The Argosy — page 68: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

38 ON THE SUPERNATURAL.® HAT in the face of so many well authenticated facts respecting supernatural agency, anyone can be found to doubt its existence, seems surprising. But the fear of being ridiculed as weak-minded doubtless prevents many people from acknowledging what in their heart of hearts they really believe. . The subject of apparitions, of unaccountable noises, and the like, which has lately occupied more than usual attention, is one which must always remain a mystery, while we are in this state of existence. That the departed have appeared to the living we have an authentic proof, handed down to us from St. Matthew’s account of our Lord’s crucifixion, when—‘“ The graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” In other passages of Scripture spiritual appearances are spoken of—notably that of Samuel, raised by the witch of Endor. That it is not given to all people—indeed, but to very few, speaking comparatively—to see or hear the supernatural, is a fact not to be disputed. But those to whom the gift (can it be called so ?) is given, could relate experiences which have occurred to them at different times throughout their lives. In the winter of 186—, business called me to London from the West of England. The weather was anything but inviting: dark, dismal days, dense fogs, and drizzling rain. I hoped to combine some little pleasure with business, by paying a few visits to friends. The first days of my stay in town were to be spent in Wimpole Street, Cavendish Square. A rising medical man and his wife had just moved from a house in that same street to one higher up, in which every thing had still to be arranged, but they begged me to go to them all the same. Upon my arrival in London in the afternoon, I had to go straight to a lawyer’s office, and was there two hours; so that on reaching Wimpole Street I was tired and weary. But when my good host and his wife came forward with their warm welcome, and I saw the cheer- ful fires and bright lights in the still unsettled rooms, and presently sat down to the well-served dinner, I forgot all my fatigue and felt fully renovated. We had much to chat about, mutually recalling past associations and imparting later news; and it was midnight ere we retired to rest. I must confess that my first impressions of the house were not favourable. To me there seemed to be an indescribable gloom * The Author vouches for the absolute truth and correctness of the facts recorded in this paper. COMIC OOlKS.CO