EXPERIENCES OF THE AUTHOR WITH ROBERT DALE OWEN (_Continued_).
V.
AN EVENTFUL HOUR WITH LEAH FOX UNDERHILL--A GHOST SPEAKS.
"It was on the evening of Sunday, the twenty-first of October, 1860. The
sitting was held in Mr. Underhill's dining-room, lasting from ten till
eleven o'clock P.M.
"The room was lighted by gas. There were two windows fronting the
street; three doors: one opening on a corridor whence a staircase
ascended to the next floor, another opening on a short passage leading
to the kitchen, the third, the door of a pantry in which were crockery
and various other articles, including a barrel of loaf-sugar in one
corner.
"Before we had any demonstrations the raps requested us to wait until
the domestics had retired. There were two servant girls in the kitchen,
whom Mrs. Underhill sent up stairs to bed, so that everything was
profoundly still on that floor of the house. Then we fastened the inside
blinds of both windows, so as to exclude all light from the street.
"Before commencing the session, at Mr. Underhill's request, I shut and
locked the three doors above referred to, leaving the keys in the doors,
so that no one, even if furnished with keys, could open them from
without. I satisfied myself by careful personal inspection of the
furniture, and otherwise, that there was no one in the pantry, nor any
one in the dining-room except the three persons who, along with myself,
assisted at the sitting. These persons were Mr. Daniel Underhill, Mrs.
Underhill (Leah Fox), and her nephew, Charles, twelve years old. We sat
down to a centre-table, three feet eleven inches in diameter, of black
walnut, and without table-cover. (I had previously looked under it;
nothing to be seen there.) The gas-burner was immediately over it. I
sat on the east side of the table, Mr. Underhill opposite to me, Mrs.
Underhill on my left hand, and Charles on the right. There was no fire
in the room.
"The rappings commenced, gradually increasing in number and force. After
a short interval they spelled, 'Put out the gas.' It was accordingly
extinguished and the room remained in total darkness. Then 'Join hands.'
Shortly after doing so I felt, several times, a cool breeze blowing on
my cheek. Then was spelled, 'Do not break the circle.' We obeyed; and,
except for a second or two at a time, it remained, on my part, unbroken
throughout the rest of the sitting.
"After a few minutes I perceived a light, apparently of a phosphorescent
character, on my left, near the floor. It was, at first, of a
rectangular form, with the edges rounded. I judged it to be about four
inches long and two and a half inches wide. It seemed like an open
palm illuminated, but the light which emanated from it showed quite
distinctly its entire surface; I could distinguish no fingers. For a
time it moved about near the floor, then it rose into the air and
floated about the room, sometimes over our heads. After a time it
changed its appearance and increased in brightness. It then resembled an
opaque oval substance, about the size of a child's head, muffled up in
the folds of some very white and shining material, like fine linen, only
brighter. As it moved about, I began to hear, at first imperfectly,
afterward somewhat more distinctly, the rustling as of a silk dress, or
of other light article of female apparel, giving the impression that one
or more persons were moving silently about the room. Then the light
passed behind Mrs. Underhill; then I saw it close to Mr. Underhill, and
just opposite to me. Mr. Underhill said, 'Can you not go down to Mr.
Owen? do try.' Thereupon it moved slowly around to my left side. This
time the folds appeared to have dropped, and what seemed a face (still
covered, however, with a luminous veil) came bending down within five or
six inches of my own face, as I turned toward it. As it approached, I
plainly distinguished the semi-luminous outline of an entire figure of
the usual female stature. I saw, very distinctly, the arms moving. At
the lower extremity of its right arm, as if on the palm of the hand, the
figure bore what seemed a rectangular substance, about four inches by
two, as nearly as I could estimate. This substance was more brightly
illuminated than the rest of the figure. It may have been only the
illuminated palm, but I do not think it was; it seemed more like a
transparent box with phosphorescent light within it. Whatever it was,
the figure raised it above its head, and then passed it slowly down
close to what seemed the face, and then over the upper part of the body,
as one might pass a lantern over any object, with intent to make it
visible. This action it repeated several times.
"By aid of the illuminations thus afforded I saw, more distinctly than
before, the general form of the face and figure; but both appeared
covered with a half-transparent veil, and I could distinguish no
features; nor were the outlines of the body, nor of the limbs, sharply
defined. The motion of the right arm with the light was the most marked
and frequent.
"While this was taking place I held Mrs. Underhill's hand and Charles's.
As the various phases of the phenomena succeeded each other, I remarked
on what I saw; and Mr. Underhill, from the opposite side of the table,
responded to my remarks; so that I am quite certain he was seated there.
I expressed a wish that the Spirit would touch me, and Mr. Underhill
said, from his place, 'We are very anxious that the Spirit should touch
Mr. Owen, if it can.'
"Thereupon I felt what seemed a human hand laid on my head. And, as I
looked steadily at the figure, which stood on my left side, I saw its
head bend toward my left shoulder. A moment afterward I _felt_, and
simultaneously _heard_, just behind the point of that shoulder, a kiss
imprinted. I could not, for any physical fact, obtain the evidence of
three senses--sight, touch, and hearing--more distinctly than in this
case I did.
"Immediately afterward I saw this luminous body pass behind me; what
seemed, by the touch, to be hands gently laid hold of both my shoulders
and turned me round to the right. I looked on that side and the figure
now stood by my right shoulder.
"After pausing there for a few seconds, it moved toward the window
furthest from me, and we heard the sounds as if some one were attempting
to open the window-blind.
"Mr. Underhill, from his place, remarked that it would probably be able
to effect this; for it had done so on a previous occasion. The blind was
in four compartments, each of which could be opened or closed by raising
or lowering a wire attached to movable slats. The figure opened the
upper left-hand quarter of the blind, so that a faint light shone in
from the street lamps. I was looking at the window when this occurred.
"Up to this time the appearance, gradually becoming more luminous, had
been in sight, moving about the room fully five minutes. There was not
the slightest footfall when it moved. My hearing is very acute; I
listened for every sound; and as, in the intervals of conversation, the
silence was unbroken, I could have detected the fall of the lightest
footstep.
"From this time the light which illuminated the figure gradually faded,
and soon I could no longer distinguish any form. The slight rustling
sound, unaccompanied by footsteps, still, however, continued.
"Suddenly we heard a noise as of the door opposite to me being unlocked;
then of its being hastily opened and shut; then the rustling sound
approached me on the left, and a key was laid on my left hand. Then
a second door was heard to be unlocked in the same way, and I heard
another key laid on the table just before me. Then a third door (that of
the cup-board, by the sound) was heard to be unlocked and opened, and a
key, as if pitched over our heads, was heard to drop with a clatter on
the table.
"While this was going on I commented, from time to time, on each
occurrence, and received answers from Mr. Underhill, from his place at
the table opposite to me.
"While we were conversing, there was a rattling of the crockery in the
cup-board. Mrs. Underhill expressed her apprehensions as to some
favorite china, but Mr. Underhill replied, 'I will trust the Spirits;'
and then added, 'Cannot the Spirit bring something to Mr. Owen?' Almost
immediately there was set down on the table, close to my left hand, some
object which I touched, and it proved to be a cut-glass goblet. In
setting it down, what seemed a human hand touched mine, and immediately
afterward was laid several times on my shoulder. I expressed a desire
that it would distinctly grasp my hand, to which Mr. Underhill
responded. Instantly a small hand, or what in touch resembled one, took
hold of my hand and grasped it. Then it clasped my bare wrist, gently
but with a firm grasp; then my lower arm, then my upper arm; each time
with a distinct grasp. I could not have distinguished the touch from
that of a human hand. It was a little cooler than mine, but not
disagreeably so. There was nothing chilly or clammy or otherwise
unpleasant about it. There was after this, throughout the sitting,
no sound whatever of opening or closing doors.
"While it was touching me thus, Mr. Underhill said, 'Can you fill the
goblet you brought to Mr. Owen with water?' There was a rustling but no
footstep, a slight noise in the pantry, and then the sound of something
dropped into the goblet; but, putting my hand in, I felt no water. In
doing so I broke the circle only for a moment. Then, just behind me, I
heard a sound as if the glass of the clock on the mantel-piece were
touched and shaken.
"All this time there was no word spoken except by those at the table;
but, once or twice, there was a whistling sound in the air.
"When, soon after, we were bidden by the raps to relight the gas, I
found three door-keys on the table, the goblet also, and within it a
lump of loaf-sugar. Both the room doors were closed, but on trying them
I found that neither was locked. Two of the keys on the table fitted
them. The door of the pantry, which the third key fitted, stood open,
and the cover of the barrel of sugar was pushed partly off. The
left-hand upper portion of the blind, at which we had seen and heard
the figure, was open.
"These are facts, all briefly noted down the same evening on which they
happened, and written out in full the next morning.
"The allegations, by the raps, were that the Spirit present was that of
a daughter of Mrs. Fox, who had died young, and that other Spirits were
present (among them an Indian Spirit), aiding her to show herself to
our circle. Emily--that was the girl's name--had been Mrs. Underhill's
favorite sister, long mourned over, and had lain, during the last hour
of her life and at the moment of death, in Mrs. Underhill's arms. Mr.
Underhill stated to me that he had seen the same Spirit, as distinctly,
several times before; and that he had been able to distinguish the
features. He appeared also, on this occasion, to have perceived the
whole figure, and especially the features, more distinctly than I did,
though my natural sight has always been keen, and, except within
ordinary reading distance, is still nearly as strong as it was thirty
years ago. With these exceptions, all present, so far as I could judge
by comparing notes with them during and after the sitting, seemed to
have seen and heard the succession of phenomena here described just as
I myself had done.
"Up to this time, never having witnessed any such phenomena as these, I
had often doubted within myself how I should be affected by witnessing
an apparition, or what I had reason to consider such.
"It _seemed_ to me that I should experience no alarm; but of this in
advance of actual experience, I could not be assured. Now I know just
how far I can trust my self-possession. Awe I undoubtedly felt--awe and
intense interest; but, in looking back on my feelings throughout that
wonder-bringing hour, I feel certain that a physician might have placed
his finger on my wrist, even at the moment when that dimly illuminated
Presence first bent over me, with scarcely six inches intervening
between its veiled face and mine--its hands placed on my head, its lips
touching my shoulder--and not have found the beatings of my pulse unduly
accelerated; or if he had detected acceleration, it could not, I am very
sure, have been justly ascribed to any tremor or fear, but solely to the
natural effect of solemn and riveted expectation. If a man, under such
circumstances, may trust to his own recollections not twenty-four hours
old, I can aver, on my honor, that I was not, at any time while these
events were in progress, under other excitement (though it may be
greater in degree) than a chemist might be supposed to experience while
watching the issue of a long-projected and decisive experiment, or an
astronomer when the culminating point of some important observation is
about to be reached.
"I beg it may not be supposed that I mention this as boasting or
courage. There was, in truth, nothing of which to boast. The preceding
and attendant circumstances were such as to preclude alarm. I was not
alone, nor taken by surprise. I was expecting some phenomena and hoping
that they would be of a phosphorescent nature. And though I had not any
expectation of seeing an actual form, yet, as the allegation was that a
deceased sister, beloved by one of the assistants, was present, and as
all the demonstrations were gentle and seemingly arranged by friendly
agencies to satisfy my desire for the strongest evidence in proof of
Spiritual appearance, I was under very different circumstances to
those which have often shaken the nerves even of the boldest, while
encountering for the first time what is usually called a ghost.
"I state the fact of my equanimity, then, merely as one of the attendant
circumstances which may be fairly taken into account in judging the
testimony here supplied in proof of the appearance, in visible and
tangible form, of an alleged Spirit of a deceased person. It is often
assumed that a man who believes he sees an apparition is (to use a
common expression) frightened out of his senses, and so, is not entitled
to credit as a witness.
"If it be objected that, before the sitting closed, the doors were
unlocked, I reply first, that all the remarkable and interesting
portion of the phenomena _occurred before this happened_; and secondly,
that, as the keys of the locked doors were left in them, they could only
be opened from the inside. If, in reply to this last, it still be urged
that Mr. Underhill, deserting his post for a few seconds, might have
opened one of the doors, I reply that I happened to be conversing with
him at the moment we first heard the key turned. I add that during the
next sitting, when still more wonderful phenomena occurred, I took a
precaution (as will be seen) which made it impossible that either Mr.
Underhill or any of the company should leave their seats, even for a
moment, without my knowledge."
A GHOST SPEAKS.
"Five days after this I had the session here referred to, in the same
room, with the same assistants, during which similar phenomena were
repeated, but with one highly noteworthy addition.
"The date was the twenty-sixth of October, 1860, and it was an evening
session, from half-past ten till midnight. The same precautions which I
had taken before the commencement of the former sitting, as to locking
all the doors, looking under the table, examining the room and
furniture, etc., I carefully adopted on this occasion also. As before,
we waited until the servants had retired and all was still.
"After a time there was spelled 'Darken;' then 'Join hands.' We obeyed;
but on this occasion I took an additional precaution. Grasping Mrs.
Underhill's right hand and Charles's left, I brought my own hands to the
centre of the table, and Mr. Underhill, across the table, laid his hands
on mine. This we continued throughout the entire sitting. I am able,
therefore, to assert that, from the beginning of this sitting till the
end, the circle remained unbroken.
"After a few minutes, there appeared a luminous body of an irregularly
circular form, about four inches in diameter, floating between us and
the door, which was back of Mrs. Underhill. It was somewhat brighter
than when it first appeared on the previous occasion, that is, on the
twenty-first of October.
"Then, after an interval, the light, rustling sound seemed to indicate
the approach of some one. The figure was not so distinct as on the
previous occasion, the lower portion losing itself in a grayish cloud.
The highest light seemed to be on the spot corresponding to the
forehead. But I saw no features; nor did I see the arms moving. Very
soon I was gently touched on the head, then on the shoulders, then laid
hold of, as with both hands of some one standing behind me. Then the
figure seemed, by the sound, to move away toward Mr. Underhill. He
stated that the figure was approaching him. He asked it if, as a test,
it could take something out of his pocket; but there was no reply, by
raps or otherwise. Immediately I heard a sound as if some one were
moving the key about in the door opposite to me.
"Soon after Mr. Underhill said the figure had again approached him. I
saw the illuminated circular substance close to his head, but could not
distinguish any figure. Mr. Underhill said that he could dimly discern
the figure.
"After a time it moved round to the lad Charles, who exhibited much
alarm, crying out, 'Oh, go away! pray don't!' when it approached, as I
saw it do, close to his head, which he had bent down on the table. It
was now very bright, so that, by the light, I could see the outline of
the boy's head. Charles afterward stated that he saw it distinctly, and
that a hand touched him repeatedly. While it was close to Charles, it
appeared to me as if a white handkerchief or some article of the like
texture were thrown over a hand or some similar support. I saw no
figure. When it rose behind Charles, as if to leave him when he cried
out, I could perceive what resembled a hand grasping some illuminated
substance, the outline of the hand appearing as a shadow across the
illuminated ground.
"Then it moved, as I could see, to Mr. Underhill, and after a time
crossed over to me, and touched me gently on the shoulder. Of a sudden
it occurred to me that one other evidence was lacking. I expressed a
desire that, if it could, it would speak. It seemed to make several
efforts to do so, as indicated by a slight, guttural sound; then I heard
a sound resembling the syllable _es_, twice repeated.
"Then, by the raps, was spelled out, 'Sing.' Mrs. Underhill complied.
The figure which had seemed to move away and return, again touched me
from behind, drawing me slightly toward it. Then, in a brief interval of
the singing, I heard, in a low voice, just behind me, 'God bless you.'
As additional assurance that it was no momentary illusion, I asked that
it would speak again; and again, in an interval of the music, I heard,
in distinct tones, the same words, 'God bless you.' They seemed to be
pronounced close to my ear. The voice was low--apparently a woman's
voice--just louder than a whisper, and the words seemed to be pronounced
with an effort, in subdued tones, as a person faint from sickness might
speak. I particularly noticed, also, that each word was pronounced
separately, with a perceptible interval between, and there was not the
usual accent on _bless_, followed by the shortened _you_; but each word
was equally accented. In other respects the sound resembled the human
voice, when low and gentle.
"Mrs. Underhill afterward stated to me that she distinguished the word
_you_, but not the others. Mr. Underhill said he had heard articulate
sounds, but could not make out any of the words; he only knew that
something had been said to me.
"After a time I saw the figure pass behind Mrs. Underhill and remain,
for a few minutes, near her husband; then it returned to me, appearing
on my left side. I saw the outline of a head and face, but still, as
before, covered with a veil which concealed the features. I perceived,
however, what I had not observed before, what seemed tresses of dark
hair dropping over the face, and the dim outline of an arm raised one
of these tresses, and then dropped it again, several times, as if to
attract my attention. Behind was the vague outline of a figure, but less
distinct than during the previous sitting. Then the figure passed behind
me. I was leaning over the table, so that Mr. Underhill might not have
so far to stretch in order to reach my hands. I felt a kiss on my
shoulders, then there was the feeling of two hands laid each on one
shoulder, and I was drawn very gently back till my shoulders, above the
chair back, were pressed against what seemed a material form. Almost at
the same moment my hand was kissed.
"Mr. Underhill cried out, 'Ah, you were drawn back;' and Mrs. Underhill
said, a little impatiently, 'Every one is touched but me. Can't you come
to me?' The words were hardly pronounced when she screamed out, as in
alarm; she had been suddenly and unexpectedly kissed on the forehead.
"From that very moment the manifestations entirely ceased. No luminous
object to be seen, not another touch, not a rustle, not a sound of any
kind in the room. I listened attentively, and am certain that no door
opened or shut, and scarcely a minute or two elapsed ere it was spelled
out, 'Light the gas.'
"When we had done so we found everything as before, with a single
exception. I ascertained by looking under the table and in the pantry
that there was no one in the room but ourselves; I found all the three
doors locked, but the key belonging to the door opposite to me was
missing. We asked where it was; the raps replied, 'Look.' We could not
see it anywhere. Then we examined our pockets, and, from one of his
coat-pockets Mr. Underhill produced a key which was found to fit the
door. Mrs. Underhill asked if her alarmed exclamation had injured the
Spirit?
"Answer by the raps: 'Not much.'
"Mrs. U.: 'I'm so _much_ afraid I hurt her!'
"Answer: 'It frightened her.'
"Question (by me): 'Did Mrs. Underhill's cry of alarm cause the
manifestations to cease?'
"Answer: 'Yes.'
"As to the door-key, I remark:
"That Mr. Underhill asked, as a test, to have something taken from his
pocket; but it was a better test, since he could not move from his place
to take the key from the door and deposit it in his pocket. Who _but_
a Spirit could take it, our circle remaining unbroken? Is the taking by
Spirit agency incredible? But the hands that pressed my shoulders, that
grasped my hand, that clasped my wrist, were surely material enough to
extract a key from a door-lock and drop it into a pocket.
"Then all the doors, this time, were left locked, so that no one
could enter from without; to say nothing of the absurd supposition
that a Spirit should open a door in order to admit human
assistants."--"Debatable Land," p. 467.