Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-11-26

III 49, natural. On the con
trary according u
ihe newly accepted
theory. they are to be classed a
natural phenomena. chemical in char
acter.
Why is II that ghosts. since time
immemorial. hava been so intimately
associated with graveyards? Why ID
1t that the dead In cemeteries are 50
universally believed to walk" al
night? Why. when specters walk, are
they so generally accustomed lin pop
ular belief to be sheeted-that is to
say. clad in winding sbeets--though
nowadays people are nearly always
buried In ordinary clothing?
These questions, and others equally
interesting. in regard to phantoms, SCI
ence is now for the first time prepared
TO answer. AS to the first point. the
reputation grayeyards have for being
haunted is attributable to the fact
that ghosts, Of the kind now recogniz-
ed as real, do actually and not infre-
quently walk about in such places.
They are seen at night (rather than
In the daytime) because their chem
zeal constitution is such that they can
not be visible except in darkness.
Finally. they are Cor rather. appear to
bel "sheeted" for the reason that the
gases OF which they are composed
here we begin to come to the explana
tion-fiicker and waver in fashion
suggestive Of garments.
For some reason not easy to ex-
plain, the dead are supposed to be
hostile to the living. Few people
there be who would not run, terror
stricken. from a ghost. If they thought
they saw one. But. making all allow
ance for this fact. and for the infiu-
ence Of imagination. It still seems
strange that the conviction that a
graveyard is dangerous and dreadful
place to venture into at night should
be so widespread even among educat-
ed persons. Nobody objects to enter
ing, or wandering through. burying
ground In the daytime-rather the
contrary, indeed, most cemeteries be-
ing attractive spots. But at night 1t
is different
The real cause of this fear lies in
The circumstance that phantoms, for
reasons presently to be made clear,
are. and always have been. haunters
Of graveyards. People have been
frightened by them time and time
again. in such places. Other persons.
who have not seen them, and who
have professed disbelief. have never
theless been Influenced by testimony
Of the sort. Not often has anybody,
phenomenon of this kind,
attempted to investigate it. Much
safer does 1t seem under such circum-
stances to take to ones heels.
Nothing but the skepticism Of SCI |
'nce can fortify a man against the |
error Of such an experience. But, as |
t CHANGED, some years ago. govern
nent anthropologist. Of high reputa-
ion (now connected with the depart
nent Of agriculture). Prof. w. ]. Nc
lee. had an opportunity to study this
natter at first hand. He was living
t the time in small town, in the
middle west where, only few weeks
arlier. burglar, engaged in the ex-
rcise Of his hazardous profession,
ad been shot to death. Hastily bur-
ed. he might have been expected to
efrain from disturbing the commu-
ity further-instead of which, he pro-
eeded to walk" his ghost being re-
ea.edly seen by number of reliable
illnesses. stalking about the potter's
ED where his grave was located.
Professor MCGEE, being appealed to
n the subject. in his capacity of sci
ntific investigator. finally consented
, look into it. He went to the pot
RS field on a moonless night, sat
own a short distance from the grave
left only half filled up)
hich had been pointed out to him as
lat of the late burglar. and proceed II
to wait for something to happen.
othing did happen for quite a while,
Id he was just making up his mind {
at he had come on fools errand
hen he deserted dim light imme- I