Even In Dreams

1895

"Lyresby was telling me that he had a dream that an angel appeared and told him that he would go straight to heaven when he died. Now, what do you think of that?"
"Oh, that's just like him. He couldn't even dream the truth." — Indianapolis Journal.


Swedish Bread

The common bread of Sweden is a rye cake about the size of a batter cake and with a hole in the middle. These cakes are baked twice a year, and after baking are hung up to dry. They are said to be nourishing and are about as easy to chew as disks of mortar.

An Enchanted Cavern – The Beauties of the Grotto of Capri

1887

An Enchanted Cavern

Beauties of the Grotto of Capri — An American Bicyclist's Adventure

Tradition has it that this "Grotta Azzura" was known in the earliest Roman times and then lost again in the Middle Ages, although the knowledge of its existence was preserved at Capri, and that in the last century it was rediscovered through chance — a shipwrecked sailor was dashed through the narrow opening in the cliff; recovered consciousness to find himself in heaven, as he thought — in reality upon a little ledge in the grotto — and escaped by swimming.

Can I not enter swimming when it would be impossible for a boat? The guide says, "No," but will take me out there, and it is worth the attempt; so watch and valuables are left at the hotel and we are off. On the way we meet a party returning, and upon reaching to the cave we find that the entrance, about three feet high and four broad, is filled by every wave and the spray sent dashing up the rocky sea wall I must enter as the wave recedes.

Undressing and leaping into the sea, I was tossed about a little by the waves, my mouth filled with salt water and I almost decided to give it up; but, after holding to the boat for a few moments and hearing the guide expatiate upon the "Grotta Bellissima," decided that I could risk a bit of a knock for the purpose of seeing one of nature's most beautiful creations. The boat was pushed as near as was safe and I made a plunge for the entrance, but just a little too late; I saw that the coming wave would catch me, and fearing a blow on the head — where even the felt hat I wore for that contingency would not have saved me — I dived on the instant, and the wave, coming roaring in, pushed me by its weight into the depths, instead of against the rocks. I think I must have gone down fifteen feet and been under the surface nearly a minute, for I swallowed an immense quantity of the salty fluid before I came up dazed, after a hard struggle, to find myself in smooth water, surrounded by a wonderful, supernatural, blue light, with countless stars gleaming above me. The water is very clear and seems to be fathomless, while my limbs are bright, polished, sparkling silver. Ideas of distance are lost; I can see for miles in every direction, up and down as well, and it is a surprise to me when, after swimming for ten minutes, I find myself at the other end of the grotto.

There was no resting place except a crevice in the rock for the fingers of one hand, and I hung there swinging back and forth and feasting on this wonderful sight — a feast half mingled with - fear as to my safe exit. The entrance appeared hopelessly far away, entirely closed every few seconds by the inrushing water, and then, upon its recession, admitting a ray from the outside world. The impression and experience is, under such circumstances, altogether indescribable and unearthly. After perhaps fifteen minutes I launched out once more, and swam, in fear and trembling, for the entrance; before reaching it two or three big waves came rushing in, tossing the salt spray into my eyes, and accompanied by a cold wind. I approached as near the entrance as I could, waited until a great wave dashed itself with full force into my face, struck out quickly, and, behold, I came out without the slightest trouble and seized the boat before the next wave came! — George P. Fiske, M. D.. in Outing.

The Dying Wife (poetry)

1878

The Dying Wife.

Lay the gem upon my bosom,
Let me feel her warm breath,
For a strong chill o'er me passes,
And I know it is death.
I would gaze upon the treasure—
Scarcely given ere I go—
Feel her rosy, dimpled fingers
Wander o'er my cheek of snow,

I am passing through the waters,
But a blessed shore appears;
Kneel beside me, husband, dearest,
Let me kiss away thy tears;
Wrestle with thy grief, my husband,
Strive from midnight unto day;
It may leave an angel's blessing
When it vanishes away.

Lay the gem upon my bosom,
'Tis not long she can be there,
See! how to my heart she nestles,
'Tis the pearl I love to wear.
If in after years beside thee,
Sits another in my chair,
Though her voice be sweeter music,
And her face than mine more fair;

If a cherub call thee "Father,"
Far more beautiful than this,
Love thy first-born, oh! my husband!
Turn not from the motherless;
Tell her something of her mother—
You may call her by my name!
Shield her from the winds of sorrow!
If she errs, oh! gently blame.

Lead her sometimes, where I am sleeping
I will answer if she calls,
And my breath will stir her ringlets,
When my voice in blessing falls;
Then her soft black eyes will brighten,
And shall wonder whence it came;
In her heart when years pass o'er her
She will find her mother's name.

It is said that every mortal
Walks between two angels here;
One records the ill, but blots it,
If before the midnight drear
Man repenteth — if uncancelled,
Then the right-hand angel weepeth,
Bowing low with veiled eyes.

I will be her right hand angel,
Sealing up the good for Heaven;
Striving that the midnight watches
Find no misdeeds unforgiven.
You will not forget me, husband,
When I am sleeping 'neath the sod;
Oh, love the jewel to us given
As I love thee — next to God!

The Head Doesn't Belong In Heaven

Editorial, 1922

One of the members of the National Spiritualist Association, which has been holding its annual convention in Chicago, gives information quite as interesting and definite as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's concerning the other world. The particular value of this most instructive information is that it authentically describes what we might call spiritualization.

Most of us are too little advised regarding the spirit world. Disappointed as we sometimes are, and even despondent, we are in no hurry to look beyond the grave until we get there, and we are, in our opinion of absolute sanity, in no sanguinary haste to go there.

Now, this scientist of spiritism explains that the feet become spiritualized first, and are the part of the body first to enter heaven. The head is spiritualized last, and, of course, arrives in heaven a yard or two behind the feet.

Another spirit scientist expresses confidence that there are golf links and base ball diamonds in heaven. He argues that it is natural that a person who takes interest in a sport for ten, twenty or more years should retain his interest in that subject after becoming a spirit. From this we may imply that there will be free cigarettes, ice cream, and, perhaps, movies in heaven.

It strikes us as being most unfortunate that the great majority of us finds it to be impossible to obtain facts about the spirits and their world. And then, besides, we don't seem to be rational enough to accept and understand plausible revelations when they are offered to us.

Isn't it somewhat foolish to keep on working, and planning, and thinking, and taking old inspirations on faith, when we could, at will or by profession, practically enter the spirit world? We set such sublime and fond store on what we recognize to be sacred teachings about the other world — yet we could, if we could, obtain authentic and up-to-date knowledge from lights and shadows, which according to their own assurances, are denizens of the spirit world.

No wonder that spiritism scientists tell us that the head is spiritualized last. The wonder is that the head can be spiritualized at all. If there is infinity in the spirit world of modern spiritism, the head does not belong there. If there is anything that the human brain cannot understand it is the infinite, the infinite being supernatural, and the head does not belong in an environment which it is incapable of appreciating.

The average head fully realizes its limitations. This is why it is predisposed to be guided by inspiration concerning the other world. It rests in security on faith.

—The Monessen Daily Independent, Monessen, PA, Oct. 23, 1922, p. 2.

Marriages In Heaven, Says Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

1922
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MARRIAGES IN HEAVEN SAYS SIR CONAN DOYLE

NEW YORK, April 10.- There are marriages in the spirit world, but no births, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said today.

The celebrated English creator of "Sherlock Holmes," who has come to America to lecture on matters psychic, made this statement, in giving reporters a more intimate view of the next world as he conceived it than on his arrival yesterday on the steamer Baltic.

Marriages, he said, were on a higher level than in this world. They constitute the mating of affinities and always continue happily. Indeed, he said, there was a very complex form of society of the world hereafter.

Sir Arthur said that the great agreement among spirits of various nationalities as to life in the spirit world will be one of the strongest proofs of the existence of such life. He added that the spirit world was all about us but that it was expressed in colors and sounds which our senses were too gross to understand.

Sir Arthur said that some ministers taught that it is hard to get into heaven, but a normal, decent person could not keep from going there after death.

Asked about a suicide, Sir Arthur said that no one could force the hand of providence, and that a suicide would have to bear in the spirit world the trouble that had caused him to end his life.

He said that the object of life was to spiritualize ourselves and that riches and successes here did not count against that.

Some Stumbling Blocks

Climatic conditions are one of the stumbling blocks in the path of mediums, declared Sir Arthur.

Expressing the belief that all could become mediums if the talent were developed, Sir Arthur said that it was through ectoplasm that conversation with the spirit world was conducted.

"Ectoplasm," he explained, "is a substance emanating from the medium. At first it is a vapor or gas, which becomes glutinous or puttylike, and in that state can be felt.

"I have felt it myself; it can be photographed. I have a number of photographs.

"It has been analyzed by Dr. Schrenck-Notzing in Germany and by Parisian scientists. It has been found to contain phosphates, carbonates and sulphates, and some other substance undetermined.

"It is only on ectoplasm that a spirit can materialize. A spirit passing through it becomes visible to the medium. I saw my mother's face in the ectoplasm following her death a few months ago. There is not the slightest question about that. It was while I was in Australia. The face seemed as solid as in life."

--Nevada State Journal, Reno, Nevada, April 11, 1922, page 5.

HELL DOES NOT EXIST IN OLD SENSE OF WORD, POET MARKHAM DECLARES

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 15 - "There is no hell at all in the old sense of the word," said Edwin Markham, famous American poet, in a lecture at Sheldon memorial, 3648 Washington avenue.

The author of "The Man and the Hoe" lectured on Immanuel Swedenborg, calling him "the eyeball in the front of the eighteenth century." Elucidating the Swedenborgian idea of the postmortem universe, Markham said, in part:

"What, in brief does Swedenborg tell us of the world beyond? He tells us that the spiritual world is divided into three realms necessary for evolution of the human spirit. It contains a realm called heaven, another called hell, and still another called the spirit world, a realm between heaven and hell. There is nothing irrational or arbitrary about these realms. The world of spirits receives all men and women as they leave the earth; and it is the realm of education and preparation for the heaven country or the hell country.

"Love, the service of love, is the hinge of destiny. No one is forced into the heaven country or the hell country, but each one goes to the realm that is the choice of his own heart.

"There is no literal hellfire, for all hellfire is only the burning of evil desire. All hells, therefore, are created by men. Men go to hell only because they prefer hell to heaven. Indeed, hell is the heaven of the selfish."

-- Des Moines Register, Nov. 16, 1917