The San Francisco call., 1908-07-05
5 Are Haunted An Explanation by Reader

ii, and it would need but a slight
temporary increase of sensibility TO
enable him to visualize the entire
scene-to see the event in all its detail
apparently taking place before his
eyes-and in such a case he would of
course report that the place was
haunted and that he had seen ghost.
Apparitions at the time of death are
by no means uncommon, and are very
often visits really paid by the astral
form of the dying man just before
what we, elect to call the moment OF
dissolution; though here again they
are quite likely to be thought forms
called into being by his earnest wish
to see some friend once more before
he passes into an unfamiliar condition
There are some apparitions which
have a world wide celebrity, having
been repeatedly seen during centuries,
their appearances having become mat
ters of local or family history. Some
of the most notable instances are those
of the white bird of the Oxenhams,
whose appearance has ever since the
time of Queen Elizabeth been recog-
nized as a sure presage of the death OF
some member of the family. Another
haunting is that of the spectral coach
which is reported to drive up to the
door of a certain castle in the north
of England when similar calamity is
impending. The apparition Of the
white lady of Berlin appears just be-
fore a death, not only in the Hohen-
zollern family but is believed to haunt
also the palaces of Baireuth. Anspach
and Cleves, which are residences OF
families allied to the imperial family
Of Prussia. The house of Rosenburg
In Bohemia also allied to that of
Hohenzollern. is honored by the ap-
partition of the white lady. She appears
also to the Hapsburgs. In the tradi-
tions of this apparition every incident
stated goes to strengthen the theory
that this ghost is the product of une
idee fixe in the mental aura or atmos-
phere of these several families, all al
lied by marriage. and who have trans
mitted from century to century the
impression of mysterious visitant
who comes as a warning Of death.
The story of the Flying Dutchman
is that the captain of a Dutch ship
baffled by contrary winds in attempting
10 round the cape of Good Hope, be-
came enraged and swore that he would
accomplish his purpose in spite Of
storms or winds-the opposing forces
of nature-if it took him an eternity
to do it. The ship was lost and the
captains soul or wrath still fingers
there to navigate the stormy seas. ap-
pearing as a warning to mariners of
that some of the sailors who were
cognizant of the captains oath sur
vived the loss of his ship and origi-
mated the idea Of his retributive doom.
This idea has continued to exist as
reflection in the higher ethers or so
called astral light, which is an eternal
record. 1t is possible that the intense
emotions of rage and determination to
have his own way. in spite of God and
his laws of natflFa- NAV have camSe6
the curses of the Dutchman to ex-
haust their energy upon himself and
kept him, the victim of a violent and
sudden death, chained to the scene OF
his sin for a certain period.
1t reminds one of the trite old saying
that curses. like chickens, come home
to roost.
NJ. Mariller, noted French
scholar, gives very interesting ac-
count OF the feelings and beliefs of
the peasantry in Brittany with regard