Lights and shadows of spiritualism

304 MODERN SPIRITUALISM.for the crime I committed." Nor does he. "I am relieved bythis strong assurance of the imperishable necessity of thingsfromthe tumult of wild, reasonless remorse which assails the vulgar."It seems strange that this contradictory, illogical materialismshould have been admitted to the j)ages of a spiritual journal.What did he think of in the hour immediately preceding death ?Was there any dim horror of meeting his victim haunting him ?Listen! "I thought of" (the murdered woman) "too, but notwith such marked sadness, as I expected to meet her soon, and gothrough many comforting explanations."Ai-e we really requestedto believe that at such a time such a man could have a thoughtlike this ?This strange being read the various London newspapers containingaccounts of his execution! " By-the-bye, it] was statedin one paper that when I approached the scafibld my hair wasseen to be carefully combed. This is true." And, further on, heremarks concerning "the two swift glances which the reporterstold you I took towards the spectators."It is not surprising that he should be thoroughly dissatisfiedwith his fate. " Capital punishment was, in my case, and is innearly all modern cases, a profoundly barbarous and perniciousblunder I rejoice to think that my case will be lookedback upon in history as one of the crucial cases which helpedmaterially to disclose to the nation the utter folly of the wholething, and so for ever to put an end to it."Would to heaven onecould for ever put an end to pseudo-spirit-communications suchas this !The above assassin does not stand alone in his theories andteachings. John Wilkes Booth is reported to have manifested toa certain American circle. The remorse that besets him can besufficiently judged of from his communication. " I, and Lincoln,"he remarked, " often have a cosy chat up here. We agree thatit was just as well I shot him. You see, it was set down in theorder of things for mc to do it, and I don't see why I should beblamed for accomplishing my destiny. The world was all thebetter for it."