The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-11
4 PSYCHICAL STUDY.
Rx = a. MlTchEL-.

have the honor 20 report for In
sestigation a singular experience Of re.
cent occurrence.
had been reading Poe's Raven"
but my doctor, whom I have consulted,
says that has nothing to do with the
matter. don't rely upon him as to
whether 4 does or whether it doesn't
was sitting In my library reading,
as have said. Poes Raven" some Of
his short stories and other OF hts
poems. 1t couldn't have been that |
was greatly wrought upon, for on
reading the poem for the first time in
twenty years was trihe disappoint-
ed In Il. much prefer as an example
Of Poes genius "The Bells which to
me Is a literary wonder. | was not SO
excited over my reading as to prevent
nay falling asleep.
was awakened by three distinct
taps on my door.
occupied the house alone at the
time, my family being in the country.
] slept at home, but took my meals
elsewhere. The FIRST thing that oc-
Cured to me after / had snatched my
faculties from sleep was that any one
entering the house would seek admit
lance by ringing the front door bell,
whereas the person had knocked at
once at my library door.
"Come inn cried.
The summons being unheeded, I
arose and opened the door. No one
was there.
Now, If / were following a psyche
logical impression made by the poem |
should have heard more knocks. But
/ did not. My raven must have come
In unseen and unheard- At any rate, |
had resumed my seat but few min
utes when / became conscious that
tas-e was some live thing IN the room
with me. Moreover, was impressed
with the fact that it was human,
though whether IN flesh or spirit I
could not tell. Where it was at first
did not occur to me, but presently I
knew that it was sitting on chair
on the other side Of the library table.
/ note the following points:
1 felt no fear whatever.
i smeiled smoke.
heard running water, the chopping
Of wood and a kissing sound.
These impressions were mental, not
physical.
From having heard the clock several
times during the presence Of my mys-
FERROUS visitor / can inform you that
Ii entered about O'Clock. What was
passing all the while afterward I am
now not capable Of putting in here.
Indeed It is partly a gap. though time
plays us strange tricks IN that respect.
The next impression was the piping
of a bird.
! can understand the other impress
Eions as having real counterparts, but
the birds song cannot fathom.
Birds do not sing in the dark. and If
this one sang. Judging BY my clock.
It must have been shortly after 10
o'clock at night.
There we're no more external impress
sions. If my mental senses, so to
speak, had been conveying to me such
things as we consider 1t possible only
TO be transmitted through the physical
Eenses, there was from this time ST.
lence.
Within the room It was different
While ! heard no sound, was con-
scious that my visitor had arisen.
was curious to know where It would
next make itself known to me. IL it
were coming toward me it would, If
flesh and blood, be obliged to pass
around a table. In exactly the time IT
would have taken a human adult to
10 this it made itself apparent in a
much more clearly defined way than
before, and this time through the phys
icaI senses. | felt hand clasp mine
Tt was not woman's or d child's
hand; it was a mans. For a few mo
ments it rested IN mine, then gently
indicated a request for me to rise. l.
did 50. and the hand guided me to the
door, which I opened / felt a pres
sure Of the mysterious hand, and It
was withdrawn This was the last
Of my visitor
Any solution you may suggest will
be gratefully received BY yours truly,
EDMOND GOFF.
Endorsement Oh the record BY the
secretary Of the Society For Psychical
Research:
'.This report was discussed s "a meet j
ing Of the society and the following
ordered:
''The paper Is evidently trap laid
for the society by some unbeliever in
visitations. a spiritual
being would not require the assistance
of mortal to open and shut q door for
its admittance or egress"
Subsequent Endorsement by Mr. Goff
"Letter received from the wife Of
my best friend, John Murchison They
were travelling in India on a train.
There was collision. Murchison and
his wife penned In, John under q
beam. Mid the kissing Of escaping
steam they were cut out with axes
but before they were freed John was
dead. They carried the body down
60 stream beside the track, and It REL
NAMED there till morning. Mrs. Muir
Gibson was injured only by the shock.
/ now understand the singing Of the
bird apparently at night There must
be from SIX to ten hours difference IN
time between where live and the
scene Of the accident 1t was day
where the bird sang.
individuals or societies who investt- |
gate the supernatural should not as