Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-07-19
From the New York Tribune.
Forms With Ghostly Faces.


Forms With Ghostly Faces.
TALKING WITH MYSTERIOUS APPARITIONs
AN EXPERIENCE THAT Is HARD TO
EXPLAIN-REMARKAD "MANI-
FEsTATIoNs" IN NEW YORK
MERCHANTS HOUSE.
In the parlor of pleasant house in
one of the suburban towns on long Is
land assembled one evening recently Il
small party invited to witness certain
mysterious phenomena, called spirit
manifestations by those who believe In
the close connection Of the present and
the future life. The host was a prosper
Gus New York business man, whose
household consists, besides himself, of
only his wife aud two servants. The
visitors were an cX-colonel from the west
u New-England manufacturer, and II
newspaper man, all sOlid-lookng persons
Of more than average ayerdupois, and
with no appearance of being liable to fall
victims to delusion. The ''medium''
was mddle-aged woman from Boston,
tall, slender, and delicate, having high
ly sensitive nervous temperament and
low vital powers. Her husband, an ell
derby man, was also present--the coup
le being friends and guests of The family.
Among the spirtualists the "manilcsta-
tions" Of this ''medium" are ranked rs
the most perfect Of the kind known. A
good deal has been published about them
in the journals Of the sect, but the fami.
ly in whose house the medium is now Il
guest naturally object to newspapapcr
notoriety, and their Hme and residence
are therefore not given here.
The house is spacious villa, standing
in the midst Of handsome, well kept
grounds. On the main floor there are
two parlOrs, separated from the library
and dining-r0om by a wide hall. All
the rooms were lighted during the "se-
nce" except the lrontpalor, which was
separated from the back parlor by heavy
curtain. The door leading from this
darkened room into the lighted hall was
locked and the shutters Of the windows
were secured. At s O'Clock the medium
cnmc down from her room and lay upon
Il lounge in the dark parlor Several
shaWls were placed upcn her by the lady
Of the house, although the evening was
warm. The six spectators took seats in
Il scmi-clrcle about twelve feet from the
curtained door. First the Lords Pray
cr was said by the hostess and II hymn
was sung. Then large music box was
wound and set agoing. After about ten
minutes the curtain was drawn aside and
there walked out beautiful girl dressed
in white with a long lace veil thrown
around her head and over her bare arms.
She was greeted in the most ailectionate
language by the host and his wife as
their daughter Lizzie, who died about 3
years ago. The face had curious indis-
tinctness and the eyes could hardly be
seen at all, but the hands and arms look
cd substantial enough, and the figure adj
vanced with firm step, its little white
shod feet pceping out now and then from
under the long white robe. Nothing
more beautiful and charming than the
appearance of the girl as she glidcd
across the room could be imagined. Her
drapery diilused n delightful perfume,
her long veil was managed with perfect
grace, now thrown half across the face,
now stretched out across the shoulders
and over the arms, and now held nlott
with one hand. The figure first stopped
TO notice some flowers on the console ta-
bic, then stepped around one side Of the
somi-circlc Of sitters and pointed to u
painting Of herself which stood upon an
easel, and returned behind the curtain
Emerging again, she came forward and
threw her veil over her fathers head,
tbcn passed around the rear Of the chairs
and touched each of the visitors on the
head. Her hand was warm and of Il vel
voty softness. As she stood under the
chandelier where single shaded light
burned, the reporter stared hard at her
face, but II still had ghostly, indistinct
appearance. The apparitlon went out
into the hall, entered thc dinlng-room,
returned and again went behind the cur
talns. Twice she held one curtain far
aside SO that the company could plainly
see the medium lying on the lounge en-
yol0ped In her multitudlnous wrappings.
A third time the girl appeared. She
bcokoned her mother TO como to the cur
tain. A whispered conversation wus
carried on between fho two which the
others could not hear. 10 the host and
wife this was evidently 0s much their
daughter as though she were still alive.
She came at all the sittlngs, they sald,--
Their aileciiOnatc delight NJ seeing her
could not hayo been ielgncd.
In The course Of the next hour and u
half eight other figures came ont Of the
curiaiuod door. Two were recognized
by the western colonel, one by the New
England gentleman, and two by the re-
porter. The remaining three were sttNn-
gers 10 all the company. All were wo-
men but one. The figures varied consid-
crably IN height, slzo, gait and manner,
ana tho garments, though invariably
white, were of different form and style.
All the iaces, though plain enough for
recognition, had n curious, impalpnblc
ghoslly look, and IN many cases the eyes
were closed. Ono of The most definite
CounlonanCus was that of relative Of
the reporter, q woman Of strong features
and strong character, who died at The
ngc of seventy. She came out TO where
he sat, took him by the hand, bock0hcd
him TO come 20 the curtain, whispered
two words IN hls enr Ia n strange gasp-
Ing voice, gave him her cheek 10 kiss ne
sbo used 70 do in life, and lowered the
curtain.
The male appafitlon appeared 10 be p
young philadelphia journalist who died
year ago llu ahONCl great delight nt