spite against
the Apollo Belvderc and Christianity.
and he had even published 4 pamphlet
the latter to show now unreasonable and
unienAble it was. 10 return. however.
I" Go>lar. The highest principle is
reason" said |, soothingly, to myself. rs
went to bed. But ii was no use; rs
the clock ceased striking Il. and the
stiffness OF death rei.ncu il: the house,
| suddenly seemed to hear In the passage
outside my room shuiiling and sliding
rs OF the lettering steps oil an old NAH.
Then the door opened. and the deceased
DIR. Saul Ascher walked slowly in. \
cold fever thrilled me through bone and
marrow; tremuled like All aspen leaf.
and scarcely dared look ut the phantom.
He was Just the same rs ever the same
long coat ot trauscendentai gray. the
same abstract legs. and the same nlath-
enia,ical lace. only the latter was u shade
) yellower than formerly. aud the mouth
.
IL degrees. Was punched up. aud the
circles ct the eyes had a larger radius
Totlering and supporting himself on hi.
Spanish cane. IS lie USED To Ito. he came
5 up t. ne and said i'll u friendly way. with
5 his usual draw. don't be afraid nor be-
j lleve that AIN \ ghost Il is trick o
1 fancy uyou believe that You See only
a my ghost. hit IS \ ghost. Give me-
: drhniliun vi It. Bc So good As To- detiuc.
i. Tor uic the conditions oi the possibility o
!. i ghost. IN what relation should such :
: phenomenon stand 10 the rea>ons rh,
i reason. say The reason" Here til,
/. ghost proeerued To an analysis of re-,
d SOUS. cstct kants Critique vi the pur,
Il reasons. second part first ulvlsion. secon,
d book. third section. the Obstruction bc
{ tween Phrnom-nS and Nou.ncna: thcs
L no contracted III. hv,iosaetic.tI belief il
y ghosts. ps.rd oav ;. i.ogi>m ga another
!. aud couctutied viii the logic 4 proof th:,
1 there is absolutely no such tain. a>
II ghost Meanwhile The cold sweat cour
I sc, down my nack aud NV sceth chat
= tered like css>tiness. Fruu. sheer ayon
!. ., soul n,~!,lcd unconditional assent /
4 every >cntencs III which the pslantou
doctor proved the absurtlty OF fearsn
z .husts: aud he pursued his iemons.r..
\ ,,un with such ardor that n las, il. : uns
Z tn.nt Of abstraction. instead OF his .ui
- watch he drew from his loo handful q
+ worms. and observing his mistake. b
Is hastily replaced them with y sro,e>qu
IA io0k II .iisquiet- The reason is Ii
hsxhe>t-here the clock si-:1c1 cre, IN
| the 81 os; vanished