The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-03-01

70 his rural home. 1t is only fair to
say that the medium indignantly re-
PEELED his accusation that he was an
impostor. He pleaded that a watched
ghost rarely boils, so TO speak, and the
mere fact that his pupil had not been
able to see ghosts on demand was no
evidence that he would not be able TO
see them at some future time. The
Justice Of the defence has since been
established. Mr.. Smith, who could
see no ghosts in the mediums room,
has since seen the most remarkable
ghost Of the year-not to say of the
century.
A month ago Mr.. Smith was sitting
in his bedroom. wishing that when the
landlady boiled cabbage she would keep
the kitchen door shut, and yearning for
the infinite. The hour was IL O'Clock
D. M, and he was on the point of pre-
pairing for bed by throwing something
at the tuneful cats on the back fence,
when he suddenly became aware that
he was not alone. A vague mysterious
dread, as Of a large, athletic creditor
with d heavy club, oppressed him, and
he would probably have tied into the
hall were it not that he would have
been certain to fall over the house dog
and thus excite the suspicious OF that
hasty animal. He therefore seated him
self calmly III chair, with his back
against the wall land remarked to him.
self in a soothing and explanatory
manner, sRats." In another moment
the rat hypothesis was overthrown by
an elderly and fat female ghost, who
quietly tloated before his astOnished
vision and gazed steadfastly into his
terrified eyes.
Female, fat, and elderly ghosts are
by no means novelties, but there was
that in the appearance of this partlcu-
lar ghost which was we'll adapted to
a startle the coolest ghOst-seer. The
ghost did not touch the floor, but
| foated about four feet above it, in q
| graceful, wavy manner, not unlike
| the swaying motion OF captive bal
loon. What chiefly attracted Mr..
Smith 8 attention, however, was the
peculiar attitude of his ghostly female.
She was poised in mid-air with her
head downward, and her arms and legs
extended in straight and rigid lines.
Her dress was voluminous black
alpaca. somewhat rusty, and apparent
ly water stained, and wide belt OF
some unacceptable material was
fastened around her III the presumed
RECON OF the knees, which preserved
Mr.. Smith feelings from too violent
shock. Swaying gently to and fro,
this peculiar ghost smiled sadly at
Mr.. Smith and winked at him in man
ner so trying to his sensibilities that
he could scarcely bear to look at her
J Had she winked with her mouth and
smiled with her either eye, his nerves
would have borne the strain, but there
was undoubtedly something very pain
, full in wink situated three or foul
| inches below the locality Of the accom-
panying smile.
Mr.. Smith had finally achieved hi.
longing to see a ghost. but after all
this reversed old lady failed to give
him any real comfort. 1t was impos
sible TO ask such a prepOsterons being
any serious questions as to the Other
life, or to propose to her to become
bis guardian angel and spirit wife
Still. he was determined not to b.
: afraid of her, and SO hastily bending
T down the ends of his hair with boil
hands he requested her to s'avaunt :
!. such being in his opinion, the mos
} effective method exorcism. But tn
, ghost declined to do anything OF tn
: sort. She merely tioated once aroun'
the room, occasionally banging he
, head on the edge of the foot
board of the bed, and then resume,
} her station at three yards distanc
! from the unsuccessful ghost-seekel
Now, Mr.. Smith was one who tirml
0 believed that he who lays his hand uI
. on woman, save in kindness in reas
Q enable dark room, is man whom
would be unfair to call book agent
7 But ghost is not strictly speaking,
Il woman. and is not entitled to be trea
: as such. Holding this very reasonabl
q view. Mr.. Smith firmly requested hi
8 ghostly visitor TO .sget out, thinkin
that she might have misunderstood
:. the word .savaunt'; but, finding tia
. she still persisted in dangling befoI
q him, he seized the poker and dealt her
G violent blow. The poker passed directl
u through her shadowy form and smash
ed the lamp. and when the occupant {
the next room. who had been aWake1
" ed by the crash, rushed in with a cal
die, Mr. Smith was found in a faintin
fit, beautifully diversified with ker,
sene and broken glass, but still grasl
II ing the poker in his right hand.
% Since then Mr.. Smith has seen II
l. more ghosts, and does not wish to Sc
: any. OF course, the average perso
: who reads Of the floating female gho:
: will scornfull7 insist that Mr.. Smit
!. was either dreaming, drunk, or idioti'
Without going behind the face of til
! returns to investigate this question,
: must be mentioned that he subsequen
: " learned that years ago his room na
been occupied by an old lady who wa
: drowned BY the sinking Of a ste2me
. ON Lake Michigan, and whose bod
was found with q lite preservcr faster
= ed about the knees. the effect of whic
! was to cause her to float head dow
ward. Was this historical fact col
= nected with Mr. Smiths vision, or dj
= the two merely constitute Il eOiuc