The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-24
MRS. HENDRICKS AT HOME.
Finding Comfort From Past Associations
Troubled by Impertinent spirituaIists.

A representative of the Sentinel called up
on Mrs. Hendricks yesterday and passed a
half-hour in conversation upon general and
ed cheerfulness, but whenever. the name of
her late husband was mentioned her voice
faltered and tear giistened in her eye, show
ing that her grief still sat heavily upon her
when the past was suggested. Referring to
her home life, she said she had been away
but. little since her husbands death, and
then only for short stay at time. She
felt better, she said, when surrounded
by the objects and friends with whom
she and Mr.. Hendricks were intimately asso-
ciated, and it was for this reason that she
confined herself so closely to home.
''It may be fancy" said she, ''but it was
here that his spirit left me, and 1 always
think / am nearer to him when / am at
home, surrounded by the things which he
loved and which we both enjoyed together.
Mr.. Hendricks was always fond of his home,
and he never returned to its quiet after a
protracted absence without expressing pleas
ure and satisfaction at the event. Every
room in the house has something which
reminds me of him on account of the pleas
separated from these things l appear to be
further away from him. My life now con-
sists in great part in living over again the
days when we were company for each other,
and, since / find my chief enjoyment in
living thus, L am happier when surrounded
by the things which formed part of these
associations. For this reason | have declined
all invitations to visit friends for any pro-
tracted period"
The allusion to the spirit of her'deceased
husband brought up the subject of spiritual
ism and mediums, and she said that she had
been troubled considerably by letters and al
legged communications from Mr.. Hendricks,
sent by this class of persons. Mrs. West, of
Washington City, had sent her several pages
of poetry, said to have been so strongly in
spired by spirits, in the spirit land, that she
arose at $50 in the morning to write the
verses. The letter was unanswered, and a
few weeks later another batch of poetry was
received from the same source, with letter
indicating chagrin upon the part of the
writer that the first communication had not
been answered At this, Mrs. Hendricks
wrote to Mrs. West and candidly stated that
she had no confidence in her ability TO COM
municate with the spirits of departed per-
sons.
Still another letter was received from a
party in New York, who professed to be able
to communicate with spirits and who en-
closed letter which had been received from
Mr.. Hendricks in the spirit land, and, the
writer said, was in his own handwriting.
Mrs. Hendricks characterized it as a clever
piece of imitation, but said she could easily
detect the difference. The writing might de-
ceive some people, but her familiarity with
his chirogra ply enabled her to see at once
that 1t was not his. Referring to this subject
she said:
"0f course. do not believe in such things,
and do not see that any good can come from
encouraging them. That they do not come
from Mr. Hendricks, is clear to my mind,
for the sentiments of none of the communi-
cations are expressed in language such as
he would have used. They bear on their
face the impress of an inferior mind, one in
ferior to his while alive, and certainly infer
ior now, if the spirit land, as / believe, ele-
Yates and eupobles the sentiments and aspi-
rations of the soul. OF course, respect the
belief of those who do not regard spiritual
ism as l do, and do not pretend to say that
there is no communication between the de-
parted and those who remain. think this
power-if power it may be called-is con-
fined to persons of nervous temperaments,
and |, you know, would not make good
SDlritualistN