Year: 1874




The London Spectator, in an article


entitled The Deteriorated Breed OF


Ghosts" discusses at considerable


length the latest phases OF spiritual


manifestations as compared with the


. grand style" of the old-time ghosts


OF the ante spiritualistic epoch. As 8


specimen of this sc grand style" OF


ghOstly visitation it reproduees an epi


sOde narrated by the Rev. Boucher


Ray Savile, M. A, in a work which


bore the dubious title of the " Appari-


tions a Narrative of Facts" No earl


Ter than the beginning of the present


century, says the Spectator, according


to MIR. Savle's book, the Rev. John


Jones, of HoiwelI, FIintshire, who did


not die till 1858, just before the out


break OF spirii -rapping, was saved, as


ne believed, from death by a spiritual


visitor, who demeaned himself alto


gether in the "grand style" Mr..


Jones was riding from Bala to Mach


ynlleth on missionary business, and this


was his own account of his story:


When had performed about half my
journey, as was emerging from q wood
situated at the commencement of a
long, steep decline, I observed coming


towards me man on foot. BY his APP
paarance, judging FROM the sickle which
he carried sheathed IN straw over his
shoulder, he was doubtless a reaper in
search of employment. As he drew
near, I recognized a man whom 1 had
seen at the door of tie village inn of
Llanwhellyn, where I had stopped to
bait my horse. On our meeting he
touched his hat, and asked if could
tell him the time of day. 1 pulled out
E.l, ~
the same time the peculiar look which
the man cast at its heavy silver case.
Nothing else, however occurred to ex-
cite any suspicion on my part, so, wish
ing him "good afternoon" contin-
ued my journey.


When I had ridden about halfway
down the hill noticed something NOV
ing, and in the same direction as myself
on the other side of q large hedge,
which ran nearly parallel with the road,
and ultimately terminated at a gate
through which had to pass. At first 1
thought it an animal of some kind or
other, but soon discovered by certain
in the hedge that it was a
man running in a STOPPING position, /
continued for a short time to watch his
progress with some curiosity, but my
curiosity soon turned to fear when
recognized the reaper with whom / had
a few minutes before, en-
gagged in tearing off the straw band
which sheathed his sickle. He hurried
on until he reached the gate, and then
concealed himself behind the hedge,
within few yards Of the road.


did not then doubt for a moment
but that he had resolved to attack-per-
haps murder-me for the sake of my
watch, and whatever money I might
have about me. locked around in all
but not a single human be-
ing was to be seen, so refining in my
horse, I asked myself in much alarm
what I could do. Should turn back?
No; my business was of the utmost I'M
pOrtance to the cause for which was
iourneying, and as there existed the
faintest possibility of getting there
could not think of returning. Should
I trust to the speed of my horse, and
endeavor to dash by the man at full
speed d? No; for the gate through
which I had to pass was not open.
Gould I leave the road and make my
way through the fields ? I could not
for I was hemmed in by rocky banks or
high hedges on both sides.


The idea of risking a personal en-
counter could not be entertained Tor
moment, for what chance could weak
and unarmed-have against powerful
man with a dangerous weapon IN his
hand Z? What course then should 1 pur-
sue? I could not tell and at length,
in despair rather than in a spirit of
humble trust and confidence, l bowed
my head and offered up silent prayer.
This had a soothing effect upon my
mind, so that, refreshed, and invigor-
ated, I proceeded anew to consider the
difficulties of my position.


At this iuncture my horse, growing
impatient at the delay, started off; l
the reins, which had let fall
on his neck, for the purpose of checking
him, when, happening to turn my eyes,
l saw to my utter astonlshmeht that
was no longer alone. There by my SIDE
I beheld a horseman In dark dress,
mounted on a white steed. In intense
amazement 7 gazed upon him where
could he have come from ? He appear
ed as suddenly as if he had sprungfrom
the earth. He must have been riding
behind and have overtaken me. And
yet / had not heard the slightest sound;
it was mysterious, inexplicable. But
the Joy of being released of my inexpllc-
able position soon oveFcame my feelings
of wonder, and began at once to adj
dress my companion. / asked him If
he had seen any one, and then described
to him what had taken place, and how
I felt by his sudden appear
ance, which now removed all cause of
fear He made no reply, and on look
ing at his face he seemed paying but
slight attention to my words, but con-
tinued intently gazing in the direction
of the gate, now about quarter
mil ahead. o


I followed his gaze and saw the reaper
emerge from his coneealment and cut
across a field to our left, resheathing
his sickle as he hurried along. He had
evidently seen that I was no longer
alone, and had relinquished his intend
ed attempt. All cause for alarm being
gone. I once sought to enter into con-
versation with my deliverer, but again
without the slightest success. Not
word did he deign to give me In reply.
continued talking, however, as we
rode on our way towards the gate,
though I confess feeling both surprised
and hurt at my companions mysterious
silence. Once, however, and only once
did hear his voice.


Having watched the figure of the
reaper disappear over the brow of a
neighborlng hill, i turned to my COM
panion and said, 'Can it for a moment
be doubted that my prayer was heard,
and that you were sent for my deliver
ance by the Lord % Then it was that
I thought 1 heard the horseman speak,
and that he uttered the single word
" amen" Not another word did he
give utterance to, though I tried to
elicit from him replies to my questions,
both in English and Welsh. We were
now approaching the gate, which I hast
ened to open, and having done so with
nv stick I waited at the side of the
road for him to pass through, but he
came not. turned my head to look
the mysterious horseman was gonei /
was dumbfounded looked back in
the direction from which we had just
been riding, but, though could com
mand a view of the road for a consider
able distance, he was not to be seen.
He had disappeared as mysteriously as
he had come.


SOME ONE has said that a man who
can play a good game of chess has all
the mental requisites necessary for a
great general. A professor of the manly
art of fencing and boxing says the man
who can spar well has attained the