contributions to-all the year round(一年到头)-第13节
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journal； and one hour's reference to the Local Rate…books。 They must
disbelieve all possibility of a human creature on the last verge of the dark
bridge from Life to Death； being mysteriously able； in occasional cases； so
to influence the mind of one very near and dear； as vividly to impress that
mind with some disturbed sense of the solemn change impending。 They
must disbelieve the possibility of the lawful existence of a class of
intellects which； humbly conscious of the illimitable power of GOD and of
their own weakness and ignorance； never deny that He can cause the souls
of the dead to revisit the earth； or that He may have caused the souls of the
dead to revisit the earth； or that He can cause any awful or wondrous thing
to be； but to deny the likelihood of apparitions or spirits coming here upon
the stupidest of bootless errands； and producing credentials tantamount to
a solicitation of our vote and interest and next proxy； to get them into the
Asylum for Idiots。 They must disbelieve the right of Christian people
who do NOT protest against Protestantism； but who hold it to be a barrier
against the darkest superstitions that can enslave the soul； to guard with
jealousy all approaches tending down to Cock Lane Ghosts and suchlike
infamous swindles； widely degrading when widely believed in； and they
must disbelieve that such people have the right to know； and that it is their
duty to know； wonder… workers by their fruits； and to test miracle…mongers
by the tests of probability； analogy； and common sense。 They must
disbelieve all rational explanations of thoroughly proved experiences （only）
which appear supernatural； derived from the average experience and study
of the visible world。 They must disbelieve the speciality of the Master
and the Disciples； and that it is a monstrosity to test the wonders of show…
folk by the same touchstone。 Lastly； they must disbelieve that one of the
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best accredited chapters in the history of mankind is the chapter that
records the astonishing deceits continually practised； with no object or
purpose but the distorted pleasure of deceiving。
We have summed up a fewnot nearly allof the articles of belief and
disbelief to which Mr。 Howitt most arrogantly demands an implicit
adherence。 To uphold these； he uses a book as a Clown in a Pantomime
does； and knocks everybody on the head with it who comes in his way。
Moreover； he is an angrier personage than the Clown； and does not
experimentally try the effect of his red…hot poker on your shins； but
straightway runs you through the body and soul with it。 He is always
raging to tell you that if you are not Howitt； you are Atheist and Anti…
Christ。 He is the sans…culotte of the Spiritual Revolution； and will not
hear of your accepting this point and rejecting that；down your throat
with them all； one and indivisible； at the point of the pike； No Liberty；
Totality； Fraternity； or Death！
Without presuming to question that 〃it is high time to protest against
Protestantism〃 on such very substantial grounds as Mr。 Howitt sets forth；
we do presume to think that it is high time to protest against Mr。 Howitt's
spiritualism； as being a little in excess of the peculiar merit of Thomas L。
Harris's sermons； and somewhat TOO 〃full； out…gushing； unstinted； and
absorbing〃。
THE MARTYR MEDIUM
〃After the valets； the master！〃 is Mr。 Fechter's rallying cry in the
picturesque romantic drama which attracts all London to the Lyceum
Theatre。 After the worshippers and puffers of Mr。 Daniel Dunglas Home；
the spirit medium； comes Mr。 Daniel Dunglas Home himself； in one
volume。 And we must； for the honour of Literature； plainly express our
great surprise and regret that he comes arm…in…arm with such good
company as Messrs。 Longman and Company。
We have already summed up Mr。 Home's demands on the public
capacity of swallowing； as sounded through the war…denouncing trumpet
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of Mr。 Howitt； and it is not our intention to revive the strain as performed
by Mr。 Home on his own melodious instrument。 We notice； by the way；
that in that part of the Fantasia where the hand of the first Napoleon is
supposed to be reproduced； recognised； and kissed； at the Tuileries； Mr。
Home subdues the florid effects one might have expected after Mr。
Howitt's execution； and brays in an extremely general manner。 And yet
we observe Mr。 Home to be in other things very reliant on Mr。 Howitt； of
whom he entertains as gratifying an opinion as Mr。 Howitt entertains of
him： dwelling on his 〃deep researches into this subject〃； and of his
〃great work now ready for the press〃； and of his 〃eloquent and forcible〃
advocacy； and eke of his 〃elaborate and almost exhaustive work〃； which
Mr。 Home trusts will be 〃extensively read〃。 But； indeed； it would seem
to be the most reliable characteristic of the Dear Spirits； though very
capricious in other particulars； that they always form their circles into
what may be described； in worldly terms； as A Mutual Admiration and
Complimentation Company （Limited）。
Mr。 Home's book is entitled Incidents in My Life。 We will extract a
dozen sample passages from it； as variations on and phrases of harmony in；
the general strain for the Trumpet； which we have promised not to repeat。
1。 MR。 HOME IS SUPERNATURALLY NURSED
〃I cannot remember when first I became subject to the curious
phenomena which have now for so long attended me； but my aunt and
others have told me that when I was a baby my cradle was frequently
rocked； as if some kind guardian spirit was attending me in my slumbers。〃
2。 DISRESPECTFUL CONDUCT OF MR。 HOME'S AUNT
NEVERTHELESS
〃In her uncontrollable anger she seized a chair and threw it at me。〃
3。 PUNISHMENT OF MR。 HOME'S AUNT
〃Upon one occasion as the table was being thus moved about of itself；
my aunt brought the family Bible； and placing it on the table； said； 'There；
that will soon drive the devils away'； but to her astonishment the table only
moved in a more lively manner； as if pleased to bear such a burden。〃
（We believe this is constantly observed in pulpits and church reading desks；
which are invariably lively。） 〃Seeing this she was greatly incensed； and
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determined to stop it； she angrily placed her whole weight on the table；
and was actually lifted up with it bodily from the floor。〃
4。 TRIUMPHANT EFFECT OF THIS DISCIPLINE ON MR。
HOME'S AUNT
〃And she felt it a duty that I should leave her house； and which I did。〃
5。 MR。 HOME'S MISSION
It was communicated to him by the spirit of his mother； in the
following terms： 〃Daniel； fear not； my child； God is with you； and who
shall be against you？ Seek to do good： be truthful and truth… loving；
and you will prosper； my child。 Yours is a glorious missionyou will
convince the infidel； cure the sick； and console the weeping。〃 It is a
coincidence that another eminent man； with several missions； heard a
voice from the Heavens blessing him； when he also was a youth； and
saying； 〃You will be rewarded； my son； in time〃。 This Medium was the
celebrated Baron Munchausen； who relates the experience in the opening
of the second chapter of the incidents in HIS life。
6。 MODEST SUCCESS OF MR。 HOME'S MISSI
