Progress of Ghostology in America.
We have latterly not heard much about the spiritual phenomena so called, the last important event in that line which we now recollect having been the formation of Mr. N. P. Tallmadge's and Mr. H. H. Day's orthodox association of acolytes in the new revelation. But though the public attention is no longer called to the subject as when its wonders possessed the attraction of novelty, it is not to be supposed that the business of ghost-seeing and table-pounding is checked in the least, or that the conversion of sceptics is not going forward with as much rapidity as ever. The literature of the phenomena is increasing—there are not less, we should say, than about a hundred distinct books upon them—and the journals devoted to their weekly exposition, numerous as they are, all wear the aspect of thrift and prosperity. One of them calculates that over 200,000 persons—we believe that is the figure—have been raised out of the abyss of absolute infidelity into belief in spiritual existence by the intervention of the rapping, tipping and elbow-jerking ghosts. In the medical line, too, these mysterious agencies are doing a strong business. Aside from the prescribing mediums and somnambulists,—not to be confounded with those whose illuminated transparencies every evening in Broadway attract the crowd of passers to see the spiritual demonstrations at one or two shillings admission,—there are various remedies of ghostly origin which proffer health to the suffering at the most reasonable rates.