The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-10-16


To me is twice charming.
f,iWhen one arrives at ffty -odd.
The Arrows Of the archer god
Have lost their power of haming.
- A.p6unded heestFAl ache, no doubt;
- Bds then one hnds Atwinge or gout
4 tribe more alarmingl
.... .tt.- s....,+.s.. TIE Ayyosg.
THE. GH0sTLX ,MUSIOHAN WHO
P1AYED ROR Nh. sHCkLES.
Mr.. George p. Sickles, father of
, Daniel 7. Sickless is eighty -four years
old bst With HE ruggedly intellect
ual face, vigorous manner and decisive
speech. he seems twenty years young
or. Leaning back in his easy chair, in
the Nassau.street Office, where he man
ages his real estate, he made . gesture
that ended In . hard whack ON his
desk. and said !" II you had seen and
I'D What have seen and heard, you
would be as firm spiritualist as am
because you couldn't help it."
"Will you let me publish one OF
your convincing experimental the
writer asked.
! II va atm abed ut nine O'Clock one
morning, in my house ct New Roch-
elle,' the old gentleman responded,
but had been wide awake for some
time. The door was opened suddenly,
and . stranger stepped in. He was q.
handsome man. with particularly
pleasant expression Of face. He had q
dark complexion, dark brown hair,
heavy side whiskers and q neatly
trimmed pustache. He wore . brown
coat with : fur collar, and cap of fur.
When he spoke, it was. IN a rich, we'll
modulated Yoice.
9 Good morning, Mr.. Sickles; how
do you do r he said.
He bowed politely, removed his
fur cap, and laid it on one of several
boxes Of documents that my son, the
General, had sent to my house for
safe keeping. sat up in bed and said:
Good morning, sir; but you have
the advantage of me. l don't remem-
ber you. ie N..
al was q little astonished at q
stranger entering my room SO uncere.
.monionsly, but he was 90 suave that 1
could hardly get angry. He did not
explain who he was but said, smiling.
Iy:
4'"'Wonld you like to hear some mu-
sic this morning? f.l
III replied that 1 certainly would, If
It was good, for love music, and am
. fair judge of it. He bowed again,
went to the door, threw it open, and
waved his hand invitingly. His move
meut was exceedingly graceful, and
his countenance took on an expression
of delight a. though he was glad to be
able to crafty me. Responsive to his
gesture, party of men entered, one
r sftsr smother. was too bewildered
! to count them, but they were numer-
ous enough to throng the apartment.
They formed an irregular line around
ny.bsd, end swaited the order of my
flrst visitor, who was plainly their
leader. Each carried q mdsicaI in.
strument. These were of metal, and
varied in size and shape, but l can not
describe them with particularly. The
mon were plainly dressed, but not in
uniform, / think, though my obser.
vation ~ to that was not careful. The
leader, who took position near the
head of my bed, produced baton, ,
and poised it, with the manner of a
professional conductor of an orches-
tra. Then the band began to play the
moot beautiful music have ever heard.
The sounds of the various instruments
hssmonized- perfectly, and the play ers
were under absolute control of the
leader, who waved his baton most
gracefully. They blew the instru.
ments, and used both hands in play.
ing them. So precisely was every
thing done that It had the appearance
Of being almost automatic !; yet the ig-
nres were seemingly live human be-
ings. The tunes were entirely new to
me, and 20 strikingly beautiful that,
during several ensuing months, was
able to recall and sing several of them.
This strange concert lasted an hour or
more, and 90 entranced me that I did
not interrupt it with word. Finally
the loder stopped It with q motion Of
his baton, and the men moved toward
the door. bad leaned bsck on my
pillow, but at this juncture 1 sat up
se.in, and I suppose there was a look
Of inquiry on my face. 1s+sf
"Wonld you like to have us call
again?' the leader said, As though in
response to my mute questioning, and
he picked up bis hat.
ssIndeed would eagerly re-
piled.
"By this time the musicians were
fling out of the room. The leader
did not say any more, but bowed as
seemingly, with his head On his breast,
smiled good-humoredly, snd backed
himself out. Never have I seen man
Of more perfect department.
It was only for an instant that II
remained quiet. knew well enough |
that this was q band of materialized |
spirits. 1 conjecture that it was some
once famous musical organization, and
that the leader, il could find his face
among the portraits of famous musi-
slams, would turn ont to be somebody
familiar in history. Well, as said. I
was only for . moment inactive. De.
Dfring to be convinced, beyond the
Of mistake, that my visitors
were not mortals, I called loudly to
my little granddaughter,whom heard