Insanity in “Spooks.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 18, 28 October 1908, Page 9

Insanity in “Spooks.”

How is it that the so-called supernatural manifestations, which are constantly being reported in the papers, are always either absolutely childish or destructive in character? The “spooks” raised by spiritualists at their seances never seem to do anything except play the fool with furniture, and never by any chance communicate anything that could be of any use to the earthly members of the audience. Then, take the “manifestations” which now and again occur in houses reported to be haunted. The “spooks” in these cases are content to indulge in tricks of the silliest sort. Indeed, the only “ghost” that has ever been reported as having done a kindly action was one who, after scaring an ancient dame half out of her wits by juggling with her cherished teaservice, sought to make amends by filling her coal-scutle, chopping up her firewood, and laying her breakfast table. This is, I believe, the only instance on record in which a "ghost” has performed a useful action, and "It” did the kindly part of its perforxuamce when nobody was looking. The reported doings of all other spooks wo read about suggest that the only spirits who aro allowed to revisit the scenes of their previous existence are those who show signs of insanity, and that the authorities in tho Place Beyond make use of the earth as their lunatic asylum.

The doings of the latest “spook” tc find fame in the columns of the daily papers do not differ materially in quality from those of its predecessors. “It” has been haunting a house in Sykesstreet, Hull, and has succeeded in scaring the occupiers into other premises, making a woman seriously ill, and breaking a quantity of crockeryware. That is the sum total of the Hull ghost’s doings. “It” first made its appearance last Saturday, the day after the brother of Mr. James Gibson, the householder, bad been buried. In the small hours of the morning the family was roused by unusual noises. Mrs. Gibson woke up to see a comb fly out of her toilet case and deposit itself in the wash basin; Her husband jumped up, and as he was picking up the comb a hair brush jumped out of tho box in the same way. Then a pebble came whizzing into the room, apparently through- the closed door, whereupon Mrs. Gibson fainted, and the rest of the family ran out of doors. The police were speedily on the acene, and one gallant officer rushed into the house. He was saluted on the threshold with a box of blacking, which narrowly missed his head. In the kitchen ho found himself the target for various articles of crockery and domestic utensils which leaped from the tables and dresser to greet him. Then the “manifestations” ceased. The house w r as searched from attic to cellar, but no one was found, nor anything to give a clue towards solving the mysterious happenings. Other constables, including P.O. Kelly, who won the heavy-weight wrestling at the Olympic Games, then came on the scene, and stayed there, but the “spook” did not indulge in any further pranks. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson, however, could not be persuaded to live any longer in the house, and had the goods and chattels removed at the earliest possible moment.