The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-14
NICE TALK WITH A GHOST.
Prof. DOlbeare Reports a Strange Elk
perience.
Boston Special in New York Sun.

Boston Special in New York Sun.
Prof. A. +. Dolbeare, Of Tufts College.
who is well known as an electrical expert,
says he has not only seen a ghost but has
conversed with it. He says it proved it's
identity to him by performing a peculiar
trick with its shadOwy fingers that no other
ghost could have done. Professor Dolbeare'S
story reached the ears of the Society for
Psychical Research and he is a marked man
from this time on.
Professor Dolbeare has just returned from
Eliot, Me-, where the convention of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers
was held in honor of Moses G. Farmer one
of the pioneer inventors in the field of cleo
tricity. Just half a century before to a day
Mr. Farmer had operated successfully an
electric car at Dover, n. II. During many
years of his life Mr.. Farmer lived at Bitter
Sweet a homestead place, where he died
few years ago, and where his daughter,
Miss Sarah ]. Farmer still lives Miss
Farmer entertained Professor Dolbeare and
on last Sunday the professor slept in a room
somewhat noted locally as the room of the
seven doors" 1t is on the second floor, a
small, nearly square room, which Is light,
airy and comfortable. It's most notable fea-
ture is it's collection of doors The seven
all just alike, and apparently of the
same size. They were finished In the nat
ural wood, and each had white China
doorknob.
Let me tell you something about that
room,' said Professor Dolbeare, or, rather,
about something that happened TO me there.
1 had been talking of Farmer with his
daughter that evening, and when turned In
l was thinking of him. How long / lay
there before sleeping, or whether / went
TO sleep at all, do not know, but presently
room. A moment later | saw Farmer stand
ing by the bed. At least / recognized the
figure as that of Farmer, and was sur
much startled Hello he said, or some-
thing of that sort = salutation,, at al
events. 1 replied in kind and said, Who
are your i am Farmer was the answer,
and he held out his hand to me.
Il shook hands with him. and | thought
as | did so that the fingers felt a little
cold. 1 released the hand and was thilk-
ing about the matter while considering
what next to say. When l looked up he
was gone. If / was awake at the time
fell asleep again; at any rate l let the
matter pass, though somewhat puzzled, but
very soon L found the figure was again
I doubted it Was Farmer, but thought
would make certain, so l said:
How shall know you are Farmer
i will show you my hand, he said. In
the dark I saw he was holding out his hand
that l might see it, but | was determined to-
take nothing for granted, so said:
bands?
I'll show you my finger he replied,
and then he crooked up one of the fingers
in such peculiar way that | tried to imi-
tate him. / could not do it without the as
sistance Of the other hand, and while q
was trying to perform the little trick the
vision, or dream, or what you choose. for
some time, but then 1 once more went to
Sleep-if had been aWake-and saw
nothing more Of the figure. In the morn
ing / told Miss Farmer of my experience,
to her very great interest When | came
to the trick of the fingers she looked at me-
astOnished.
That she said, when illustrated as best
| could, was a favorite little trick of my
father few people could do it,.
ct appears" Professor Dolbeare conclud-
ed, that whenever Farmer met a person to
whom he took a liking. when the acquaint-
ance came 30 informal footing, it was
his way to hold out his hand, crOoking his
finger in the way I have shown you, to
say, can you do that?' 1t was a little
thing perhaps but peculiar to the man.
We all have minor characteristics by which
we may be known"