The Spirits Had Not Heard Of It

A friend relates to me an incident that occurred on the evening of the day when the news of the death of Preston S. Brooks carne to Massachusetts. It was at a epiritualistic exhibition held in the town of North Bridgewater, now the city of Brockton. A committee of citizens had been chosen fiom the audience to sit at the table on the platform with the inedimn to ask questions and otherwise reprosent the audience in the interest of candid investigation. Jacob W. Crosby, a well known citizen, was one of the committee. He was to do the questioning. After a few introducto-y inquines, to which replies were made by the regulation one, two orthree rapa, Mr. Crosby astonnded the spirit world by the query , ' ' Is the spirit of Preston S. Brooks present?" There vas no replj', and the question was repeated. Then there were some hesitating raps at the table, bnt it conld not be determined whether the answer was in the aftïrniative or the negative. " Yon know he is dead, don't ycraï" shouted the committeeman. The answer by raps was now distinctly"No." "Well, he is, thanÊ God," yelled Uncle Jake, who was wrought wp to great esciternent. as he struck the table with his ponderous fist, " and vou had better make a note of it. ' '