Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-02-17

And bright laburnums shake their tassled
gold, -
Nor does the violet breathe one odor less
Because my lite Is lett me dark and cold
Only while earth and sky such Joy express
Spectator.
MISCELLANY.
SPECTRE MANIFESTATIONS.
Looking Int seme Mysteries % the
Realna Of Dreams.
DR.. Hilbert has shown that spectres arc
ted images Of the mind. which in certain
states Of bodily indisposition have been
rendered more vivid than actual impress.
sions, and that the pictures Of the ''mind's
eye" arc more vivid than the pictures Of
the body's eye. Sir David Brewster in
his "Natural Magic" goes further than
this, and shows that the ''mind's eye" is
actually the body's eye, and that the ret
ina is the common tablet on which both
classes oCimpressions are painted, and by
means Of which they both receive their
visual existence under the same optical
laws. He thinks that this is not only
true in the case Of spectral illusions, but
that it holds good Of all ideas recalled by
the memory or created by the imsgina-
ton and that it may be regarded as the
fundamental law in the science Of pneutta'
tology.
Robert Dale Owen in his ''Footfalls on
the Boundary of Another World" tells
marvellous story Of coincidence that one
can hardly believe were brought about
by any other agency than chance. Mr..
Owen says that the story was communi
Gated to him July 1859, by Capt. j. S.
Clarke of the schooner John Hallock,
then lying at Rutgers slip. who had it di.
rect from Mr.. Bruce himself. He adds
that the John Hallock was then trading
between New York and Santiago Cuba.
Mr.. Robert Bruce, born at Torbay, in
the south of England, and there bred up
to seafaring life, in 1928, when about 30
years old, was first mate on bark trad.
ing between Liverpool and St. John. N.
8. On one Of her voyages bound west
ward. being then five or six weeks out
and having nearcd the eastearn portion
Of the banks Of Newfoundland, the Cap.
tain and mate had been on deck at noon
taking an observation Of the sun after
which they both descended to calculate
their days work. The cabin small
one. was Immediately at the stern Of the
vessel, and the short stairway descend.
ing to it ran athwartship. Immediately
opposite to this stairway, just beyond
small square landing, was the mate
statcroom !; and from that landing there
wers two doors, close to each other, the
one opening aft into the cabin, the other
fronting the stairway into the state.
room.
THE VISION.
The desk was in in the forward part Of
room, close to the door so that any ore
sitting at it and looking over his Shout.
der could see into the cabin. The mate,
absorbed in his calculations, which did
not result as he expected, varying con-
siderably from the dead reckoning, had
not noticed the captain motions. Hav.
ing completed his calculations, he called
out without looking around, II make our
longitude and latitude so and so. Can
that be right? How is yours?' As
there was no reply, he repeated his qucs.
ton, glancing over his shoulder and, As
he thought, saw the Captain busy writing
on his slate. Still no answer. Thereupon
he arose and, rs he lronted the cabin
door. the figure he had mistaken for the
Captain raised its head and disclosed to the
astonished mate the features Of an entire
stranger. Bruce was not coward; but,
as he met that fixed gaze looking upon
him in grave silence, and became assured
that it was no one whom he had ever seen,
it vas too much for him; he rushed up to
the deck in such evident alarm that it
instantly attracted the Captains atten'
ton. "Why, Mr.. Bruce" said the lat.
ter, "what in the world is the matter with
you!'
"The matter, sir! Who is that at your
desk!'
mo one, that know OFF,
but there is, sir. there's stranger
there
"A stranger! Why man you must be
dreaming. You must have seen thu
steward there or the second mate. Who
else would venture down without orders!'
''But, sir, he was sitting in your arm
chair, fronting the door, writing on YOU
slate. Then he looked up full in ny
face; and if ever saw man plainly anG
distinctly in this world, saw him"
"Him! Who!''
"God knows, sir; I don't. saw .
man, and man never in my life saw
BEFORE"
"You must be going crazy, Mr.. Bruce
A stranger and We nearly six weeks out v
II know but then l saw him.
"Go Down and see who it ISIS
Bruce hesitated. II never was be
lever in ghosts" he said ''but, If tn
truth must be told, sir, I'D rather no
face it alone"
"Come, come, man. Go down at once
and don't make fool If yourself befor
the crew."
II hope you've always found me will
ing to do what 10 reasonable" Bruce RI
piled, changing color ''but if it's all tn
same to you. sir, I'D rather We should 6
down together e. Il. ss sr
SOMETHING 10 BE EXPLAINED
Tho Captain descended the stairs. IN
tho mate followed him. Nobody in th
cabin they examined the state room
but not soul to be found!
"Well Mr.. Bruce" SAID the Captain
ibid not tell you you had been dream
ine e.. :, $780,. -, . =. :. :. :.
~ Ill very well 10 say Co. Sir.s OUT
didn't see that man writing on you
slate, may never see my home and fan
lily again!' ~
"Ah! writing ON the slate! Then
should be there still and the Captain toe
up the slate.
my God T. he exclaimed, ''here' som
thing sure enough! Is that your writin
Mr.. Bruce?'
"The mate took the slate {; and there
plain legible characters, were the word
''Steer to nor'west.'
Have you been trifing with NC, sir
inquired the Captain sternly.
ION my word ~ : man, sir.'' repli,
Bruce. II know no more Of this matt
than you do. have told you the exa
truth" I. .ss:
The Captain sat down ct his desk
deep thought, the sla4e before him. ]
last, turning the slst 6tver and pushil