The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-04-10

"At least I'll try, Bond, " said | as he left
the room.
That night l placed lamps ON the stairs
and in the passage that led to them, and
made Bond sit up there, that he might no
tice where the steps came from. myself
sat opposite the open door of my room,
with my eyes fixed on the staircase. At
lis Bond called out, as agreed on, "It's
coming sir r. and a minute later distin-
guished the first footballs. Slowly and
steadily they came up stairs, so that |
could count the number of steps; they
crossed the landing and the last one planted
itscif on the threshold of my room; then
there was perfect silence.
l shuddered and called Bond, who came
up white and trembling.
"Sir, the steps walked by me where |
sat; I watched the lamp as you told me,
but | saw nothing pass between me and it.
l don't know where they began; they
seemed to start at the end of the passage.
Oh, sir, don't meddle with them, or you'll
come to harm !"
II hope not, Bond" I replied II am
satisfied that there is no trick, and must
think what is to be done next. Go to bed
now, for l suppose we shall hear no more
tonight"
''No more, sir, the Lord be praised If
only comes once in night; ifit were oftener,
1 don't think anybody could stand it.
The old man evidently did not like the
notion of closer acquaintance with the
ghost, but now that l knew exactly what
happened my own nerves were steady. [
felt that here was an opportunity of testing
some of the theories in which was most
deeply interested, and l resolved that no
effort of mine should be wanting to prove
them true or false. believe in the power,
possessed by few strong wills, of infuenc-
ing others at distance; and my own
studies had accustomed me to concentrate
my thoughts-the first step toward exer-
cising such power if, as hoped, it was
latent in me. 1 had never heard of any
attempt to control spirit by such means,
but the idea did not appear to me impracti-
cable. Where so little is known expert
ments are of use even though their results
be only negative IF there is spirit
thus l argued with myself-that wishes to
communicate with the owner of this Tower,
surely reciprocal wish on his part might
render the process easier.
Again, the simplest facts of mesmerism
show that one will can control another;
surely spirit, freed from human grossness,
should be sensitively alive to every infu-
ence over it. 1t only remains to be proved
whether l have the needful strength, and
whether I can keep cool and steady if l
succeed so far as to obtain obedience from
the spirit.
Having settled my plan of action, be-
gan by taking long brisk walk in the
early morning Before dinner l confined
my reading to historical works, but in the
evening 1 perused carefully volume in
which | had found much curious and use
full information ON mesmerism. Soon after
midnight seated myself opposite my open
door, having previously placed the lamps
so as completely to light up the stairs be-
fore me.
Two rather ludicrous difficulties then
struck me. In the first place l did not
know the sex of my unseen visitor Bonds
story whould have led me to suppose that
man would haunt the Tower, but there
was nothing masculine in the gentle foot
fall or the sound of the trailing robe
Secondly, I knew that must keep one
idea steadily before me, yet 1 could hardly
go on repeating the same formula, and l
could not think without words. This diff
Guilty, however, was very elementary one
and would be easily overcome by practice.
l fixed my eyes on the doorway, where the
eyes of figure of average height would be,
and soon succeeded in making myself think
an almost uninterrupted Gomez
Unfortunately the night was boisterous
and stormy; the wind screamed past the
easement and swept on, as if in hideous
fugue, across the gloomy fens; but as my
senses grew more and more keen, did not
doubt that l could distinguish the familiar
footsteps even through all this storm music
After while the blood moved faster in
my veins; my eyes were unnaturally fixed
and hot and my breathing was constrained
and rapid, as though every muscle was
stiffened-a sensation quite unlike the
deep, full inspirations of severe physical
exertion.
I should not have realized how great was
the tension of my will had not gust of
wind made gate in the garden bang sud
denly, when the quiver with which my
nerves responded to the sound betrayed to
what pitch was excited.
1t was close on the hour for the ghosts
visit. l passed my hand across my fore
head and eyes, and at the same instant,
distinct through the wailing of the wind l
heard the distant football. l grasped the
arms of my chair and half arose in the in
tensity of. my wish; but when the steps
reached the top of the stairs something
seemed to give way in my brain, the room
and lights swan before my eyes; but as |
sprang up, with my hands to my temples,
saw, or fancied l saw, against the bright
background, shadowy outline of figure.
1t was an instantaneous impression and
| sank back as helpless and weak as a child,
all power of will entirely gone.
An hour passed before / could shake off
my lassitude sufficiently 20 go to bed; but
slept soundly and to my great satisfac-
ton found that instead of being fatigued l
was more active than usual on the following
day.
To Bonds inquiries merely replied
that was carrying out a plan which l
hoped would succeed in time, but that 1
could not give him the details.
It is unnecessary to describe the expert
ments of each succeeding night. soon
found that the power of concentrating my
will increased with every effort. On three
occasions saw the same shadowy outline,
but on each a chance sound disturbed
me or irresistible fatigue deprived me
of strength just when l most needed it.
At length / resolved to take one nights
uninterrupted rest and to begin my next
attempt only few minutes before one, so
as to have more power in reserve when the
critical moment should arrive. was glad
to find that | attained almost Immediately
the required state of concentrated volition,
but endeavored to make my condition
more natural than it had ever yet been.
/ 7 ox,I .obs lxr