The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-20

lustrationg OF duality furnished by tho primi-
tive mans random observations Of his environ
ment. Indeed. by comparison. no discovers
kinship between his own double and tho
doubles OF other objects. For have not these
objects. like himself their shadows which, like
his own. become invisible at night2 Ia It not
obvious then. to his dawninR intelligence that
this shadow which IN the day accompanies his
body is that other self which at night wanders
away into dreamland and has adventures In a
world Of shades?
Another hypothesis Of spencor's whi-h may
be regarded as The second step Of his inductlve
exposition will be found useful as n clue in tho
maze OF myth and legend 10 which Mr.. Conway
introduces us. II souls can leave their bodies
during sleep and Renter them. why should not
their bodies DO entered by strange souls while
their own are absent H. "a In epilepsy. the
body performs acts which the owner denies
having done. there would seem TO the primitive
mnn no choice but 10 assume snch an agency.
This hypothesis would plausiblv explain tho
strange behavior Of the delirious and the In
sane That the maniac's body has been taken
possession OF BY an enemy would DO proved by
the fact that It is impelled 20 self-injury. Ger
tainly its right owner would NOT make the body
bite and tear itself Finally since death occurs
most frequently after long continued derange-
ment OF disease this too would be referred to the
same supernatural cause Of the disorder. Whom
ever indeed. the death had no visible antecedent,
this might DO held the only possible supposi-
ton, and even whore the occasion was manifest,
II might still appear probable from analogy that
there was come demoniacal interference II will
scarcely BE- denied. at oil events. that these In
corporations ore congruous throughout. Given
tho initial misconception. and the entire series
follows. And while Observing this fliation Of
idoas. we should not overlook that In the minds
Of many the primitive notion etil fingers.
When reading with astonishment that savages.
not recognizing natural extinction. ascribe all
death 20 supernatural agency. we forget that
the same explanation even now u assigned In
cnses where the cause OF death Ia mysterious.
nay. In some cases where II Is quite obvious.
Thus. we occasionally read the coroner's YER
dict Died by the visitation Of God" and We
still meet people who think certain deaths. say
the drowning OF those who 20 boating on Sun
day. directly result from Divine vengeance. 1t
Is plain that the latter belief only differs from
the rudimentary notions Of the primitive man
ns involving q modified conception Of the
supernatural agent.
Some OF the pleasnntest chapters OF Mr.. Con-
ways work deal with the literature OF exorcism
and witchcraft Here. too. It may be well 20
supply the thread which has boen thought 10
render all these phenomena coherent ana In
telliglble. When the ghost OF an enemy has
entered q mans body can It not be driven
out? And II by no other appliances cannot
this be done by supernatural aid7 II some
men are possessed 10 their hurt by spirits
Of evil. while others arc possessed by friendly
ghosts the inference would seem reasonable
that the latter might be employed TO undo
the mischief caused by the former. Hence
eNorcism. Tho medicine man Of tho savage is
primarily an exorclst. II is worth noting That
down TO 1850 exorcism was daily prnctised in
the Church Of England in the case Of infants
before baptism. or course. rs civilization adj
yancee the ideas and processes diferentiate. 80
that while OWL spirits distinctly classcd as enc
mics. are oonjured or commanded TO depart.
ghosts. on the other hand. regarded as less mis-
chievous. are pacined by fulfilling their re-
quests. But all these terms-ghost. spirit.
demon goblin. devil. angel-had originally the
same meaning.
The power over spirits supposed h BE- at
tained by the exorcist would naturally grow
into power used for other purposes. Could not
the medicine man who helped by friendly
ghosts expel the ghosts OF enemies. revenge
himself by the same Gid on living persons. or
achieve other ends not else POSSIBLE The be-
lief that be can initiates sorcery The primitive
ghost theory. implying but little difference be-
tween dead and living. would foster the notion.
and give rise 20 that species OF magic which. in
! its earlier form. Is a summoninR OF the dead 10
| win from them Information. as the Witch OF
| Endor summons the spirit OF Samuel. and In It's
| later guise is raising Of demons or genii ~
! perform positive acs as In the Arabian Nights.
We SEQ n resurrection, or. rather. survival. Of
| the primitive form In the phenomenon OF mod
| ern spiritualism.
Exorcsm and sorcery pass insensibly into
miracle. what difference there is referring less
20 the natures Of the effects wrought than 20 the
| characters Of the agents working them. II the
marvellous results are ascribed 10 a supernat-
ural being. At enmity with the observers or suf-
ferers. the latter would consider the art sorcery
but II attributed 10 friendly being. the results
would be Chased as miracles. That this is the
ground Of difference may DO deduced from the
| contest between the Hebrew priests and the ma.
| gicians OF Egypt. From Pharnoh's point oil
! view Aaron was an enchRnter. working by tho
| help Of q spirit 6ntnGonistic 10 the Egyptian
! king. whereas his own priests worked by the
| help OF his favorite gods. To the Isrnolltes on
the other hand. the achievements OF their own
leaders would naturally seem divine. and thosI
of their opponents diabolical.
| Thces who wish 70 derive como profit ns vel
! ~ nuch entertainment from the mass Of lie,
eendary lore collected by Mr.. Conway may DC
! we'll 10 carry IN their minds some OF Mr. Spen.
! GERS suggestions. They will find that the entire
| aggregate Of eupersttious ideas and practices
| comprehended under tho broad term Of demon
| ooRy may be traced with an appearance O
| probability 20 the same root With the primitiV'
| conceptions above described.
!