The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-03-08
Fiesole declared he beheld in person the

saints he painted. The sculptor C:ellini,
mentions many such instances in his
autobiography. The unfortunate Tssso
beheld his supernatural visitors so
plainly that he frequently conversed
with them in presence of his friends, in
consequence of which he was considered
crazy, Notwithstanding that he was per-
fectly sensible on every other subject.
There are some persons who, although
in perfect possession of their senses, are
habitual ghost-seers. Such persons are
commonly supposed to have been born
on Sunday, or with caul. Literary
people are sometimes afflicted in this
way. The disease originates in dis
ordered digestion (Melancholia Hypoch-
ondra) caused by their sedentary habits
Aristotle and Horace mention instances
of this kind. In latter times we meet
numerous examples, and as the victims
were highly educated persons, the
subject was carefully Investigated by
scientific men.
Pascal, after terrible fright, received
when his horses ran away with him, be.
iieved that he saw the pit of Hades
opened beside him. Hobbies, the phi
losopher, saw spirits if in the dark for
but moment. Lullie, of Gent, saw
himself surrounded by phantoms,
through whose transparent bodies he
plainly beheld the objects beyond.
Prof Andral habitually beheld corpses
in state of partial decomposition.
Talma, the actor, frequently experienced
the unpleasant sensation of beholding
his entire audience transformed into
rows of grinning skeletons.
One of the most interesting cases OF
this species of nervous arrangement was
that of Prof. Nicolai. the well-known
author and friend of Leasing. With the
exception of an occasional slight deter.
mination of blood to the brain and a
light arrangement of the digestive
organs, he enjoyed comparatively good
health. In the year 1871 lie suffered
several severe shocks to his nervous
system, chiefly occasioned by an IN
principled son. ae was startled one day
by beholding before him the form Of his
deceased and dearly loved
eldest son, probably in conse-
quence, as he believed, of having enter
tanned the thought that he would not
have caused him the anguish he suffered
through the other. The apparition dis
appeared, but frequently reappeared,
especially during the period of digestion.
Sometimes it appeared accompanied by
other forms, among whom he recognized
living as we'll as dead friends, the for
mer being in the majority. Animals
were sometimes added to these, and the
specters moved independently of each
other, like people in a crowded market
place. There was nothing terrible in
their appearance; rather agreeable than
otherwise, and the number increased
daily. In the course of about week
the specters began to converse with
each other, and at last with Nicolai ALSO,
to whom they chiefly addressed words of
comfort. After few weeks spent in
this manner, during which time he had
become partially reconciled to his
strange guests, his physician ordered
him to be bled. During the operation
the phantoms began to lose their color
and their outlines became indistinct.
They finally lost all color and disap-
peared by piecemeal, never to return.
We must go step further and insist
that ghosts have not only been seen but
felt. Luis Won Baczka, the blind painter
and author, not only saw his phantoms
as we'll as. though he we've in possession
of good eye-sight, but heard their threats
and felt them. He repeatedly saw the
form of haggard Egyptian, who with
savage hien threatened to cut off his
head. When attempting to drive of the
apparition he distinctly felt its resistance
and finally desisted from the futile and
exciting task. At other times large
serpent, covered with long bristles,
would appear in his room, approach him
and throw itself across his lap. He dis.
tinctly felt the bristles. Who woald not
believe to be real what was so tangible?
Baczko, however, as an enlighted savant,
judged these apparitions correctly.
Cardanus, Beaumont, Swedenborg and
others, did not take his enlightened view
of such things, but became slaves to
their impressions.
Some two years ago we met Cherokee
half-breed girl who asserted that even
in broad daylight, which is usually I'M
favorable to such things, she saw as
many phantoms as real beings in the
streets; also phantom horses, dogs, cats,
which appeared of enormous size and
sometimes bore human faces. A deceased
brother, who was accidentally killed was
almost constantly with her. Since then,
upon several occasions, she has lost con-
siderable blood, which seems to had the
effect OF lesssning the number of phan-
toms and making them very indistinct.
The chief cause, then, Of such hallu.
cinations appears to be q determination
of blood 10 the brain, whether caused by
disease, nervous excitement, or drugs,
Cu.h 90 opsupa hashaasb atc Il 'Timps-