Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-28


might include figures which were not the
figures of the dreaming dead themselves, and
this would account for the oft-recorded APP
pearances OF the specters of dogs, cats and
other animals. But, for that matter, there is
no prima facie reason wherefore we should take
it FOR granted that cats and dogs have not
ghosts Of their own a. well as human beings.
However, this IL dipping too deeply into the
imaginative.
~ TO HALLucINATIoNs.
'1n considering the subject of phantasms Of
the dead it is necessary that one should take
into consideration most importantly the ele-
ment OF hallucination. Before deciding that
any testimony Possesses value evidence
there must be reason for believing that doesnot
rest upon illusion. The fallibility of the human
mind, owing to the imperfection of the senses
and Of the Judgment behind them, in distin-
gushing the real from the deceptive rem
ders necessary the drawing Of sharp
line between the two. There is probably
not one Of us who might not be haunted this
very day or night by specter projected from
his own imagination. Men of great reputation
for learning have in numerous instances re-
corded their observation of familiar phantasms
which, though they recognized them as purely
creations Of their own brains, have been con-
slant companions Of their waking hours,
always likely to be at hand and accepting no
hints to depart.
1T has been urged that the melancholy and
almost idiotic spectacle which 80 many actual
apparitions afford-dreamily lacking in appar-
eut purpose and exhibiting mere blank and fugi-
two appeal-serve to repel the student of psy-
chical phenomena, which seem to lead up to such
degradation or parody Of the hope Of eternal
life. What men want is the assurance Of per-
sonal happiness after death. In seeking the
c. of religion they desire to be re.
lieved from speculation on the subject and
from fear at any cost. But there is an attitude
OF mind, becoming more widespread year by
year among educated men. which, though
neither cynical nor pessimistic, yet regards
the present without enthusiasm and the
future without eagerness. There is an &C.
quiescence in the life Of earth, and a deep
distrust Of the unknown. With the advance Of
knowledge, with the quickening of imagination,
q feeling almost new in the world has arisen
a kind of shrinking from the magnitude Of
fate. The words infinity and eternity are no
longer mere countersfor the use of theoiogians.
They have taken on an awful significance from
our growing realization Of the immensely of
being A soul from which the Christian conf
dence is withdrawn may well feel that it is
going forth into q void, a spark of sentiency
involved amid enormous forces and capable Of
unimagined pain. Yet would there not be
something cowardly in a refusal to accept the
only definite facts attainablo because they are
not the kind of facts which we should best have
liked to know? And would there not be some
world must consist Of vague and ghastly OBJ
jects?
Mockeries and masks Of motion and mute breath.
Leavings Of life. the supertiux of death
STORIES WHICH POSSESS VALUE AS EVIDENCE.
"The societies for psychical research in this
country and abroad have gathered together
great number Of stories of apparitions which
seem to possess value as evidence l will mem
ton one or two of them wherein the same
ghosts were seen by more than one individual,
so as to establish a confirmation of the facts
either OF cheat or of hallucination.
For example, Mrs. Stone of Bridge
port, England, writes: In the summer Of
looO my cousin Emily was staying with me.
and my friend Mary Jenkins was spending the
day with US. We drove over one afternoon in
July to my uncles vicarage at Sydling in a lit
tie four-wheeled carriage. They were all at
nome, delighted to see US, and we spent a most
charming evening. We left early enough to
reach home before dark. A most beautiful
evening 1t was, and three more merry
girls could hardly be met with Just
after passing Wrackleford the road is
rather elevated. 1t had been somewhat dusky
before, but here the evening glow showed the
hedges, road and all near objects There it was
that saw the figure of man on the right-hand
side, walking. or rather gliding, at the head Of
the horse. My first idea was that he meant to
stop u.s. but he made no attemptof the kind, SIM
ply keeping on at the same pace with the horse,
neither faster nor slower. At first l thought him
OF great height butafterward remarked that
ne was gliding along at least foot above
the ground; Mary was sitting by me; pointed
out the figure, but she did not see it.
Emily was sitting by the man servant on the
front seat. She heard what 1 said, turned
around and said softly: 4 see the man you
mention distinctly Then the man servant
said in a frightened voice: For Gods sake,
mn taau uth Oh ~,
were silent and the shape kept on for some dis
lance until at the entrance Of the village Of
Charmlnster 1t vanished and we saw j. no
more.
WOMAN WITH HER THROAT CUT.
"Under date Of May Is, 1883, Mrs. G., land
lady Of a London lodging house, writes: 'On
a Tuesday night, about the end Of November Of
last year. woke up with feeling that some
one was in the room. had my face away from
the wall, but turned around and saw between
the bed and the wall the figure of q woman
about fifty years of age, with dark hair and
eyes, red dress and q mob cap. looked at
her and asked her what she wanted. She bent
her head slowly back and 1 saw what thought
at first was q very wide mouth Then
saw that it was not mouth at all, but that her
throat was cut from ear to ear. was very
frightened and called out to her in the name
OF the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost to
go away: She did not stir, however, and re-
AAA&AhOu AooAAu6 ~ AcE Nv Tue ukut OI the TWO
candles in the room until heard a knocking at
my door and the figure slowly vanished like
shadow. The knocking was done by two male
dodgers in the next room, who had been dis
turbed shortly before by beholding precisely
the same apparition, as they testified on oath.
RED-HEADED MAN WITH COFFIN
CDR. A. Beth, q minister of the Free Church
Of Scotland, makes affidavit that in August
1885, he was the guest for the night in the
house Of Mr.. Livingston of Lochalsh, Ross-shire
He was given large bedroom on the top floor
his host and hOJtess sleeping on the ground
floor, SO that a whole story interviewed between
his quarters and theirs. In his account Of
what happened, he says: Il had gone to bed
After little 1 fell asleep and slept do not
know how long. Suddenly was
awakened by what imagined was q
loud knock at my door. The fire in the big
fireplace was still burning, SO that could see
very we'll / called, Come in! !" then SOW the
door slowly open. and a man of gigantic stat
ure, red haired and with brawny arms barred
high above the elbows appeared. He ad-
vanced not toward me. but direct to the
fireplace, the glimmering light from the CRATE
falling upon his massive frame. He carried
large black chest, which appeared to me to be
studded with brass nails and SO heavy as to tax
his strength to the utmost. Az he came within
better view the black chest seemed to grow
into huge coffin and then my bed curtain
concealed from my eyes the bearer and his
burden. heard him set it down with start
ling crash which appeared to shake the house.
jumped up in bed and looked around, but the
vision Oona mat <rvi 70 oo,,ro.o