The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-01-14
speculnlIons as % the Fntnro Lire.

SpeculatlOns as TO the Future Life.
Years ago, IN the days Of Bishop But
ler, very much stress was laid upon the
analogies in nature illustrating, and sup
porting tile iden of future life, and the
treatises then written were models of in
tcllectual power and patient research. A
great impression was produced, not only
upon uneducated but educated minds
Since That period science has progressed
with giant strides, and at every step has
SO largely added to the list Of striking
analogies or incidental proofs, that the
illustrations Of early date seem few in
number and dwarfed in proportion and
force. The idea Of an unseen immaterial
existence involves, also, the idea Of I'M
seen activities and correspondence IN the
rayless realm. The most stolid Of us can
not fail To be impressed with the beautl-
fill analogies which recent scientific dis
covery affords. Do we not every day
converse with unseen friends long dis
tances away, do we not recognize their
familiar voices, in homes separated from
us by rivers, woods, and mountninsP
These voices come ont of the darkness,
guided by u frail wire which science pro
vides rs q pathway, Even whentho cur
tain of night il drawn about us the
voices are heard, and we nave h9l
the shadow ot adoubt q thelr integrity
and identity
And further, have we not analogles q
sight which startle ~ by their slghiii,,
cance2 Us It not true that When apfoad
VIC are open to tho view of unseen OBJ
eyory ot ip I'M '1,tg n,avan,ant MI taawn9 Tbe
excellence of optical instruments ii such
that We have seen the motion of tho lips
of persons in conyersation, Willie sitting
OH i house balcony three miles distant,
tile observed. of course, wholly uncon-
scious of being soon bv any one. il oul
friends iii this life. dead Is us hidden as
they are by Tie shroud of space1. can be
seen, ana We can hear their voices, Their
shouts of laughter, the words 81 the
hymns they sing, tile cries of the little
ones ii the mothers arms, is ii very nb.
stlrl "a anticipate 4 time when those
! dead to lis by tho dissolution Of tie
| BODY NAV. by some now unknown tele.
phone, send us voices from d realm close
at hand, but hidden from our morta
! ewes.
We have no proofs to offer that this
realm Of the departed, this home Of tht
soul, is close at hand, but tits certainly
more reasonable and sensible to adop
| thig hypothesis than the popular one d
material world 81 place, somewhere
afar on IA the depths of space. On,
view seems possible tile other absurd
- Boston Journal N CneiaistrY.
81 7Y.-....i-ss .,,--.f IT.oy,I Tood
~ ~ iiiiiese' .V
A writer ia the London loWnas glyyes
some interesting statements re5peellile
the toad. IN the matter q teeding, Nc
Says the toad Is not very particular
either as to quality On quantltN,, any
thing that ereeps OF crawls VIII 90 10
him--wood llee, beetles, spiders, hlu8s
worms, even snails with their shells, ar
put ont q sight as y by magic, for D.
has a peculiar way q taking ms prey. H'
watches the moving insect iuf hecohs
or two, then, suddenly darnng ollt ~
tongue while at distance q one Or wv
inches, the insect Is snatcnea VI IN
swallowed instantly One evening T
gave one wasp and Q bulnble-bee; hotl
were snapped up directly they com
menced to move, apparently wltiioa
causing the toad tho sllghtest dlscohior'
though they must have reached ms ston
ach in tolerably actIvo condition.
In plant-houses, especially, forcing
houses, where insects increase thelr nun
bers 50 rapidly at aii seasons, me toa9 y
services are especially Valuaple' una u