Strange Visitors — Henry J. Horn
Strange Visitors, by Henry J. Horn—A Project Gutenberg eBook You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org . If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title : Strange Visitors Author : Henry J. Horn Release date : August 21, 2004 [eBook #13237] Most recently updated: October 28, 2024 Language : English Other information and formats : www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13237 Credits : Curtis Weyant, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. *** START OF BY THE _SPIRITS OF IRVING, WILLIS, THACKERAY, BRONTE, RICHTER, BYRON, HUMBOLDT, HAWTHORNE, WESLEY, BROWNING_, AND OTHERS NOW DWELLING IN THE SPIRIT WORLD DICTATED THROUGH A CLAIRVOYANT, WHILE IN AN ABNORMAL OR TRANCE STATE. 1871 Strange Visitors, by Henry J. Horn—A Project Gutenberg eBook TABLE OF CONTENTS. HENRY J. RAYMOND _To the New York Public_ MARGARET FULLER _Literature in Spirit Life_ LORD BYRON _To His Accusers_ NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE _Apparitions_ WASHINGTON IRVING _Visit to Henry Clay_ NAPOLEON BONAPARTE _To The French Nation_ W. M. THACKERAY _His Post Mortem Experience_ ARCHBISHOP HUGHES _Two Natural Religions_ EDGAR A. POE _The Lost Soul_ JEAN PAUL RICHTER _Invisible Influences_ CHARLOTTE BRONTE _Agnes Reef. A Tale_ ELIZABETH B. BROWNING _To Her Husband_ ARTEMUS WARD _In and Out of Purgatory_ LADY BLESSINGTON _Distinguished Women_ PROFESSOR OLMSTEAD _Locality of the Spirit World_ ADAH ISAACS MENKEN _Hold Me Not_ N.P. WILLIS _Off-Hand Sketches_ MARGARET FULLER _City of Spring Garden_ GILBERT STUART _Art Conversation_ EDWARD EVERETT _Government_ FREDERIKA BREMER _Flight to my Starry Home_ REV. LYMAN BEECHER _The Sabbath—Its Uses_ PROF. GEORGE BUSH _Life and Marriage in Spirit Life_ JUNIUS BRUTUS BOOTH _Acting by Spirit Influence_ REV. JOHN WESLEY _Church of Christ_ N. P. WILLIS _A Spirit Revisiting Earth_ ALLAN CUNNINGHAM _Alone_ BARON VON HUMBOLDT _The Earthquake_ SIR DAVID BREWSTER _Naturalness of Spirit Life_ H.T. BUCKLE _Mormons_ W.E. BURTON _Drama in Spirit Life_ CHAS. L. ELLIOTT _Painting in Spirit Life_ COMEDIAN’S POETRY _Rollicking Song_ LADY HESTER STANHOPE _Prophecy_ PROFESSOR MITCHELL _The Planets_ DR. JOHN W. FRANCIS _Causes of Disease and Insanity_ ADELAIDE PROCTER _The Spirit Bride_ Strange Visitors, by Henry J. Horn—A Project Gutenberg eBook INTRODUCTION. _BY THE EDITOR_. In placing before the public a work with such novel and extraordinary demands upon its consideration, a few explanatory words seem appropriate. Its title and contents will doubtless at first sight cause a smile of incredulity, and will be regarded by many as one of the devices which are sometimes put forward to entrap an unsuspecting public into the perusal of a sensational hoax. For a number of years past the community has been surprised with accounts of most incredible marvels; and from time to time the press has reported various phenomena in connection with an _unrecognized force and intelligence,_ as occurring in almost every locality throughout the habitable globe. These phenomena are thought by many to be mere illusions, and by some attributed to peculiar electrical conditions; while others seek their solution in an abnormal state of the brain; and others still believe them dependent on an actual intercourse between mortals and those who have passed beyond the grave. Having become interested in this mysterious and exciting subject, and finding the means at hand for testing the various phenomena, I resolved to undertake a series of experiments, with the hope of exposing a delusion, if such it were, or perchance, of clearing up a mystery which, by the magnitude and importance it has already assumed, is disturbing the foundations of old beliefs and steadily diffusing it’s theories and doctrines into the very heart of society. Among other expedients to attain this end (assuming the hypothesis that spirits of the departed were in a condition to communicate with mortals), I interrogated, through the instrumentality of a clairvoyant gifted with the remarkable power of passing at will into an unconscious or trance state, the spirits of a number of well-known individuals concerning their views and sentiments in their present state of existence. In response to my questions, an intelligent answer was received from the Countess Ossoli (Margaret Fuller), with the assurance that my desire was apprehended and would receive the hearty co-operation of those to whom it was addressed. The process by which the papers were given was that of dictation through the clairvoyant while in an abnormal or trance condition and with her eyes closed. The matter was written in pencil as it fell from her lips, and subsequently transcribed for the press. The difficulties attending the transmission of ideas through the medium of another mind, even under ordinary circumstances, must be apparent to all, and the unprejudiced reader may readily perceive obstacles to the literal reproduction of their respective styles and language by the various contributors. Yet, notwithstanding the impediments to felicity of expression, I feel assured that persons at all familiar with the characteristics of the originals will readily perceive a marked resemblance in style to that of the authors named. In the delivery of the articles, their composers would usually assume or personate their own individual characteristics; thus, Artemus Ward’s conversation and gestures were exceedingly ludicrous. He was the very personification of mirth, occasionally going to the wall and humorously “chalking out” his designs. Archbishop Hughes expressed himself in a quiet, earnest, and eloquent manner. Lady Blessington was full of vivacity, and Margaret Fuller was our Presiding Angel; while Booth would become vehement to an intense degree, and at times would mount some article of furniture in the room, becoming passi