LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 Shelf _ Ji ^ 3 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
/ 
 
 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 A Drama, in Six Acts. 
 
 EY 
 
 G. DAMIANI, P.M.L., 
 
 President of the Psychological and Pneumatological Societies of Naples ; Honorary Member of the First Spiritual 
 
 Union Society of San Francisco, California; of the Pennsylvania State Association of Spiritualists ; of the 
 
 British National Association of Spiritualists ; of the Scientific Society for Psychological Studies, 
 
 of Paris; of the Society for Spiritual Studies, of Buda-Pesth ; Corresponding Member 
 
 of the Oromase Society for Spiritual Studies of the Hague, Holland ; Honorary 
 
 Member of the Pneumatological-Psychological Academy of Florence, 
 
 and of other Associations for Psychological Studies. 
 
 ,J 
 
 BOSTON: 
 COLBY AND RICH, PUBLISHERS, 
 
 9 Montgomery Place. 
 1880. 
 
^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 
 
 1880, 
 
 By G. DAMIANI. 
 
 Stereotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry, 
 No. 4 Pearl Street 
 
BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCII 
 
 OF 
 
 SIGNOR DAMIANI. 
 
 It necessarily adds to the interest of a volume — be it 
 drama, poetrj-, or philosophy — to know something of the 
 history and social position of the author. Books, soiled 
 and worn, perish ; but their authors, as well as the truths 
 they enunciate, live immortal. 
 
 It was during my second tour to England and the Con- 
 tinent that I had the good fortune to become acquainted 
 with the author of the following drama, written in the inter- 
 ests of free-thought and a broad rational spiritualism. Our 
 acquaintance speedily and naturally ripened into a friend- 
 ship as mutual as persistent ; and it is but the simplest act 
 of justice that I at once publicly acknowledge the many 
 obligations I was under to the polished scholar and writer 
 of this drama, for such personal kindnesses rendered in 
 Naples as accompany ing me on excursions to old historic 
 castles ; to famous churches grim and gray with years ; 
 through the gloom of the catacombs ; through the museum, 
 rich in relics from Pompeii and Herculaneum, and out into 
 the suburban districts studded with ancient Roman ruins ; 
 besides introducing me to Salvadore Brunetti, formerly- pro- 
 fessor in a Sicilian college, imprisoned by Francis II. and 
 emancipated by the noble Garibaldi ; to Baron Vincenzo 
 
 3 
 
4 BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 Caprara, imprisoned for republican sentiments at the insti- 
 gation of the Roman Catholic priesthood; to Count Ric- 
 ciardo, president of the Anti-Concillio y or Congress of Free- 
 thinkers, in Naples, Itaty ; and to seances frequented by 
 members of the royal family. 
 
 The subject of this sketch, Signor Damiani, was born of 
 Sicilian parents, in the ever beautiful city of Naples. His 
 father, a colonel in the army, and of ducal lineage, greatly 
 wished him and his other two sons to take the necessary 
 steps for becoming military men. To this end, }'oung Dami- 
 ani, at the tender age of thirteen, hopeful and intellectually 
 brilliant, was made to enter the Royal Guards of the* King 
 of Naples as a cadet. Though pleased at first, he soon 
 tired of so much routine and mechanical drudgeiy. Natu- 
 rally endowed with moral independence, and a strong will- 
 power, as well as inheriting a distaste for the brutality of 
 war and the war-training systems then in vogue throughout 
 Europe, he became after a time literally disgusted w T ith the 
 miserable discipline of the army of that vain, unworthy 
 king, and left it at the age of nineteen, commencing at once 
 a commercial career with a prosperous and wealthy uncle. 
 In this avocation his efforts were crowned w T ith consider- 
 able success. 
 
 Soon after commencing commercial business he fortu- 
 nately made the acquaintance of an English woman of fine 
 mind and charming disposition, whom he married, and 
 with whom he traveled for many years on the Continent, 
 spending the winters in the different capitals of Europe. 
 
 Comparatively weary of travel and the excitement inci- 
 dent to life in continental cities, he received an offer from 
 a great commercial house in Naples to represent its inter- 
 ests in Liverpool. This position he accepted and occupied 
 from 1849 to 185G, thus establishing an enviable reputation 
 in the line of finance and commerce ; but, owing to exces- 
 sive labors in the counting-house and the weight of ever- 
 
OF SIGNOH DAMIANI. f> 
 
 increasing responsibilities, coupled with linguistic studies 
 during spare hours, his health completely failed him, and 
 he felt the necessity of leaving the business for rest, for 
 recuperation, and ultimately for another field of enterprise. 
 This he soon found in teaching the languages; for be it 
 remembered, he had received his diploma, and had already 
 been a professor of modern languages in his native city. 
 
 In 1868, while this gentleman was regaining his shat- 
 tered health, he was unexpectedly called upon to follow 
 the mortal remains of his companion to the silent city of 
 the dead, — a dear companion with whom he had lived 
 most happily for over a quarter of a century. This afflic- 
 tion, in connection with memories of sunnier skies in Italy 
 and the mellow autumns of those earlier years now faded 
 and gone, took him to Naples, where for most of the time 
 he occupied the passing hours in classical and archaeological 
 studies. 
 
 Returning to England in 1870, visiting different towns 
 and cities where he had lectured upon Pompeii and Her- 
 culaneum, and upon other archaeological and literary sub- 
 jects, — visiting the charming town of Clifton, where he 
 had taught the modern languages, he selected another com- 
 panion in life, a most estimable and intelligent woman, 
 whom I have had the great pleasure of meeting. 'Mrs. 
 Damiani, while doing honor to the social circle in which 
 she moves, bears in her very presence that crowning grace 
 of graces, true womanhood. 
 
 Signor Damiani, after a careful investigation of the merits 
 of Spiritualism, became a believer in 1865. His religious 
 and psychological career may be thus briefly stated : a zeal- 
 ous Roman Catholic till the age of seventeen ; then reason- 
 ing, doubting the infallibility of Pope, Priest, and Church, 
 he drifted into a skeptical positivism, to there flounder for 
 some thirty years ; but was finally brought, through the 
 phenomena and the rational doctrines of Spiritualism, to a 
 
6 BBIEF BIOGRArmCAL SKETCH 
 
 knowledge of angel ministry — to a belief in God and the 
 soul's immortality. 
 
 It may interest American Spiritualists to know how Signor 
 Damiaoi became a convert. I will give the gist of a few 
 of his earlier experiences as he related them to me during 
 several interesting conversations : — 
 
 u The thirty years of nry skepticism were the most unsat- 
 isfactory years of my life. Ko God ! no future recognition 
 of friends ! no immortalit}' ! I was endowed with a sensi- 
 tive and highly spiritual organization ; and therefore the 
 universe without the soul's immortality r was a failure, a 
 farce, a sphinx stupid, speechless, and chilly. Belief in 
 positivism gave me no real soul-comfort. It neither sat- 
 isfied my head nor the affections of my heart ; and yet 
 I clung to it as preferable to the blighting theology of 
 the creeds. Clifton, as }~ou well know, is a most en- 
 joj'able place, noted alike for wealth, fashion, and intel- 
 ligence, and, further, for its frequent social gatherings. 
 Often I found it convenient to join these, engaging and 
 sharing in the pleasures, the gayety, and the hospitality of 
 the town. Returning from one of these agreeable parties 
 on a calm, clear night in spring-time, I found myself face 
 to face with the splendors of the heavens, engaged in medi- 
 tation. Are these interstellar spaces studded with measure- 
 less stars, is the illimitable universe, is this magnificent 
 world of ours, made to produce only a seventy-year chat- 
 tering, dining, dreaming, aspiring monkey ? or was it made 
 as a school of discipline and progress for immortal man? 
 Thus inquiring, pondering, I felt impressed to utter the fol- 
 lowing sincere pra}~er : ' If there be a Maker and righteous 
 Ruler of the universe, — if there be angels in heaven as the 
 sacred books of the ages teach, — I pray God, before these 
 thoughts fade away, to let me know that he does exist, and 
 that I shall survive the decay of this mortal body ! ' A most 
 extraordinary feeling — strange as it may seem — thrilled 
 
OF SIGNOR DAMIANI. 7 
 
 my whole being. It touched as with a flame of fire my con- 
 sciousness and my conscience. The conviction went like 
 an arrow to my heart, giving convictions that God existed, 
 and that in the near future I should have proofs of the 
 soul's immortality. 
 
 "Two or three days succeeding this experience, while 
 walking on the beautiful downs near the city, I met a 
 friend, a minister of the gospel, and a man of superior 
 intelligence, who addressed me in the following manner : 
 4 If it be neither rude nor unwise, ma} T I ask what are your 
 religious opinions ? ' 
 
 '"lama Comtist" was my prompt reply. 
 
 44 4 And so }'ou do not believe in any conscious hereafter, 
 nor in the existence of God ? ' 
 
 44 4 Not in the least.' 
 
 444 Well, who knows but that the Supreme Being, in whom 
 you do not believe, has inspired me to question you upon this 
 important subject? Certain I am that I can convince you 
 of 3'our errors.' 
 
 4k 4 What, — you are not going to preach to me, surely.' 
 
 44 4 Oh, dear! no, no! You are past preaching to; you 
 are a Positivist, and I shall be necessitated to give you 
 positive proofs of the soul's future existence.' 
 
 44 4 Pray, what do you mean ? You are not going to work 
 a miracle, are you?' 
 
 444 Have you heard of Spiritualism ? ' 
 
 444 Oh, certainly, — table-tipping, table-turning, magic, 
 sorcery, and all that sort of stuff.' 
 
 444 Ay, this is the way, my friend, that an ungrateful 
 humanity has welcomed every newly-conceived truth ; and 
 yet, no truth, though laughed and scoffed at, can die out 
 of existence. Spiritualism is a truth. It has had its scat- 
 tered witnesses in all the past periods of history. The 
 so-called dead live and communicate with their friends ; 
 and if you will accompany me in good faith, I am sure 
 
8 BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCII 
 
 you will bo compelled through evidences direct to change 
 your opinions.' 
 
 144 With you, my friend, I will go anywhere. When 
 shall it be, and where?' 
 
 41 ' We expect in a few da}^s a medium from London, — 
 Mrs. Marshall. I beg of you to accompany me to her seance, 
 and judge for yourself.' 
 
 " 4 Put me down as one of 3-our circle. I am anxious to 
 investigate.' 
 
 " Less than a week passed when the distinguished gen- 
 tleman called for me to attend the promised seance. It 
 was held in Clifton, on the 2d of May, 18G5. The condi- 
 tions were favorable, and the manifestations not onl}' satis- 
 factory, but really astounding/' 
 
 A full report may be found in the London Dialectical 
 Society's Reports, carefully prepared by Signor Damiani 
 himself. 
 
 Suffice it to say, that this seance, so eminently satisfac- 
 toiy, only whetted this gentleman's appetite for more. The 
 field of investigation widened. Proofs, tests, and the most 
 convincing testimonials multiplied till they resulted in a 
 positive conviction of the truth of Spiritualism ; and imme- 
 diately upon this conviction Mr. Damiani, with a most com- 
 mendable moral heroism, published the fruits of his ps}"chic 
 investigations and conversion to Spiritualism in three of 
 the Bristol journals, — published them to the utter amaze- 
 ment and disgust of a large circle of non-believing friends 
 and admirers. From that time to the present the subject 
 of this biographical sketch has been a most devoted Spir- 
 itualist, introducing it to many of the higher classes in 
 Italy and the continental capitals, as well as distributing 
 Spiritualist literature and doing missionary work in his 
 European travels. Many thank him for the light he was 
 instrumental in bringing to their eyes, and the knowledge 
 imparted relative to a future progressive existence through 
 
OF SIGNOB. DAMIANI. 9 
 
 his own clairvoyance and the mediumistic gifts of other 
 toilers in the Spiritual vineyard. 
 
 It was in the year 1868, if my memory serves me, that 
 a series of letters against Spiritualism were published in 
 the "Pall Mall Gazette," by Professor Tyndall, and the 
 late Mr. G. II. Lewes, of London. These met the eye of 
 Signor Damiani, who promptly replied in a most incisive 
 and exhaustive manner ; but the " Gazette " refused to pub- 
 lish his paper. This unfairness so aroused the righteous 
 indignation of the author of the rejected paper that he 
 launched forth what might be denominated a challenge pam- 
 phlet to Messrs. Tyndall and Lewes, relating to the matter 
 of Spiritualism, and involving a thousand guineas. Here 
 follows a portion of the text as published at the time : — 
 
 " I now offer you two challenges : 
 
 "First, I challenge you, or either of you, or any of the public who, like 
 you, disbelieve in the genuine character of Spiritualistic phenomena, to de- 
 posit in the hands of any well-known London banker, whom you or they 
 may name, the sum of five hundred guineas; and I pledge myself to imme- 
 diately deposit in the same bank a like amount : the ownership of such sura 
 of a thousand guineas to depend upon my proving, by evidence sufficient to 
 establish any fact in history, or in a criminal or civil court of justice, — 
 
 '*!. That intelligent communications, and answers to questions put, pro- 
 ceed from dead and inert matter in a manner inexplicable by any generally 
 recognized law of nature. 
 
 " 2. That dead and inert matter does move without the aid of any mechan- 
 ical or known chemical agency, and in defiance of all the admitted laws of 
 gravitation. 
 
 " 3. That voices appertaining to no one in the flesh are heard to speak, 
 and hold rational converse with men. 
 
 "A jury of twenty -four gentlemen, twelve to be chosen by each party 
 (such jury to consist exclusively of members of the learned professions and 
 literary men), to decide whether or not the facts contained in the above 
 propositions are conclusively proved per testes, — t. e., by witnesses of estab- 
 lished character ; a majority of the twenty-four to decide. If the verdict be 
 that these facts have not been established, the thousand guineas are to belong 
 to the party accepting this challenge : if the verdict be that these facts are 
 established, the thousand guineas to be mine. 
 
 " Second. Immediately after the above wager being decided, either way, 
 I offer a like challenge of five hundred guineas (to be met on the other side 
 in like manner as above) ; the ownership of the second sum of one thousand 
 
10 BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 guineas to depend upon the establishment of the facts contained in the prop- 
 ositions already given, by experiments conducted in the actual presence of 
 
 the tweDty-four gentlemen who have decided the previous wager. The ver- 
 dict of the majority to decide in this case Likewise* 
 " Iii either case, the eeancei are to be conducted in any public or private 
 
 building which the jury may select, and which may be available for the 
 purpose. 
 
 "The result of these challenges (if accepted and decided) to be adver- 
 tised by the victorious party, at the expense of the defeated party, in all the 
 London daily papers. 
 
 11 1 hope this i> plain English. 
 
 u Awaiting a reply to this letter, and to the challenge with which it con- 
 cludes, I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, 
 
 "G. Damiani." 
 " Clifton, October 1, 1803." 
 
 The above is what Americans would term "clear grit." 
 A portion of the provincial press in England treated the 
 challenging party kindly, and urged the two savants to ac- 
 cept the challenges ; but they remained as mute, and quite 
 as cold, too, as blocks of stone. Philosophers sometimes 
 need to be taught lessons of humility. Conspicuous among 
 the sympathizers and participants in the Anti-Ecumenical 
 Council, or Congress of Free-thinkers, assembling at Naples 
 about the middle of December, 18G9, was Signor Damiani, 
 whose knowledge of modern languages and acquaintance 
 with many of the European savants gave him great promi- 
 nence 'mid that Babel of tongues and friction of opinions. 
 At this famous congress there were delegates present not 
 only from the principal nations of Europe, but from several 
 of the American States and from Mexico, and all opposed 
 to Papal infallibility, to Protestant bigotiy, and to any 
 union of Church and State. During one of the sessions of 
 this council, held in the theatre, San Ferdinando, the writer 
 of this biographical paper, being called upon by President 
 Ricciardi, gave a brief address, the substance of which 
 Signor Damiani gave to the assemblage in Italian. May I 
 be pardoned for reproducing in this connection some few 
 paragraphs of the address relating directly to Spiritualism : 
 
OF SIGNOR DAMIANIt 11 
 
 " Italians, Brothers : Made, by virtue of an invitation extended by 
 your distinguished president, a member of this Congress of Free-thinkers, 
 and requested to participate in your deliberations, I most deeply regret my 
 inability to address you in your native language, — a languag'e so naturally 
 adapted to music, to the sentiments of poetry, and the principles of philos- 
 ophy. 
 
 "Freedom of conscience underlies the very foundation of the American 
 Declaration of Independence. Our Constitution gives preference to no 
 religious creed. Rightly interpreted, it considers man above all institu- 
 tions, — man and his innate rights above cardinals and popes, churches and 
 kingdoms. With the exception of a few clergymen and their willing devo- 
 tees, the united voice of America is eloquent in behalf of the inalienable 
 rights of man, — the right of each to think, to hear, to believe, and to judge 
 for himself upon all questions, civil, political, and religious; and no priest 
 has any business to say, ' Why believe ye thus and so ? * 
 
 " The central idea, the prime thought, of cultured Americans, is free 
 speech, free press, and free religion. The generous hearts of at least twenty 
 million transatlantic citizens beat in full sympathy with yours to-day. As 
 an individual — as an American citizen — t tender you the affections of a 
 warm heart, the clasp of an open hand, and the fellowship of a soul that has 
 sworn eternal bate to priestcraft and oppression. 
 
 "Though there are Socialists and Secularists, Rationalists and Material- 
 ists, the Spiritualists, numbering several millions, form the central column 
 in the progressive religious movement of America. Scientists and radical 
 "Unitarians constitute the right and left wings of this army. 
 
 "Under some name, and in some form, Spiritualism, as demonstrated 
 through phenomena, and substantiated by unimpeachable testimony, has 
 constituted the basic foundation and been the motive force of all religions 
 in their incipient stages. The Spiritualism of to-day, in America, England, 
 and all enlightened countries, differs from that of eighteen hundred years 
 since, in Judea, only in the better understanding of its philosophy, the gen- 
 eral conception of its naturalness, and its wider dissemination through the 
 different grades of society. It has been and is God's visible seal of love 
 and immortality to all climes and ages. 
 
 "As a general definition of Spiritualism, the following is submitted : 
 
 "Its fundamental idea is God, the infinite spirit-presence, imminent in all 
 things. 
 
 "Its fundamental thought is joyous communion with spirits and angels, 
 and the practical demonstrations of the same through the instrumentality 
 of media. 
 
 "Its fundamental purpose is to rightly generate, educate, and spiritualize 
 all the races and nations of the earth. 
 
 "Spiritualism, considered from its philosophical side, is Rationalism; 
 from its scientific side, Naturalism ; and from its religious side, the embodi- 
 
12 BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCII 
 
 mcnt of love to God and man, — a present inspiration and a heavenly min- 
 istry. In iltc year 1900 it will he the religion of the enlightened world. 
 "It anderliea all genuine reform movements, physiological, educational, 
 
 social, philanthropic, ami religions; ami, spanning all human interests will 
 
 holy aim, it seeks to reconstruct society upon the principles of the universal 
 brotherhood of humanity. 
 
 "Desirous of greater knowledge touching the relations of spirit with 
 matter, men with (Jod, and the intelligences peopling the world of spirits, 
 Spiritualists study and reverently interrogate the laws and principles that 
 govern phenomena and the occult forces of the universe, the histories of 
 the past, and the experiences of the present, anxious to solve those vast 
 psychologic problems of the ages — man's origin, capacity, duty, and final 
 destiny." 
 
 It was during the sessions of this congress, when the 
 very air was alive with political agitation, and with re- 
 ligious thoughts and theories, that this Italian Spiritualist, 
 whose biography I but barely sketch, related to me some 
 of the strange vicissitudes and narrowly escaped accidents 
 of his seemingly charmed life. I recall two or three of 
 them. 
 
 When a sportive, venturesome lad of twelve years, play- 
 ing upon a flat roof without a parapet, he fell from the 
 third story of this building, and yet received so little in- 
 jury that he immediately bounded to his feet and repaired 
 to the top of the stairs. 
 
 Again, whilst coursing in Yorkshire, England, his spir- 
 ited steed stumbling, both steed and rider fell headlong 
 down a steep hill, the horse floundering and finally rolling 
 over him. His gayly-attired compeers and riders were star- 
 tled. The}' supposed him either fatally wounded or dead. 
 The suspense for the moment was terrible ; but he sprung 
 up, remounted his horse, and rode the remainder of the 
 coursing-clay as though nothing had happened. 
 
 He has also been in great peril several times through 
 violent storms at sea, but through seemingly supernatural 
 power he escaped shipwreck. 
 
 These remarkable preservations from fatal injuries or 
 death, with others of a similar character occurring during 
 
OF SIGNOR DAMIANL 13 
 
 a most eventful life, he ascribes to the watchful care of 
 kindly spirits, who seem to have thrown a mystic safeguard 
 around his life-, predestining him from birth to be a pioneer 
 in the dissemination of the heavenly truth of Spiritualism 
 to the people of his native country. It is as true now 
 as in Bible times, that u He giveth his angels charge over 
 thee." 
 
 A man of something over medium height, a well-propor- 
 tioned frame, a high arching forehead revealing lines of 
 study, of scrupulous neatness of dress, a truly winning ex- 
 pression of countenance, a presence of courtly bearing, and 
 a nature gifted with that social, cordial spirit so common 
 to southern latitudes, this was Signor Damiani, the devoted 
 Italian Spiritualist and the full-orbed man as I first saw 
 him ; and time has only ennobled him in my estimation. 
 
 " Let wealth and commerce, laws and learning, die ; 
 But leave us still such grand nobility." 
 
 J. M. Peebles. 
 Hammonton, Atlantic County, 
 New Jeeset, U. S. A. 
 
TO THE RULERS OF NATIONS. 
 
 " If this council or this work be of men, it will come to naught : 
 "But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found 
 even to fight against God." — Acts v. 38, 39. 
 
 I dedicate this unadorned production of my pen to 3-ou, 
 O Rulers of peoples, that I may call your attention to an 
 almost ignored and even spurned fact, but which neverthe- 
 less is about to exercise the greatest influence on the des- 
 tinies of mankind. 
 
 Even the most superficial observer of human affairs can 
 discern the deep moral disorder which permeates all the 
 strata of modern society, and which has always been the 
 harbinger of fearful social catastrophes. Wars and ru- 
 mors of wars; efforts for political and social revolutions ; 
 avarice, rapines, profligacy, and crimes of blood innumera- 
 ble ; — this is the order of the day! Yet the progress of 
 science, which makes us write with the thunderbolt and 
 travel with the rapidity of the eagle, paint with the sun 
 and speak with the antipodes, promised an era of peace, 
 order, prosperity, and moralhy. Whence this strange con- 
 trast, this jarring between premises and results ? As his- 
 tory, that great teacher of mankind, shows how the two 
 most conspicuous civilizations of antiquity hastened to 
 their decay and ultimate ruin through the baleful influence 
 
 15 
 
iG TO THE RULEBS OF NATIONS. 
 
 of tho doctrines of Epicurus, so modern progress is coun- 
 teracted by the corrupting sway of a self-styled philos- 
 ophy, teeming with teachings more false and pernicious 
 than those which destroyed the greatness of Greece and 
 Rome. Positivism — this is the name of an inane jumble 
 of impious doctrines, which, by reducing creation to a for- 
 tuitous concourse of atoms ; 1)}' defining the human intelli- 
 gence and all the higher attributes of the human mind as 
 a simple secretion of matter, and by denying the immortal- 
 ity of the human soul, would fain place man on a level 
 with the brute creation. These are the grim maxims 
 taught in our universities ; and, strangest of all, the gov- 
 ernments, with the public money, pay and honor with the 
 name of Professors the very men who spread this deadly 
 poison broadcast amongst the people. Hence the unbridled 
 egotism, and the insatiable avidity for wealth and power; 
 hence the immoral spoliations on one side, and the fretting, 
 threatening want on the other; hence the most calamitous 
 and Utopian theories, urging men to the commission of 
 nefarious and mad crimes, even to the assassination, 
 accomplished or attempted, of some of the best Rulers of 
 peoples. And all this in order to attain to the material 
 enjoyment of perishable, irresponsible self. " E damns et 
 bibamus; }iost mortem nulla voluptas !" 
 
 But the Divine Preserver of all things, as He once saved 
 humanity with the vivifying ray Of Christianity, now, alas! 
 obfuscated by the dense fog of atheism ; so he has deigned 
 to send in our day a new revelation, which, under the name 
 >f Spiritualism, is destined to reconduct the people, His 
 creation of love, to the Christ-principle. As, however, no 
 new gospel has been allowed to assert its dominion with- 
 out a struggle. Spiritualism finds in our day strenuous op- 
 ponents — marvellous to say ! — in two phalanxes at deadly 
 feud against each other, — the Positivists and the Doctors 
 of religion. From the former the obstruction is compre 
 
TO THE RULERS OF NATIONS. 17 
 
 hen&ible ; but it becomes utterly inconceivable as coming 
 from the expounders of Hoi} 7 Writ, who, in the face of — 
 nay, almost indifferent to — the invading flood of Posi- 
 tivism which threatens to swamp them and their churches, 
 do not hesitate to do battle to that which, with signs and 
 wonders , comes to confirm the truth of those signs and 
 wonders recorded in the Gospels, and which form the very 
 target for the sharpest arrows of ridicule of the modern 
 disciples of Epicurus. This thoughtless and inconsistent 
 conduct on the part of the majority of Christian ministers 
 can only be explained by the vertigo which in our times 
 seems to have taken possession of every order of minds. 
 
 In the midst of this conflict, great is your responsibility, 
 O Rulers of nations ! You may hasten or hinder the dif- 
 fusion of the new revelation amongst the people you gov- 
 ern. Examine Spiritualism ; you have ample means in 
 your power to do so. If you find it a delusion, it will be- 
 come your duty to stop its propagation, as should be done 
 with every new superstition. But if you become convinced 
 that its phenomena are genuine and its teachings godly, 
 then bow down joux head before the new messenger of the 
 King of kings, and try with all the means in your power to 
 confound its opponents. This new light will be a better 
 guide for you in the government of your people ; and in a 
 spiritualized nation you will find that loyalty, peacefulness, 
 industry, and stability, that moral advancement, in fine, 
 without which all material progress becomes a danger for 
 the life of nations. 
 
 Loyally and faithfully yours, 
 
 G. Damiani. 
 
TO AIL SPIRITUALISTS. 
 
 Deau Friends : As I did not write this drama for you, 
 I must be excused if you do not find in it anything for 
 your instruction. My only object has been to spread 
 amongst the masses the most elementary notions of our 
 Divine Philosophy, choosing a form simple and intelligible 
 to all. 
 
 May this apology shield me from too severe a criticism 
 at the hands of those who, like myself, try to impart the 
 light of that paramount truth, which we have been graced 
 with, before so many other fellow-men. 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 G. Damiani. 
 19 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 Grasp, a rich London Merchant. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp, his Wife. 
 
 Eleanor, their Daughter. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 Edward, his Son. 
 
 Patience, Head Clerk of Mr. Grasp. 
 
 Complis, Clerk in the same business. 
 
 Thomas, Servant to Mr. Grasp. 
 
 Rosaline, Eleanor's Maid. 
 
 Spratt, Errand-boy of Mr. Grasp. 
 
 James, a Young Servant of Dr. New. 
 
 Scene, London. Year 1880. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 .A.CT I- 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Grasp's private office in his counting-house. Patience at his 
 desk, intent upon his work. Complis sitting in the middle 
 of the office, with a newspaper in his hands. Spratt at the 
 office-door. 
 
 Complis. 
 
 The governor is late this morning. Pie takes it leisurely 
 now that he has made lots of tin; the more of which he 
 gets, the closer he becomes, and never thinks of increasing 
 our salaries. O money, money! thou art powerful indeed! and 
 woe to those whom thou forsakest ! — Lots of news to-day, Mr. 
 Patience. A coal-steamer has cut in two a pleasure-boat called 
 the "Princess Alice," and sent six or seven hundred people to 
 the bottom of the Thames. What an exciting scene it must 
 have been! I would have given a fiver to have seen the sight. 
 Here are two reports: one from the Antivi — an-ti-vi-vi-section 
 Society. An-ti-vi-vi-section! what a long word, and what can it 
 mean? Is it a Greek word, Mr. Patience? [To himself] The old 
 man is deaf. [To Patience.] The other report is from the Soci- 
 ety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. All bosh! As if 
 the brutes were not in the world to do what we like with them. — 
 Now, this is too bad: the police interfering again with prize- 
 fighting, and preventing the encounter between Golids Knocker 
 and Sampson Smasher. The government seems determined to 
 .put down all our national sports. [Reading o/?.] Ha! this is 
 good! another prosecution of Spiritualists! I should like to 
 know why Parliament does not make a law to have those de- 
 
 21 
 
22 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 laded or roguish individuals either sent to Bedlam or trans- 
 ported. — I say, Mr. Patience, you seem to take no interest in 
 the topics of the day. 
 
 Patience. 
 
 I read the newspapers at home; here I attend to my duties. 
 1 do take interest in the topics of the day. but view things in a 
 different light to yourself; for 1 am thankful I was not present 
 at the heart-rending scene of the foundering of the •* Princess 
 
 Alice. 11 I am opposed to the brutal custom of prize-fighting, and 
 
 I consider the torturing of animals as a sign of barbarity in a 
 people. 
 
 Complis. 
 
 How sweetly humane ! 
 
 Patience. 
 Moreover, I would leave the Spiritualists, and all seekers after 
 truth, alone. 
 
 Complis. 
 
 Ha, ha! You call Spiritualism truth, do you? 
 
 Patience. 
 The Spiritualists judge it so, and their honest convictions 
 should be respected. 
 
 Complis. 
 How delicately magnanimous and magnanimously liberal! 
 Had you sent these beautiful sentiments to the Paris Exhibition, 
 you would have got a prize-medal, I am sure ! 
 
 Patience. 
 You are veiy witty this morning, Mr. Complis; but may I 
 hope that you will cease interrupting me in my work? 
 
 Complis. 
 
 [Aside."] Crabbed old dolt! I will find you another place and 
 put myself in yours, — see if I don't. 
 
 Spratt. 
 [Uimnivf/ quickly, and sotto voce to Complis.] The governor 
 is coming! the governor is coming! 
 
 [Complis i <shes to his desk, pretending to be absorbed in his work."] 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 23 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Grasp and the Same. Grasp entering pompously and going to 
 his desk. Patience and Complis rise, and the latter places 
 a pen on his ear. 
 
 Patience, 
 Complis, 
 
 e, ) 
 
 > Good morning, sir. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Good-day! good-day! [Sits at his desk and begins to open Ms 
 letters.'] [To himself.'} I cannot help trembling when I open 
 my business letters, messengers often of bankruptcies, failures, 
 and all manner of losses. Would that one could make his for- 
 tune without these fearful anxieties. [To Patience.] Mr. Pa- 
 tience, go and see if every clerk is at his post in the counting- 
 house, and see that every one is doing his duty. [Exit Patience] 
 Mr. Complis, come here. [Complis approaches Grasp's desk.'] 
 Have you had the damaged indigo placed in undamaged leather 
 bags? 
 
 Complis. 
 
 It is done, sir; and I have made such a neat job of it that 
 nobody can ever suspect that the bags were not made up in 
 India. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Good! Now write to our correspondents in Spain, Portugal, 
 and Italy, offering them this splendid lot of five hundred seroons 
 of indigo, prime quality, just arrived safe and sound from Cal- 
 cutta. 
 
 Complis. 
 
 The letters will leave by this evening's post. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 [Aside.'] I shall make sixty per cent, profit on this little job. 
 [To Complis.] And has fifteen per cent, of colza oil been mixed 
 in the hundred casks of my Gallipoli oil ? 
 
 Complis. 
 Your orders have been punctually executed 
 
24 spirit and matter. 
 
 Grasp* 
 
 Capital! And what price has the cargo of wheat, consigned 
 to us from the Danube, fetched? 
 
 Complis. 
 Fifteen shillings per bushel. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Write to the owners, and tell them that we have delayed the 
 sale of their wheat in the expectation that the harvest would 
 be bad in England this year; but that the crops haying unfor- 
 tunately been very abundant in every kind of grain, the prices 
 have in consequence fallen miserably low. Say, also, that their 
 wheat lias arrived somewhat damaged by the sea, and that all 
 we could obtain for it was eleven and sixpence per bushel. Do 
 not forget to charge double for cartage, porterage, and all other 
 expenses. 
 
 Complis. 
 
 I shall do as usual. Let me now inform you that Mr. Patience 
 has of late become intolerably inquisitive in the affairs of my 
 department. Only this morning he inquired of me why we 
 bought the damaged indigo, and what we were going to do with 
 the colza oil ; and when he saw that I evaded his questions, he 
 turned his eyes up sanctimoniously, and uttered a deep sigh, 
 and — 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 All right ; no more of that. I will see that he will not trouble 
 you any longer. [Aside.] I must send the old imbecile away, 
 or it will be all up with my delicate transactions. 
 
 Complis. 
 [Aside."] I think I have done for the old fool. His place I 
 must and shall have. 
 
 [Tie-enter Patience.] 
 
 Patience. 
 Every clerk is at his post, except the French correspondent, 
 who has sent word to say he is ill in bed. 
 
SPIKIT AND MATTER. 25 
 
 Grasp. 
 Let him know that so many days of his pay will be kept back 
 as he remains absent from his duties. This is my infallible rem- 
 edy for curing sick clerks. — And, in the name of goodness, have 
 you found that blessed balance at last? 
 
 Patience. 
 We have, sir, bj sitting up, all the clerks and myself, the 
 whole night. The difference of threepence, which caused the 
 difficulty, arose by a mistake in the addition. 
 
 Grasp. ^ 
 All the effect of negligence. I wish you would be more atten- 
 tive to your duties, Mr. Patience. And what is the net profit of 
 the year? 
 
 Patience. 
 
 [Taking a book from his desk and leading from tY.] Ninety-five 
 thousand pounds, three shillings, and five pence. 
 
 Grasp. 
 What is the difference from last year? 
 
 Patience. 
 Thirty-two thousand pounds more than the last balance. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Has that scoundrel of Threadbare paid his account? 
 
 Patience. 
 He begs to be allowed a short respite. 
 
 Grasp. 
 ITave you had him summoned? 
 
 Patience. 
 
 lie has always been punctual in his payments, but sickness in 
 his family has placed him in difficulties. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Bosh ! Have him summoned at once. Are all the other 
 accounts in ? 
 
26 srntiT and matter 
 
 Patience. 
 All, except Smallfare's, who died yesterday, leaving a widow 
 and eight children. 
 
 GfcASP. 
 
 Lose no time in sending the bailiffs to seize his goods and 
 
 chattels. 
 
 Tatiexce. 
 
 [Aside."] What a cruel office is mine! [Exit.] 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 [Opening liis balance book.] Thirty-two thousand pounds more 
 than last year! If things go on prospering in this way, I shall 
 soon have made the three millions of my heart, and retire from 
 business. Had I had a less expensive wife, I might have done 
 it long ere this. But I would marry nobility, and honors must 
 be paid for. 
 
 scene in. 
 
 Spratt and the Same. Then Edward New. 
 
 Spratt. 
 Mr. New, the architect. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Let him in. [Aside.] What a nuisance! 
 
 Edward New. 
 Good morning, Mr. Grasp. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Good morning. What can I do for you? 
 
 Edwakd. 
 My father sends me to consult your financial oracle. lie 
 wishes to invest five hundred pounds in some foreign funds, and 
 begs for your opinion as to the safest. 
 
SPIEIT AND MATTER. 27 
 
 Grasp. 
 Five hundred pounds! Is that all your father could save in 
 one year? I thought he was doing better than that. 
 
 Edward. 
 Oh, he is doing first-rate ! But you know his generous dispo- 
 sition, and that much of his income is absorbed by charities. 
 
 Grasp. 
 My dear fellow, I fear he is too generous by half. Charity 
 should begin at home, and he ought to think more of you and 
 your future. Your father is a very talented man in many re- 
 spects, but far from being a man of the world. 
 
 Edward. 
 Well, it depends on how we look on life. My father thinks, 
 with Cicero, that we are here in an inn, and that our real home 
 is that to come. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Oh, I see, I see! Your father's opinions have undergone a 
 great change since he began to dabble in Spiritualism, with its 
 table-turning and table-talking. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 By your definition of Spiritualism I can see clearly that you 
 have paid no attention to the subject. 
 
 Grasp. 
 / pay attention to that subject! You are joking, Mr. Edward! 
 I know how to employ my time better than that; and I prefer 
 the steak to the smoke. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 It is evident that you and my father are at the antipodes on 
 this subject. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 It would be better for Dr. New if he did as I do. Listen : 
 When I want a coat, I go to the tailor; for a hat, to the hatter; 
 for a pair of boots, to the shoemaker ; and when I want religion, 
 I go to the parson. 
 
28 SPIRIT AND MATTER 
 
 Edward. 
 So that religion is of no more importance to you than a hat 
 or a pair of shoos. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 T diil not moan that. I intended to say that men who know 
 how to live look after their own business, leave the world as it 
 is. following the religion of their fathers. 
 
 Edward. 
 Bat if we had followed the religion of our fathers we should 
 now be still heathen. Religion, as everything else in this world, 
 is subject to the law of progression. Thousands of years ago 
 men began by worshipping the sun, the elements of nature, 
 and even plants and animals. Gradually they transferred their 
 homage to idols in human form, male and female, — jealous, in- 
 triguing, fighting gods, — until they reached the great ideal of 
 one Supreme Being; then came the Great Messiah and spoke to 
 us of the soul and its destinies. But behold a false and delirious 
 doctrine, usurping the name of science, trying to destroy the fruit 
 of the religion of love, and, by denying the immortality of the 
 soul, would fain turn creation into a ridiculous farce, and reduce 
 man to a heap of rubbish. Hence the necessity of the new rev- 
 elation, which, under the name of Spiritualism, comes to destroy 
 the false fabric of atheism, and recalling man to the true teach- 
 ings of the Nazarene. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Wiry, Mr. New, there is the making of a preacher in you! In 
 your place I would join Moody and Sankey! 
 
 Edward. 
 If I chose to be a preacher, I would not throw in my lot with 
 them ; for they arouse the lower instinct of man, — fear, — whilst 
 Spiritualism appeals to his highest nature, — love. Let me now 
 correct your wrong notions regarding Spiritualism, which you 
 are pleased to define as 1 ah! e-i (dicing. Know, then, that in this 
 very London we inhabit, a few doors perhaps from your habita- 
 tion, and in the presence of some of the shrewdest men of lit- 
 erary and scientific eminence, numerous meetings are held, at 
 
SPHtfT AND MATTER/ 29 
 
 which spirits become visible, speak audibly, and make them- 
 selves even tangible. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Wonderful ! wonderful ! [Aside.'] This man is getting crazy ! 
 [To Edward.] But can you tell me the cui bono of all this? 
 
 Edward. 
 
 Qui bono ? You seem to forget that we live in times when 
 the man who invents a machine that -will destroy the greatest 
 number of men in the shortest possible time is called a genius, 
 and is covered with wealth and distinctions ; when to kill a man 
 with the premeditation of the duel is called honor, and hang- 
 ing a fellow-creature by the neck is called justice; in which the 
 mowing down of a million of human lives is called glory, and to 
 rob a people of their native soil is called conquest. Think you 
 this the best of worlds ? 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 These things are as old as man, my young friend ; but how 
 can Spiritualism mend matters ? 
 
 Edward, 
 
 By scientifically solving the great problem of centuries,—- 
 "to be or not to be," — and by demonstrating the responsibility 
 and final destiny of the human soul, Spiritualism will regenerate 
 mankind. Had Spiritualism been revealed sooner to the world, 
 history would not have registered the deeds of a £Tero, a Caligula, 
 or a Caracalla ; nor would have had to record such monsters as 
 the Booths, the Nobilings, the Hcedels, the Moncasis, the Pas- 
 sannantes, the Oteros, and the Solowieffs. We already see the 
 beneficial effects of Spiritualism upon those who in our day 
 have adopted its principles. Alexander of Russia, an 1 Lincoln, 
 the abolishers of slavery, Victoria of England, and Grant, the 
 initiators of international arbitration, William of Prussia; the 
 founder of German unity, Victor Emanuel, Garibaldi, Mazzini, 
 and D'Azeglio, liberators of Italy, were or are adepts to the 
 great new philosophy. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 How do you know these great people were or are Spiritual- 
 ists? 
 
30 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 Edward. 
 We have the proofs of the feet. Spiritualists are always sure 
 of what they say; they have never been found iit fault on that 
 head. I myself know almost all the mediums who have sat with 
 those high personages. I may add that Spiritualism has been 
 embraced by some of the greatest minds of the age. Edmon Is, 
 Brougham, and Lyndhurst, the great legislators; Victor Hugo, 
 Tennyson, Chambers, Terenzio Mamiani, luminaries of philos- 
 ophy and literature, are all students of this great theme. I say, 
 Spiritualism alone can change the wicked ways of this wicked 
 world of unbridled egotism, of robbery and murder, of the inter- 
 est at a hundred per cent., of falsifications, adulterations — 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 [With impatience, and looking at his xcatchJ] By Jove, it is late, 
 and I must attend to my business. Tell your father that there 
 is no safety out of the three per cent, consols, and that if he wants 
 to lose his money he must invest it in Turkish or Egyptian funds. 
 
 Edward. 
 Many thanks for your advice; and let me hope that you will 
 change your opinion about Spiritualism. 
 
 Grasp. 
 If you spoke till doomsday, you would not alter my mind on 
 the subject. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 Well, you will have to know all about it then. And now I 
 leave you to your all-engrossing pursuits, wibhing you good-bye. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Good-bye, good-bye. [Exit Edward.] Upon my word, the 
 world is going mad with all these absurd fancies! And that 
 maniac wanted me to become a Spiritualist! — What a nuisance, 
 to hear talk of the other world, when one has so much to do in 
 this! 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 31 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Patience and the Same. 
 
 Patience. 
 [Placing a roll of papers on Grasp's deslc.~] Here is the money 
 which was due from Smallfare and Threadbare. 
 
 Grasp. 
 What, already? How have you managed to collect these two 
 accounts in so short a time? 
 
 Patience. 
 The money is there, and it matters little how I got it. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Mr. Patience, I suspect you have taken the liberty of doing 
 again what you did a short time ago, — paying from your pocket 
 what is due to me by my debtors. If that be the case, let me 
 inform you that I am not accustomed to have my orders dis- 
 obeyed. 
 
 Patience. 
 
 Well, sir, since you wish to know, I have done to-day the same 
 as I did before. It is a sad lot for a man of feeling to be a debt- 
 collector ; for the scenes of misery he is often obliged to witness 
 become unbearable to him. Had you seen the distress and de- 
 spair of those poor people, I will do you the justice to think that 
 you would have condoned their small debts. 
 
 Grasp. 
 That will do; that will do. [To Spratt.] Spratt, tell Mr. 
 Complis to come here. [Exit Spratt.] I can see clearly, that 
 after so many years of service in this firm you are tired of your 
 situation. 
 
32 SPIIIIT AND MATTER. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Complis, Spratt, and the Same. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Mr. Complis, as Mr. Patience leaves my service to-day, you 
 take henceforward his place. And let this be a warning to my 
 dependants, that I mean to he the only master here. 
 
 Patiexce. 
 
 Adieu, Mr. Grasp; and may that Providence which will not 
 ahandon me throw a new light on your future course. [Exit.] 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Begone, impertinent old fool! [To Complis.] Mr. Complis, 
 you know how much trust I place in you. By your new respon- 
 sible position your emoluments will be increased, with a pros- 
 pect of further augmentation, as I am sure I have now the right 
 man in the right place. 
 
 Complis. 
 Be sure, sir, that the trust is mutual, and you may depend 
 upon my discretion. 
 
 Grasp. 
 I go to the Exchange now, and shall be back in a couple of 
 hours. [Exit.'] 
 
 Complis. 
 So, I am the right man in the right place! I believe you, old 
 fellow ; and I defy you to put another man in my stead ! You 
 would keep me always a clerk, would you? Very fine indeed; 
 but I am for a partnership. There is plenty of money for two. 
 Is there anything that Mr. Grasp can deny me? Xot even the 
 hand of his daughter! Everybody finds Miss Grasp beautiful 
 and accomplished, but her most amiable quality, in my esti- 
 mation, is her big dower ! 
 
SPIHIT AKD MATTER. 33 
 
 Spratt. 
 Here comes Miss Grasp. 
 
 Complis. 
 na, the very opportunity! I will see what impiession I can 
 make upon her. 
 
 SCENE YI. 
 
 Eleanor and the Same. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 [Entering with a jaunty air.-] Good morning, Mr. Complis. 
 
 Where is my father? 
 
 Complis. 
 [Awkwardly.] Most welcome, Miss Grasp; please to sit down. 
 Mr. Grasp will be here in a few minutes. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 
 I hope he will come soon, as I expect my mother shortly to 
 fetch me in her carriage. 
 
 Complis. 
 
 [To Sprvtt.] Spratt, keep on the lookout for Mrs. Grasp's 
 carriage, and inform us of her arrival. [Exit Spratt.] [To 
 Miss Grasp, handing her a chair.-] Sit down; pray sit down. 
 [Taking a chair for himself and sitting by her side.] It is so 
 rarely that I have the honor and pleasure of beholding your 
 lovely countenance, that I feel a great delight in finding myself 
 
 in your presence. 
 
 J Eleanor. 
 
 [Bemoving her chair further from Complis, and aside.] I do 
 
 not know why I so dislike the influence of this man. 
 
 Complis. 
 You cannot imagine, dear Miss Eleanor, the joy of my heart 
 at this moment! 
 
34 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 You arc in a facetious mood today, Mr. Complis. I am sure 
 you will ever be mindful of making me a partaker of that re- 
 spect you owe to my father. 
 
 Complis. 
 Respect is not the expression which represents my feeKngs 
 towards you, angelic Miss Grasp! I would do anything for a 
 benevolent smile from you! 
 
 Eleanor. 
 [Seriously.] I do not exactly comprehend your meaning, sir. 
 
 Compxis. 
 You mistrust your superior intelligence, my sweet lady. Do 
 you know I am now the head manager of Mr. Grasp's business, 
 his very right hand, and that often those to whom we confide 
 our best interests become close family connections, and — 
 
 Eleanor. 
 [Rising quickly from her chair.'] What do I hear! Is not Mr. 
 Patience my father's head clerk still? 
 
 Complis. 
 lie was, but has this morning been dismissed through mis- 
 conduct. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 He may have left my father's service, but through bad con- 
 duct it cannot be. 
 
 Complis. 
 Yet it is so, most adorable Miss Eleanor — 
 
 Spratt. 
 [Pamning in quickly.'] Mrs. Grasp is waiting below for Miss 
 Grasp. 
 
 [Miss Grasp bows slightly to Mr. Complis, and exit, followed by 
 
 Spratt.] 
 
SPIBIT AND MATTER. 35 
 
 COMPLIS. 
 So, she feigns not to understand my advances, and bows 
 herself out in dignified silence, as if she were better born than 
 myself. She does not know, the simpleton, that a word of mine 
 might demolish her father's fair name, ruin him, and destroy 
 her grand prospects forever. But, my fine lady, Til make you 
 understand me before long. These presumptuous Grasps don't 
 know with whom they are dealing, and seem not to be aware 
 that there is the power and the stuff in me to subdue their pride; 
 and I will do it, or my name is not Ernest Complis! 
 
36 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 jft.OT II. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Grasp's drawing-room. Eleanor and Rosaline. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Tell me, Rosaline, have you seen Edward and given him my 
 letter? 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Yes, Miss Eleanor, I have given your message ; and he sends 
 you word that he will shortly come in person to reply to your 
 letter. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Dear Rosaline, as the time approaches for his demanding my 
 hand, I become more and more anxious. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Why this anxiety, Miss Eleanor? 
 
 Eleanor. 
 I cannot help fearing that my parents will object to this union 
 on account of the absence of wealth in the man of my choice, 
 and also because I strongly suspect they wish to marry me to a 
 man of title. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 IIow can you think that your parents would thus sacrifice their 
 only darling daughter? 
 
 Eleanor. 
 My fears have, alas, strong foundations. Those frequent visits 
 of Lord Fitzwaugh, his marked attentions to me, and the obse- 
 quious regards of my parents towards him, make me believe that 
 they have designed him for my hand. 
 
SPIHIT AND MATTER. 37 
 
 Rosaline. 
 What, that disagreeable nincompoop, poor as a mouse, and 
 over head and ears in debt ! Nonsense, Miss Eleanor ! I have 
 a better opinion of the judgment of Master and Mistress. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Heaven grant that you be in the right! 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Stay ; I hear the steps of Mr. Edward. Here he comes, and I 
 withdraw. lExit.] 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Eleanor and Edward. 
 
 Edward. 
 Dearest Eleanor, I hope I find you well. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Thanks, my dear friend. I wish I were as well in spirit as in 
 body. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 What may trouble you, dearest? 
 
 Eleanor. 
 I have a strong presentiment that obstacles will arise to pre- 
 vent our marriage. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 Have you any reason for your apprehensions? 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Would that I were mistaken! But I fear my parents are wish- 
 ing only for a marriage with the aristocracy. 
 
 Edward. 
 If it be so, I see a fearful storm in store for us. 
 
38 sriniT and matter. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 To prevent which, there is but one remedy, consisting in your 
 father hastening to ask my hand for you. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 How delightful that our thoughts should he in unison, like our 
 hearts! My father, at my request, hy this letter asks for an in- 
 terview to-day with Mr. Grasp, in order to advance the demand 
 of your dear hand. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 
 When I think of it, what can be their objection to this engage- 
 ment? You are honorable, clever, and industrious; the son of 
 excellent parents, and, above all, the chosen of my heai t. 
 
 Edward. 
 Love makes you partial, dearest. My only merit is in the pos- 
 session of your heart. Would that I had a crown to offer you ' 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Your love is my crown ; all else is nothing to me ! 
 
 Edward. 
 And my aspirations are only for your happiness. Meanwhile 
 let me see you more confiding and cheerful. You know what 
 our beautiful philosophy teaches us : that even sorrows are for 
 our ultimate good ; and if our wishes be thwarted on earth, we 
 are sure of their realization above. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 True; the earthly life is but a short span, and we have eter- 
 nity before us. The Infinite Wisdom would not have placed a 
 holy desire in our hearts and forbidden its fulfilment. 
 
 Edward. 
 Well said, my dear friend ; and let us leave our fate in the 
 hands of Providence. Adieu, Eleanor. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Adieu, Edward; and may every blessing be on your head! 
 [Exit Edward.] Would that my fears did not exceed my hopes ! 
 But I shall shortly know what is in store for me. [Exit.] 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 39 
 
 SCENE TIL 
 
 Mrs. Grasp; then Thomas and Eleanor. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Fortune favors the brave. I have played for a coronet, and I 
 have won it. A less shrewd player would have lost the game. 
 No fear of mesalliance now, for Eleanor will be a duchess. Pov- 
 erty made me marry a commoner, and a dreadful humiliation 
 it is ! But that wealth which won my hand, wins now a great 
 title for my daughter. After all, it is money that rules the world. 
 Through my daughter's marriage with a duke I shall be pre- 
 sented at court, and the future lords, the issue of this marriage, 
 will call me ancestress. I will now announce the good news to 
 Eleanor. [Fangs the bell.'] [Enter Thomas.] Thomas, tell Miss 
 Grasp I wish to speak to her. [Thomas bows, and exit.] O how 
 delighted my daughter will be to hear of this brilliant engage- 
 ment! [Enter Eleanor.] Miss Grasp, why have I not heard 
 your usual practice on the harp this morning? 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Dear mother, I feel quite indisposed for music to-day. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 It is not well to give way to the humor of the moment. You 
 should try and conquer fancies. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 I have not really felt able, but if you wish it, I will at once go 
 to my harp. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Never mind the music now, as I have to speak to you on a 
 subject of paramount importance. Sit down. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 [Aside.] What can it be? I fear. [They both sit down.] 
 
40 srniiT axd matter. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Eleanor, you arc now twenty-one years of age, — just the time 
 for >e'iling in life. Myself and your father have been discuss- 
 ing the Subject for some time past. You are aware that you will 
 possess one of the largest dowers in England, and therefore you 
 have a right to aim high for a matrimonial alliance. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Dear mother, what must I understand by a high matrimonial 
 alliance? 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 
 Why, child, high in social station! Nothing less than a lord 
 should be thought worthy of your hand. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Dear mother, marriage being the most serious step in life, T 
 feel it my duty to speak candidly with you on the subject, and 
 tell you that the man who aspires to my hand must first have 
 possession of my heart. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 None of this giddy nonsense, Eleanor! Love lasts no longer 
 than the honeymoon. Life is long, and we should take care not 
 to make it barren of solid advantages for the caprice of a mo- 
 ment. Take my example : I, the daughter of an earl, through 
 the want of fortune was obliged to comply with the wishes of 
 my parents and marry a tradesman — 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Dear mother, your speech gives me pain. I can see no dis- 
 grace in a marriage with a merchant, for it is trade alone which 
 has given wealth, power, and greatness to our country; and 
 with respect to my dear father, I am sure there never breathed 
 a kinder or better husband than he. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 I was coming to that when you interrupted me, Miss Grasp ; 
 and I was going to say that, although I reluctantly changed my 
 name for that of Grasp, both on account of your father's station 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 41 
 
 in life and our marriage not being one of love, yet I found nc 
 reason to repent the step. - 
 
 Eleanor. 
 
 I am happy to hear you say so. You see, then, that titles do 
 not constitute happiness or add to it. You must also agree with 
 me that your step was as dangerous as it was courageous ; for 
 had you found in the man you did not love a husband less kind 
 than dear father, no wealth would have made your lot an envi- 
 able one. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 
 Quite so ; and this only proves that marriage is but a lottery, 
 in which we often see unhappy those who marry for love, and 
 more often happy they who, like your father and me, had no 
 previous attachment. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 But do you not think that happiness has the best chance with 
 love? 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 
 I do not think so at all. Marriage should be more a matter 
 of judgment than inclination; and if love does not precede, it 
 generally follows it. I have said enough to prove that love 
 should be no guide to marriage. That brings me to the point of 
 announcing to you the glad tidings that I and your father have 
 accepted an offer of marriage for you, from a suitor belonging 
 to one of the noblest families in the kingdom, — I mean the 
 most gentle and most noble Duke, Lord Loftus de Fitzwangh, 
 for which offer we must all consider ourselves truly fortunate. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Dear mother, please to understand me, once for all, that I 
 shall never marry that man! 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Your ungracious refusal causes me no small astonishment, 
 and I must inform you that it is of no avail, because your par- 
 ents have in this affair decided for you. But pray, what can be 
 your objection to that alliance? 
 
42 SPIItIT AND MATTER. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 My heart is not in it. 
 
 MB8. Grasp. 
 Fiddlesticks as to your heart! Submission to our will 18 your 
 
 duty. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 
 I have never disobeyed you, mother; and I am willing to 
 comply with all your wishes, except on this all-important point. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Eleanor, this decided and disrespectful conduct of yours makes 
 me suspect the existence of some extraneous influence, some 
 secret attachment, which you have not chosen to make known 
 to us. If so, speak. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Well, I do acknowledge that I am deeply attached to, and find 
 correspondence in, Mr. Edward New. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 
 [Rising from her chair, and Eleanor doing the same!] What 
 
 do I hear? You, the descendant from a family of earls, and the 
 
 richest heiress in England, condescending to cast your eye upon 
 
 a man without birth, wealth, or position! Are you gone crazy? 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Birth and position have no attraction for me. All I desire 
 is to be a useful member of society. I can see no wrong in 
 becoming the wife of an honest man, though he be without rank 
 and wealth; but I feel I should commit a degrading and sinful 
 act, were I to marry a man I did not love. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 But, incautious child, are you not aware there is insanity in 
 the family of New? 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Insanity ! I never heard the sanity of the News ever placed 
 in doubt. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 43 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 They are mad, frantic mad ! Enough to say that they are all 
 
 Spiritualists. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 
 And is your objection to Spiritualism so strong that you style 
 as insane those who turn their attention to it? In this country 
 of a hundred religions, tolerance becomes a social necessity. 
 Look at our own family : your mother was a Catholic, your father 
 a Presbyterian, dear father Church of England, you a Ritualist, 
 and I — pray do not be angry with me ! — I, who have never 
 been satisfied with orthodox teachings, have also embraced the 
 doctrines of Spiritualism. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Mercy upon me! What do I hear! Abomination of abomi- 
 nations ! You perverted child ! Withdraw your thoughtless word, 
 and say that you were joking! 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Dearest mother, I deeply regret having given you so much 
 pain; but I thought it best to make you the avowal of my new 
 convictions. You have reminded me of the duties incumbent 
 on my age ; but you must admit that to every duty a privilege 
 is attached. And if at twenty-one it is well to marry, and have 
 a religion, it is also just that one should have the choice of both. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 But, senseless child, do not you know that the Spiritualists 
 are the most vulgar set of people ? The carpenter and the fish- 
 monger over the way belong to that foolish set. This is the 
 society you have got into ! Fie, fie, Miss Grasp ! 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Does not the Holy Bible tell us that in all new revelations 
 the first become last and the last first? The Great Messiah — 
 was he not a carpenter, and his followers but fishermen? But, 
 dear mother, reassure yourself, for Spiritualism differs from all 
 preceding revelations in this: that it embraces in its fold the 
 crowned heads of the world, as well as the humblest of peasants. 
 
44 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 Mi;-. Ob lsp. 
 Enough, enough! How true that bad company spoils good 
 manners! The Spiritualists have corrupted you. But mark me 
 well, Miss Grasp: you shall never marry that abominable and 
 crazy Spiritualist, Edward Xcw! 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Very well; then I will remain single all my life. But, dear- 
 est mother, let me disabuse you on one point: no one induced 
 me to embrace Spiritualism, which was revealed to me by signs 
 and visions of heavenly beauty. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Visions ? Ridiculous ! They were dreams, idle dreams ! 
 
 Eleanor. 
 They could not be, mother, because my faithful Rosaline heard 
 and saw the same things. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 What ! She too ? Oh the wretch ! This is a conspiracy ! Oh 
 me! It is too much! I cannot stand this! Oh dear, oh dear! 
 [She staggers, falls on an arm-chair, and faints.'] 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Good heavens! my mother fainting! [Kings the bell.] Help, 
 Rosaline ! Help ! 
 
 [Enter Rosaline.] 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Mistress in a swoon! How has this happened? [Buns to a 
 table, takes up a scent-bottle, and applies it ; Mrs. Grasp recovers 
 immediately, and rises."] 
 
 Eleanor. 
 My darling mother, I am so sorry ! 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 [Walking with difficulty.] To my apartments! to my apart- 
 ments ! My daughter a deluded Spiritualist! Oh, unhappy child! 
 What will become of us ! 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 45 
 
 ROSALINE. 
 But, after all, madam, it is not a crime. Spiritualism is not 
 Atheism. It makes one love God and one's neighbor better. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Hold your tongue, you wretch ! Spiritualism is a stupid and 
 disgusting superstition. And you, prepare to quit my house im- 
 mediately. [She retires, followed by Eleanor and Rosaline.] 
 
 Rosaline. 
 [Aside.] Did you ever! 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Thomas. 
 [Soliloquizing J\ By jingo, that was a shindy! I have heard 
 it all — accidentally, of course, for I was passing by the door 
 when they began the scrimmage, and how could I help stop- 
 ping to hear the end? So, Miss will have nothing to do with 
 my Lord the Duke de Fitzwaugh, happening to be desperately 
 in love with Mr. Edward New ! Good gracious ! there will be a 
 storm when Master comes to know all this, — he who is always 
 a-dreaming of lords, dukes, and marquises for his daughter. 
 I hope I may chance to be passing by the door when Mistress 
 tells of it to Master. Why, it would be woful for us poor domes- 
 tics, without some such recreations ! I am only sorry for poor 
 Miss Grasp, who is so nice and good. Well, I have come to the 
 conclusion that rich folks are not happier than we poor servants, 
 after all. 
 
46 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 .A.CT III. 
 
 SCENE T. 
 
 Grasp's private office in his counting-house. Grasp, then 
 
 Bpbatt. 
 
 Grasp. 
 [With a letter in his hand.'] Doctor New asking for an inter- 
 view. What can his business be? Perhaps it is about the invest- 
 ment of his trumpery savings. What a bore! One gets scarcely 
 any time to attend to one's own concerns, without being troubled 
 with other people's affairs! Let him come, and I will give him 
 such a drubbing about his stupid Spiritualism as to cure him for- 
 ever of taking up my precious time! I have been in good luck 
 to-day: four good strokes of business in two hours! The object 
 of my desire is fast approaching; a little more patience, and I 
 shall retire from business, buy a large estate, become a county 
 squire, and get into Parliament. I am still young, and may 
 enjoy these advantages for many years to come. Besides wealth, 
 I have every other qualification for a member. I have shown 
 no political color, and can adapt myself to any kind of con- 
 stituency ; and though conservative to the backbone, I can solicit 
 the votes of a liberal, conservative, or radical constituency. This 
 is the way for men who know how to live. Then [looking at him- 
 self in the glass] I am also good-looking, and I don't think that I 
 should cut a bad figure as a speaker. Suppose I try. Begin- 
 ning at the hustings, I would say [clears his throat, and places 
 himself before the glass] : " Free and independent electors of this 
 ancient and noble city, — No mean thought of personal ambi- 
 tion, but an imperative sense of duty, impels me to come for- 
 ward and ask for the great honor of representing you in Parlia- 
 ment. [Enter Spratt unperceived, attitudinizing It is master, and 
 puffing out his cheek.] Should you confer upon me that honor, 
 I shall never cease to raise my voice against all existing abuses. 
 Through me taxation will be reduced, poverty will disappear, 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 47 
 
 and prosperity take its place. Through me you shall have new 
 railways, new canals, new clocks, new — " 
 
 Spratt. 
 Doctor New. 
 
 Grasp. 
 [Starting.] Confusion! Show hirn in. [Exit Spratt.] 
 
 SCENE II. 
 Dr. New and Grasp. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Good morning, Mr. Grasp. I am delighted to see you look- 
 ing the very picture of health. 
 
 Grasp. 
 And I admire your disinterestedness, Doctor. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 You know well that interest has not been my guide in life. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Would that it were more so, and that you were more careful 
 in your ways. I have something to say to you on that head. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Indeed! You excite my curiosity so, that although I have 
 something very important to say to you, I shall be glad if you 
 have your say first. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Be it so. Please to sit down. {They sit down.] Now listen 
 to me attentively. You have known me from a child, and I 
 think it my duty to tell you that you have unwittingly placed 
 yourself in a very awkward and perilous position. 
 
48 SPIItlT AND MATTER. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 What do you mean? 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Let me explain: You have a large practice, and are patron- 
 ized by families of wealth and position. Well, I can scarcely 
 meet any of your patients without hearing them complain that 
 you have become a Spiritualist. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Really ! And what is that to them ? 
 
 Grasp. 
 It proves so much to them, that they will soon give you the 
 slip, and you will be discredited and ruined. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 My dear friend, I have exercised my profession with no insig- 
 nificant measure of success, for nearly half a century, although 
 I have been all that time an avowed Atheist. It would be pass- 
 ing strange if I were to lose my practice now, because I have 
 attained to the knowledge of God and immortality. Should such 
 a thing happen, I would say that the world is going crazy. 
 
 Grasp. 
 I dare say that when you were an Atheist you had prudence 
 enough to hold your tongue; but now you can't meet any of 
 your friends without at once rushing into Spiritualism and 
 expatiating about the wonderful phenomena, the grand philos- 
 ophy, and I know not what ; and this you do to such an extent 
 that they unanimously say you have become a perfect bore. 
 [Aside.] There! 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Thanks for the information, for, really, I was not aware of 
 that. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 It is true, Doctor. And let me warn you further. Since you 
 have taken to this new hobby, often have I watched you at 
 a distance, and I will not hide from you that I have discerned 
 a strange peculiarity about your eyes, which look decidedly 
 
SPIRIT A^D MATTER. 49 
 
 askance, and drawn up at the corners, Chinese-fashion. For 
 goodness sake, take care lest. the thing should assume more 
 alarming proportions. [Aside.'] Take that! 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Mr. Grasp, with respect to symptoms of insanity, I know none 
 more alarming than speaking of things one knows nothing about. 
 Depend upon it, the madness you perceive in my eyes is all 
 in my eye. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 You take it lightly, Doctor; but I tell you that you are losing 
 fast friends and position. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 As to friends, if they are men of mind, I shall not lose them ; 
 if they be fools, the sooner they decamp the better. As to my 
 position, I confess that Spiritualism has quite displaced me ; for, 
 whereas the other day I looked upon myself as nothing better 
 than a talking monkey, to-day I know that I am an immortal. 
 Have I lost in the exchange, think you? 
 
 Grasp. 
 But could you not believe yourself an immortal, without be- 
 coming a Spiritualist? 
 
 Dr. New. 
 No ; because I wanted those scientific proofs of immortality 
 which Spiritualism alone can afford. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Scientific proofs! Spiritualism a science? 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Yes, it has long ago taken its rank amongst the positive and 
 inductive sciences. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 You don't say so ! How is it, then, that all the scientific men 
 are dead against it? 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 You are mistaken. It is only the ignorant official clique that 
 is against it, as they are against everything that does not pro- 
 4 
 
50 SriRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 ceed from their compressed brain. For, as the sun illumines 
 first the hill-tope and then the hollows below, so the Gregorys, 
 the Mapleses, the Hares, the De Morgans, the Wallaces, the 
 Crookes, the; Varleys, the Barretts, the Flammarions, the Zcoll- 
 ners, the Fichtes, the Frieses, the Wagners, the Buttlerows, the 
 TradlS, the Tremesfhinis, and many, many more of the same 
 Qlass of advanced and unprejudiced minds, have recognized the 
 truth of Spiritualism, and classed it amongst the first of sciences 
 and philosophies. As to those would-be mvants, who laugh and 
 giggle instead of investigating the stupendous and momentous 
 phenomena of Spiritualism, if they do not quickly swallow the 
 leek, and cry "Mea culpa" they, like Francis Zizzi, who refused 
 to look at the heavens through Galileo's telescope, will be mocked 
 by their own children and become the amusement of posterity. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 But Spiritualism has been defined as degrading in its influ- 
 ence by one of the most eminent scientists in Europe — I mean 
 the late President of the British Ass — " 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Yes, I know, — Professor Tincan. Ha! he is a very funny 
 man.* If you look hard in his face, as you assure him that he 
 is the very perfection of a gorilla, you will see a flush of de- 
 light suffusing his countenance, and he will take you by the 
 hand, call you a friend and a brother, and beg to introduce you 
 to Mrs. Gorilla and the little ones; but just attempt to prove 
 to him that he, his wife and children are heirs of immortality, 
 and he will at once lash himself into an uncontrollable fury, and 
 discharge an avalanche of abuse upon your devoted head. His 
 ideal for mankind is monkeydom, void and despair. De gitstibus, 
 you know. 
 
 * The Professor alluded to, although knowing that numerous men of 
 science, many far his superiors in scientific knowledge and mental excel- 
 lence, had recognized the truth and importance of Spiritualism, did not 
 hesitate in a public lecture to make use of the following expression : " the 
 degrading influence of Spiritualism." Yet the ignorant multitude consider 
 him as the very pink and tulip of courtesy and knowledge, showing the 
 truth of the French proverb: "Amongst the blind the one-eyed man is 
 king." 
 
SPIBIT AND MATTER. 51 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 But he is not alone in condemning this new-fangled thing. 
 Another scientist, not less renowned, the author of the cele- 
 brated work on Cytoblasteama, or — 
 
 Dr. New. 
 I know him also. You mean Professor Protoplasterer, the 
 propounder of universal Cataplasm. You may think him a great 
 man ; but I would rather listen to the babbling of a village bea- 
 dle with a washerwoman, than to the rampant nonsense he re- 
 tails to the public. For, even admitting that what he says is 
 true, his stale, warmed-up, ScMeido-Democritian cataplasm, as 
 unable to heal any, even the slightest sore of mankind, does not 
 interest me.* 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 But this vaunted Spiritualism of yours has been tested by a 
 host of scientific men in all countries, and found to be nothing 
 else but unconscious muscular action, unconscious cerebration, 
 thought-reading, spectromania or hysterodemonopathy, ideo- 
 motor, chronic hypnotism, mental aberration, collective delu- 
 sion, automatic action of the cerebrum, monomaniacal frenzy, 
 knee- and foot-cracking, tendon-snapping, psychic force and od 
 
 force. f 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 In fact a very odd jumble altogether! 
 
 * This other luminary of science being asked by several London savants 
 to investigate the phenomena of Spiritualism, wrote back the following 
 memorable reply : " I would rather listen to a conversation between a vil- 
 lage parson and an old woman, than to hear Spiritualism spoken of; for, 
 even if Spiritualism were true, it does not interest rae. ,, After this, one 
 might well exclaim, with the Italian satirist, " O educated, educating edu- 
 cators ! " 
 
 f These foolish definitions, and numberless others, do not proceed from 
 the fancy of the author, but from the inexhaustible ingenuity of the official 
 men of science, who, rather than admit the true origin of the spiritual phe- 
 nomena, have preferred making themselves ridiculous forever. "I shall 
 never give in to the spirits," was the favorite expression of a celebrated 
 English savant, who is now in spirit-land, and must have given in to the 
 spirits. 
 
52 spitjt axd matter. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 No joking, Doctor, with the opinion of the scientific men of 
 the whole world! A scientific man yourself, you should know- 
 that science is infallible. 
 
 Du. New. 
 
 Fes, science is, hut not its torturers. Judge yourself of the 
 value of their excommunication against Spiritualism. If Spirit- 
 ualism is monomaniacal frenzy, how can it he knee- and foot- 
 cracking? And if it he involuntary muscular action, what has 
 that to do with od force? As to unconscious cerebration, — can 
 you conceive a man thinking without knowing it? 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 To hear you speak, the majority of the men of science are a 
 mere set of bunglers. 
 
 Dr. Xew. 
 
 They are nothing better. Science itself, in its present state, 
 is but a sucking babe. Would that its so many nurses did not 
 make it squeak and squall so much ! Science has been defined 
 " the knowledge of to-day to be expanded to-morrow : " but such 
 are the blunders of its adepts that it might more correctly be 
 styled "the mistakes of the ere to be repeated the next day." 
 Let me give you a couple of examples of scientific infallibility: 
 A few years ago we were told by the savants that the distance 
 of the earth from the sun measured exactly ninety-six millions 
 of miles. [More recent calculations of the infallibles reduce it to 
 only ninety millions. Now, if the men of science are unerring, 
 both these calculations must be true ; and if true, the earth is 
 nearing the sun at so alarming a pace that in the course of a 
 few years our planet will fall on the great luminary, and perish 
 like a moth upon the candle. 
 
 Grasp. 
 That must account for the great heat of last summer, I sup- 
 pose. 
 
 Dr. New\ 
 
 I like your joke, Mr. Grasp. Again: The great La Place de- 
 clared the height of our atmosphere to measure twenty-seven 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 53 
 
 thousand miles; later calculations reduced it to two hundred 
 and ten miles ; but, according to the most recent computations 
 of our wiseacres, it has only forty-six miles of depth. So, if we 
 give credence to the unerring men of science, humanity will 
 soon be choked for want of air. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Good gracious ! I hope this will not happen in our time ! 
 
 • 
 
 Dr. New. 
 No danger of that, my friend. We are safe both from choking 
 and burning. I have only given you two instances of scientific 
 infallibility, but I could go on ad infinitum. What do you think 
 now of the presumption of these infallibles? 
 
 Grasp. 
 You must admit, however, that those men you so despise have 
 of late made no end of discoveries. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 Had they made as many new discoveries as they have hairs 
 on their heads, they would still be on the threshold of the tem- 
 ple of science, for knowledge is infinite as eternity and space. 
 Yet they feign to ignore this fact, and, because they know some- 
 thing more than the vulgar crowd, they pretend to decide a priori 
 what is possible and what is impossible in nature. 
 
 Grasp. 
 To hear you speak, unless a man of science embraces Spirit- 
 ualism, he is good for nothing. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 We Spiritualists cherish the sincerest respect for those plod- 
 ding investigators of the laws of nature, who, unable perhaps to 
 understand things spiritual, stick to their own pursuits and do 
 not intrude upon that wider realm of nature. They will be of 
 some use to mankind. We only stigmatize the arrogant, selfish, 
 short-sighted, self-styled philosophers, who at all times have 
 tried to become a stumbling-block to the progress of mankind. 
 
54 srnuT axd matter. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Doctor, are you not too severe? 
 
 Dr. New. 
 If I meant to be severe towards such men, I could not find 
 words sufficiently strong to condemn their conduct. What to 
 think of would-be natural philosophers, who, through their un- 
 bridled selfishness, do not disdain to join in the ranks of every 
 enemy of light, and vying with all manner of jugglers and 
 mountebanks, endeavor to obtrude a new light, capable alone 
 of regenerating mankind? A fig for a thousand such philos- 
 ophers ! 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 But what have you to say about the exposure Professors Lanky 
 and Jackcolt made the other day of that Yankee humbug, Doc- 
 tor Slade? 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 You relate only one side of that story. It is true Messrs. 
 Lanky and Jackcolt, those two zealous, rising, and advertising 
 gentlemen, succeeded in persuading his worship Pinktulip that 
 Doctor Slade was a cheat. But numerous and exhaustive experi- 
 ments made with that medium by the Nestor of science, Pro- 
 fessor Zcellner of Berlin, proved the American to be an unri- 
 valled sensitive and a perfectly honest man. This the German 
 savant has registered in a pamphlet, which has been translated 
 in every language, and in which the character of Dr. Slade has 
 been fully vindicated. Let us be fair, my friend ; let us be fair. 
 
 Grasp. 
 But, Dr. New, you would tyrannically impose the belief of 
 Spiritualism to every one. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 Spiritualism is not a matter of belief, but of knowledge; and 
 we never intended to force that knowledge upon any one. It is 
 the self-styled men of science who unsolicited keep bawling out, 
 M Non credo ! n until we Spiritualists have become skeptical of 
 their unbelief. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 55 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 You seem to have taken up the shining sword of Achilles in 
 defence of Spiritualism. Let me remind you, however, that of 
 late we have had a host of other pretentious and regenerating 
 isms, which have proved anything but beneficial to the world, — 
 Socialism, Internationalism, Communism, Nihilism, and Revo- 
 lutionism. You will therefore excuse me if I doubt the efficacy 
 for good of this new ism. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 The isms you deplore are the offspring of other dire isms, — 
 Positivism, Utilitarianism, Egotism, Materialism, and Atheism, 
 all springing from the same stock of mother Ignorance. Spirit- 
 ualism, by dispelling the dark cloud of ignorance, will abolish 
 war, with its costly standing armies, and with them poverty, 
 crime, the prison, and the scaffold. These will be some of the 
 effects of the spreading of this new light, which is recognized 
 "by those who see" as the greatest event of our century. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Doctor, Demosthenes never spoke better than you ; but I will 
 tell you that all your eloquence will never make a Spiritualist 
 of me. I have done my duty in warning you of the ruinous 
 tendency of Spiritualism, and now I wash my hands clean of 
 the matter. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 I am much obliged for your kind intentions, and assure you 
 in return that you can no more wean me from Spiritualism than 
 you could from mathematics. And now, Mr. Grasp, we will 
 enter into another subject of very great importance to us both. 
 You know the deep affection and regard which my family has 
 always cherished for that dear child of yours. This affection, 
 this special regard for your daughter, has been shared in the 
 highest degree by my son Edward ; and I come here to-day, in 
 his name and mine, to ask for the great privilege of her hand 
 for him. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 [Rising quickly from his cliair.~\ Dr. New, methinks you are 
 joking! And if you are not, let me tell you that you have made 
 a grievous miscalculation ! 
 
56 SPIEIT AND MATTER. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 [Rising also.] Mr. Grasp, I have been doing neither tiling. 
 Pray, what ean be your objection to this marriage? 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 [Rather warmly.'] Sir, yon forgot that my daughter will pos- 
 sess one of the largest fortunes in England, and that your son 
 has neither means nor position. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 You are mistaken in both points. I have saved enough to 
 provide for my son, that he may live as a gentleman. As to 
 his position, if I asked you who he was that built St. Paul's, 
 the name of Wren would at once come upon your lips; but if I 
 requested the name of the richest merchant in London a hun- 
 dred years ago, you could not tell me. This is the difference 
 between an architect and a millionnaire. The one leaves the 
 impress of his genius for the admiration of posterity; the other, 
 unless he be a Peabody, disappears, with his w r ealth and his 
 pride, from the memory of men. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Doctor, to cut short this useless interview, let me tell you that 
 I refuse your son's offer, insomuch that my daughter is already 
 designed for a nobleman of the highest rank. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 But have you consulted your daughter's inclinations? 
 
 Grasp. 
 I have not, because I needed it not. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 And if your daughter loved my son, and would not have your 
 
 nobleman? 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 I do not believe in either hypothesis ; but were it so, I would 
 not alter my resolution. 
 
SPIPJT AND 1IO.TTEB. 57 
 
 Dn New. 
 But if, through that forced union, your child were to pine 
 away and die of grief? 
 
 Gisasp. 
 
 Then she would die a duchess, and her tomb would he adorned 
 with the most splendid blazon of nobility in the kingdom. 
 
 Dn. New. 
 Merchant Grasp, I have always suspected yon of avarice and 
 ambition, but I never thought you capable of becoming the dis- 
 honorer and murderer of your own offspring. Adieu, Mr. Grasp. 
 And may the Eternal Infinite illumine your mind and touch your 
 heart. [Exit.] 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 The impertinent old beggar! Aspiring to the hand of my 
 daughter, who is sought after by the greatest nobility of the 
 realm ! And insinuating, too, that she could so demean herself 
 as to fall in love with that starveling of his son ! But my name 
 is not Benjamin Grasp, if within a month my daughter has not 
 become Lady Loftus de Fitzwaugh! 
 
58 spihit and matter. 
 
 .A.CT ITT. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Grasp's drawing-room. 
 
 Grasp. 
 [Pacing the room excitedly.'] The more I think of it the more 
 I am enraged at the incredible audacity of those plebeians! My 
 daughter, one of the richest heiresses in Europe, and the grand- 
 daughter of an earl, becoming the wife of a poverty-stricken, 
 trumpery architect! But can it be that Eleanor has so forgotten 
 herself as to listen to the advances of that snob? Impossible! 
 No, not impossible, — only improbable ; for who can fathom 
 the heart and mind of woman? Anyhow, I will soon solve the 
 question! 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp and the Same. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 [Much excited."] Oh, Grasp, Grasp! You are there at last! 
 Behold the most unhappy, the most miserable of women! Your 
 daughter! — your unhappy, ill-fated daughter! 
 
 Grasp. 
 Calm yourself, calm yourself. I suspect what vexes you. Can 
 it be that Eleanor has really fallen in love with that presump- 
 tuous ragamuffin? 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 
 True? Alas, too true! But your cool and calm demeanor 
 shows clearly that you do not know the extent of our misfor- 
 tune. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 59 
 
 Grasp. 
 Good gracious ! What has happened, then? Speak! 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 And that wretch, Rosaline, in the conspiracy! Well, then, 
 know that your daughter, your hapless daughter, is — ah me ! 
 [Falls on an arm-chair in a fainting jit.] 
 
 Grasp. 
 Good heavens ! What can have happened? [Rings the bell.] 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Rosaline and the Same. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 What! Mistress in a swoon again? Don't be afraid, sir; she 
 will soon recover. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Speak, you miserable wretch! What has happened to my 
 daughter? 
 
 Rosaline. 
 [Having already applied the usual scent-bottle.'] Don't be in 
 such a flutter, sir! Miss Grasp is in her room, safe and sound. 
 
 Grasp. 
 For goodness sake, then, what is all this about? 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 [With a twitch of one side of her body, and faintly.] Deluge — 
 
 Grasp. 
 The deluge? 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 A spur — 
 
CO SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 Grasp. 
 My daughter becoming a spur? 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 
 [Twitching the oilier side of her person.'] A spit — 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 A spit? 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 
 [Rising from Jier cliair with uplifted arms, and icith a sten- 
 torian, convulsive voice.] A de-lu-ded spir-it-ualist! [Falls again 
 insensible on the arm-chair.] 
 
 Grasp. 
 Ah! I breathe freely! Rosaline, is there any truth in this? 
 
 Rosaline. 
 [Bust/ bathing the temples of MRS. Grasp icitli eau de Cologne.] 
 Quite true, sir; and she has been much happier ever since. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 [Regaining her senses, and rising again."] You abominable 
 woman! Out of my house at once! 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Pay me a month's wages, and I will go at once. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Don't be in such a hurry, Mrs. Grasp. She must remain, for 
 I mean to sift this matter to the bottom. Meanwhile calm your- 
 self. The evil is not so great that it cannot be repaired. Our 
 daughter is but a child, and we will bring her to her senses. 
 You are in want of rest ; return to your room, and after I have 
 examined into this affair, we will speak to our silly, misled 
 child. [To Rosaline.] Rosaline, after attending to Mrs. Grasp 
 return here with Thomas. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Ah! poor me! Oh dear, oh dear! [Exit, Rosaline follow- 
 ing her.] 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 61 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Botheration! Who would have thought of the falling of this 
 thunderbolt? My daughter in love with a beggar, and per- 
 verted by this abominable Spiritualism ! But see if I don't clear 
 her brains of all this nonsense ! [Bings the bell.'] 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 The Same; Thomas and Rosaline. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Listen to me well: I command that all letters to and from 
 Miss Grasp be brought into my hands immediately. Do you 
 understand? 
 
 Thomas, > A „ . . . „ ., „ 
 Rosaline. \ AU ri - ht ' slr ' L Ex * Grasp ^ 
 
 Thomas. 
 What a hubbub in this house, to be sure ! — and all on account 
 of that horrible Lord Fitzwaugh! He had better be called Lord 
 Fitz-owe, since he is over head and ears in debt. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 I would rather call him Fitz-woe, on account of the misery he 
 has brought into this house. What a nice husband to propose 
 for that good, dear young lady! — a hop-pole, red-haired, and a 
 parrot's nose. And how nice he talks ! — " Thweet Mith Gwathp, 
 waugh-waugh, I hope to thee you thalubriouth." 
 
 TnoMAS. 
 Upon my word, Rosaline, I never saw a better photograph 
 of mi-lord than that. Do you know, I happened to be near the 
 door when Mistress fainted twice? It was quite tragic. But I 
 could not understand what she meant when she made such a 
 fuss about Spiritualism. What is that Spiritualism? 
 
02 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Never mind that, Thomas. If I would try to explain what is 
 meant by Spiritualism, most likely you would neither believe 
 me nor understand it. 
 
 Thomas. 
 Come, come! Am I such a fool that I cannot understand what 
 you can? 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Well, then, Spiritualism means seeing and talking with the 
 so-called dead, who are more alive than we. 
 
 Thomas. 
 
 And is that all? And is it for this that Master and Mistress 
 make such a hullabaloo? Why, my mother and my sisters have 
 over and over again told me that they have both seen and talked 
 with spirits ; besides, when I visit them I hear myself myste- 
 rious knocks, which could not be produced by any one in the 
 house ; and my family ain't people for telling fibs and practical 
 joking. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 
 Thomas, I am so glad you know so much about Spiritualism, 
 because I can tell you now that I often see and talk with my 
 clear, dear mother. 
 
 Thomas. 
 All this is quite natural. We all know we have an immortal 
 soul ; and why should not those who have gone before us be able 
 to manifest and tell us of their undiminished love? 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Just so. Yet there are men who call themselves philosophers 
 and won't believe a word of it. Before I came to this house I 
 was living at a Mr. Faraday's, who styled himself a natural 
 philosopher. It was the time of table-turning, you know; and 
 although everybody admitted that the table did turn, my master 
 alone was obstinate in saying it didn't. And what must he 
 do? He must go to a great expense in having a curious sort of 
 table made, defying the spirits to move it. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 63 
 
 Thomas. 
 And what was the upshot? 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Well, one evening he invited lots of his friends, all doctors, 
 professors, and philosophers, and made them sit round this queer 
 article of furniture. Jane, the cook, and I, who were all curi- 
 osity, placed ourselves behind the door. At first all was silence ; 
 then we heard Master shout, " Spirits, move this table if you 
 can! " when, law! Thomas, the table began with spinning round 
 and round, and then rising in the air, went and bumped against 
 the ceiling.* You may imagine the long faces of the wiseacres 
 present, who broke up in disgust. From that time Master used 
 to go into a rage if anybody attempted to touch on the subject 
 of table-turning. f 
 
 Thomas. 
 What a farce ! 
 
 Rosaline. 
 But that's not all. When Jane and I went down into the 
 kitchen we just put our hands lightly on the heavy table there, 
 and in a moment it went round like a spindle. From that time 
 I lost all good opinion of those blockheads of philosophers. 
 
 Thomas. 
 And serve them right, I say. I'll tell you what I have been 
 thinking : if I were Miss Grasp, I would give the slip to mi-lord 
 Fitzwaugh, and elope with Mr. Edward New. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 No, Thomas, that would never do ; because in the Spiritual 
 books which Miss Eleanor gives me to read it is said that we 
 must restrain our passions, and avoid giving pain to others. 
 
 * This is literally historical. 
 
 f This is also historical, as is proved by the never-to-be-forgotten, illogical 
 and savage letter which the Professor in 1861 wrote to Sir Emerson Ten- 
 nent, who hazarded to invite him to assist at a seance with Mr. Home. 
 
64 SriTJT AXD MATTER. 
 
 Thomas. 
 Dear Rosaline, these arc very good sentiments, and you could 
 bring me to think in the Bame way. Tell me, dear, don 1 t you 
 believe that if we were joined in wedlock we should make a very 
 happy couple? Will you consent to my wooing you? 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Dear Thomas, since I find you do not scoff at these serious 
 things, I will confess that I have been long attached to you. 
 
 Thomas. 
 Give me your hand, then, and say we are engaged. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Here it is; and may God bless our engagement! [A bell is 
 heard.'] Oh, this is Miss Eleanor's bell, and I must go. Good- 
 bye, Thomas. 
 
 Thomas. 
 God bless you, Rosaline! 
 
 [Exit both at opposite sides of the stage,'] 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Grasp and Mrs. Grasp entering together. 
 
 Grasp. 
 I am glad to see you somewhat calmer. This is the frame of 
 mind best adapted to meet difficulties. A great misfortune has 
 befallen us ; but accidents will happen in the best regulated fam- 
 ilies. We will call our daughter, and see if we cannot persuade 
 her to forget that beggar and the follies of Spiritualism, and 
 induce her to accept the nobleman of our choice. You know 
 she has ever been good and obedient, and I am sure she will not 
 thwart us in our desire. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 65 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 
 It is clear that you do not know your daughter's character. 
 I have exhausted every argument to induce her to forget that 
 fellow, and that vulgar and absurd Spiritualism, and to persuade 
 her to do our bidding ; but all to no purpose. You should have 
 seen the set determination with which she declared her unwill- 
 ingness to enter into our' views. I think yours will be all time 
 lost. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Do not say so. She is a mere child, and at her age women 
 change like a weathercock. You cannot forget that when I 
 asked you in marriage your heart was set upon Captain Bolt; 
 yet you were soon talked into persuasion, and married me in- 
 stead. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Yes ; but I have ever been strong-minded, whilst your daugh- 
 ter is incapable of restraining her feelings, and is as weak as 
 water. 
 
 Grasp. 
 According to your own account, her behavior seems to betray 
 anything but weakness. Anyhow, we will talk to her, and see 
 if we cannot conquer her obstinacy. [Rings the bell.'] 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 Thomas and the Same. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Thomas, tell Miss Grasp that I want to speak to her. [Thomas 
 bows, and exit."] And pray, Mrs. Grasp, keep your temper, and 
 do not interrupt me. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 I wish you good luck. 
 
66 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 Eleanor and the Same. 
 
 Eleanob. 
 
 Dear father and mother, I come at your bidding; but if the 
 object of calling me into your presence is to induce me to betray 
 the most sacred feelings of my heart, I think it right at once to 
 declare that I cannot do so. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 [Aside.'] The weak, deluded girl! 
 
 Grasp. 
 [Aside.'] Weak? Very! [To ELEANOR.] Miss Grasp, we have 
 not called you here to know your mind, but for you to learn ours. 
 Recollect the duties of children towards their parents. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 I never neglected those duties, and I now declare my readi- 
 ness to comply with all your wishes except giving my hand to 
 a man I do not love. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Stuff and nonsense! You must listen to reason. And to begin 
 with : Let me hear from your own lips that there is no truth in 
 your having so demeaned yourself as to encourage the advances 
 of that beggarly fellow, Edward New. Say that I have been 
 grievously misinformed on that point. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Dear father, I have formed a strong attachment to Edward 
 New, whom I know to be both good and honorable. lie is not 
 rich : but where is the mortal on whom fortune lavishes every 
 gift? 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 What! you, the best educated girl in England, and the heiress 
 of a princely fortune, cast your eye upon a man without wealth, 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 67 
 
 title, or position ! And could you for a moment think that we 
 should sanction such a degradation? 
 
 Eleanor. 
 I can see no degradation in loving a just and worthy man ; 
 and I feel that I can never love any other than him. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Very romantic, this ! But I will tell you that you will have to 
 forget him, for I have already accepted for you the offer of a 
 nobleman of high standing; and as my word has been given, 
 him you shall marry. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 For the respect I owe to myself, I shall never consent to do 
 that. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 
 Oh, unhappy child ! Is this the way to reward us for all the 
 care and attention we have bestowed upon you? 
 
 Grasp. 
 Shame, shame, for your disobedience, and for engaging your- 
 self without consulting your parents! By your obstinacy you 
 expose your father to the obloquy of having failed in his word 
 to a nobleman of the highest rank. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 It never entered my mind to disobey or displease my parents. 
 I have not engaged my hand, but I have become attached to 
 Edward New, whom I have known as a child. If I have given 
 you pain, I sincerely beg your pardon. As to exposing you to 
 the unpleasantness of a refusal, — excuse me, dear father, but 
 before deciding of my destiny you might at least have consulted 
 me. Throw upon me all the responsibility of that refusal. May 
 I now be allowed to retire? 
 
 Grasp. 
 Not yet, Miss Grasp, as I have another account to settle with 
 you. Tell me, can it be possible that you have also been per- 
 verted into the supremely stupid superstition of spirit-rapping? 
 
c8 spieit axd matter. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 With a devout and thankful heart I have received the heavenly 
 revelation of Spiritualism J and it is in virtue of my new convic- 
 tions if, to avoid giving you pain, I am ready to renounce to the 
 man of my affections. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 And give your hand to the nobleman of our choice ? 
 
 Eleanor. 
 That I shall never do, to avert shame worse than death from 
 me and remorse to you in your old age. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Enough, enough! Prepare to leave to-day with your mother 
 
 for our country seat, there to remain until you have become 
 
 wiser! 
 
 Eleanor. 
 I shall obey. [Exit.'] 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 I told you, Mr. Grasp, that speaking to our daughter would 
 be useless. Those low tastes of our child show that she has not 
 inherited the noble blood of my family, the Earls of Grandton. 
 
 Grasp. 
 She may not have inherited the blood of the Grandtons, but 
 she has decidedly taken yours, for she is as obstinate as your- 
 self. Besides, it is you who have educated her, whom I have 
 scarcely ever seen. 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Indeed! Had I been obstinate, I should not have married 
 you, Mr. Grasp, for you know I never loved you ! 
 
 Grasp. 
 And you cannot ignore that I only married you for your con- 
 nection, and did not care a button for you. So, you see, there 
 has been no love lost between us ! 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 69 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 Your speech does not testify favorably for your taste, sir ; and 
 I see too late the consequences for a woman of noble blood 
 marrying a tradesman! 
 
 Grasp. 
 And I the folly of connecting myself with a family of beggars, 
 who come to devour my good dinners, and then think themselves 
 too great to receive me into their society ! 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 No more of this, Mr. Grasp! I rejoice in the idea of leaving 
 for the country! — anywhere better than in your presence, sir! 
 Good-bye ! 
 
 Grasp. 
 I wish you a good journey, my noble spouse, and, pray, don't 
 be in a hurry to come back! 
 
 Mrs. Grasp. 
 You uncouth bear! [Exit.] 
 
 Grasp. 
 For a wonder, she hasn't fainted again! I begin to think that 
 life is not a bed of roses, after all. Marriage, which I thought 
 would advance me in station, has proved a costly disappoint- 
 ment. Instead of a son to inherit my princely fortune, and 
 maintain the honor of my name, I am doomed to bestow it upon 
 a daughter with a mind so perverted as to join her mother in 
 thwarting and insulting me. But riches are left me still ; and 
 if I cannot find happiness at home, I shall seek it in the honors 
 of public life, when I retire from business, and see the gates of 
 St. James's open for me. 
 
70 SPIRIT AXD MATTER. 
 
 SCENE VIII. 
 
 Tiiomas and the Same. 
 
 Thomas. 
 [With letters on a silver tray.'] Please, sir, these letters have 
 just arrived. [Exit,] 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 [Examining the letters.] They are all for my wife and daugh- 
 ter. — This is for Mrs. Grasp. I will open it, for I must know 
 henceforward what is going on in this house. [Opens the let- 
 ter.] A bill from that witch perfumer, Madam Rachel. [Head- 
 ing aloud.] M Enamelling pearl paste, to make beautiful for- 
 ever, three hundred guineas." The deuce! " Lalsam of Arca- 
 dia, and Oriental skin-emollient, twelve bottles, one hundred 
 and twenty guineas." Bagatelle ! " Elixir of youth, six bottles, 
 sixty guineas." Veiy cheap! " Ambrosian scent, twelve bot- 
 tles, twelve guineas." She must have stolen it! " Kota bene: 
 Madam Rachel respectfully informs Mrs. Grasp, that as the above 
 is a long-standing account, if cash is not received within twenty- 
 four hours, Madam Rachel will be compelled to dispose of Mrs. 
 Grasp's diamond bracelet." Ha, ha! capital! My better half 
 was unwise to tell me she would pawn her jewels if I did not 
 give her money for these hare-brained extravagances; for I 
 quietly had the diamonds replaced by paste so natural as to 
 have deceived even Madam Rachel! It is well that the law 
 cannot compel me to pay in this case. [Opens another letter.] 
 This is for Miss Grasp. " May good angels reward you for your 
 generous contribution for the defence of persecuted mediums!" 
 Confound them all! I should like to see them at the bottom 
 of the sea! [Crumples up the letter, and op>ens another.'] This 
 is also for my daughter. [Reads.] " Received with thanks from 
 Miss Grasp the sum of ten pounds in aid of the Society for the 
 Protection of Animals liable to Vivisection." Very fine, this! 
 Protecting the brutes, and skinning me alive ! I must put a stop 
 to all this foolery, or I shall be ruined! [Takes up another letter.] 
 Also for Miss Grasp. What an elegant, perfumed envelope! 
 
SPIBIT AND MATTER. 71 
 
 From whom can it be? [Opens the letter and reads."] " Angelic 
 Miss Grasp!" [Turns the sheet to look at the signature J] Thun- 
 der and lightning ! A love-letter to my daughter from that cur, 
 Complis ! 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 Complis and the Same 
 
 Complis. 
 
 [In a drawling tone.'] Good-morning, sir. I hope I see you 
 well. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Mr. Complis, I have no further need of your services ; you 
 may find another situation. 
 
 Complis. 
 [Sarcastically.] You don't mean it? And why, pray? 
 
 Grasp. 
 I refuse to give you any reason. You may retire. [Goes to 
 ring the bell.] 
 
 Complis. 
 
 Stop, stop, Mr. Grasp. Don't be in such a hurry. My name 
 is not Patience. A civil question requires a civil answer. Again 
 I request to know your reason for discharging me. 
 
 Grasp. 
 [Showing him his letter. ] m That is the reason, you presump- 
 tuous puppy! 
 
 Complis. 
 
 [Coolly.] And why presumptuous? Except the coin, am I 
 not better than you? I am the son of a barrister, and you of 
 a pedlar, who, like yourself, made his fortune by forgeries and 
 robberies. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Hush, hush, miserable wretch! Recollect that I have you in 
 my power! 
 
72 SPIRIT AND MATTEH. 
 
 COMPLIS. 
 Or rather that you arc in mine, as one word from me and you 
 will be done for. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Be careful, fellow, for I can have you transported! 
 
 Complis. 
 I like that! Perhaps you don't know that the rope that would 
 hang me would choke 3*011 also. That compromising document 
 which I told you I destroyed is still in my possession, and I may 
 turn Queen's evidence! 
 
 Grasp. 
 Hush! don't speak so loud! Where is that document? 
 
 Complis. 
 The document is scrupulously preserved where a liberal con- 
 sideration may find it. 
 
 Grasp. 
 How much for that paper? 
 
 Complis. 
 [Opening 7iis hand and showing it to GRASP.] Five thousand 
 pounds, and cheap at the price. 
 
 Grasp. 
 None of this nonsense! The paper is not worth that. I'll 
 give you two thousand. 
 
 Complis. 
 Five, or I keep the document. 
 
 Grasp. 
 I will give you three thousand, and see you hanged before I 
 give you another penny. 
 
 Complis. 
 Well, X*U be generous. It is a bargain. 
 
SPIEIT AND MATTEB. 73 
 
 Grasp. 
 Be here to-night at eleven o'clock with the document, and 
 you will find the money ready. 
 
 Complis. 
 I shall not fail to render you that little service, Grasp. {Going, .] 
 Don't, don't come to the door. [Exit.] 
 
 Grasp. 
 The infamous and treacherous scoundrel! He has caught me! 
 But even without that document he knows enough of my affairs 
 to destroy me! Could I not — ha, money is power! — could I 
 not make that wretch disappear? His lodgings are near the 
 Thames embankment, and he will have to leave them at about 
 ten to-night. For extreme evils extreme remedies, and diamond 
 cut diamond. [Goes to his desk and writes.] [To himself as he 
 goes on writing, .] " Mr. Sharkey, as soon as you receive this, 
 start for my office, and wait there for me until I come. Bring 
 with you your friend Bill Loom, if you can." [Rings the bell.] 
 
 SCENE X. 
 
 Thomas and the Same* 
 
 Grasp. 
 Thomas, go at once to No. 950 Narrow Thames, Street, and 
 deliver this note to the person who lives there. As it is far, take 
 a cab ; lose no time. 
 
 Thomas. 
 It shall be done, sir. [To himself.] Avery queer address, 
 
 this. [Exit] 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Complis, you would have your little game with me, but you 
 did not know that I could play the knave as well as you! 
 
74 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 J±CT "V". 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Library in Dr. New's house. 
 
 Edward New. 
 My father is late in returning. Had he good tidings for me, 
 he would not have delayed so long. Alas, I fear a refusal! But 
 I am prepared for the worst, and the blow will find me resigned, 
 as befits one who knows that all is ordained for our ultimate 
 good. 
 
 SCENE n. 
 
 Dr. New, the Same, and eventually James. 
 
 Edward. 
 Dear father, I can read in your countenance the confirmation 
 of my fears. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 Edward, my dear boy, it is all over. Mr. Grasp has not only 
 refused your offer, but has taken the opportunity of insulting 
 us by qualifying your proposal as presumptuous. Moreover he 
 avers that his daughter is already promised to a nobleman. I 
 feel deeply for you, but I am sure that you will stand this trial 
 as behooves an adept to our sublime philosophy. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 You are right. My grief is intense, but you see me resigned. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Well done, Edward. The strokes of fortune are intended to 
 strengthen the soul, and the severity of this will fully prepare 
 you for those trials with which your coming days are sure to be 
 strewed. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 75 
 
 Edward. 
 What troubles me most is the thought of the sufferings of that 
 bright angel, who, besides the pain of our separation, will have 
 to endure the importunities of her parents in trying to force her 
 into an abhorred union. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 I fully appreciate your feelings; but Eleanor is endowed with 
 a sterling heart, and I am sure she will endure her grief with 
 fortitude. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 I do not doubt that. Would that this consideration could in 
 any degree console me ! 
 
 Dr. New. 
 I can understand that her strength of mind and powers of 
 resignation are but poor consolation to you. Happily, she, like 
 you, knows that sorrow is the crucible where the soul gets re- 
 fined. 
 
 [Enter James.] 
 
 James, 
 Please, sir, a servant has called, desiring you to visit his sick 
 mistress immediately. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 I cpme. [Exit James.] I am sorry to leave you at this mo- 
 ment. Look upwards, Edward ; look upwards. 
 
 Edward. 
 Good-bye, father. May God reward you for your great kind- 
 ness and sympathy. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Adieu, and corn-age. [Exit] 
 
 Edward. 
 So, we must ascend the Calvary that we may reach to glory. 
 It has ever been so. This hitherto inscrutable decree of Prov- 
 idence has now been unravelled by the light of Spiritualism. 
 How could we realize the joy awaiting us in the world to come, 
 
76 spirit and matter. 
 
 witliont having first experienced its antithesis, pain? And just 
 as night was made to enable OS to enjoy Hie light of day, and 
 the Storm that we may admire the pure sky, so our sufferings 
 are the sure pledge of the bllSS to come. O Heavenly Father! 
 in this, the greatest trial of my life, I fervently ask Thy sup- 
 port, and the power of saying, with a less sad heart, Thy will 
 be done! 
 
 SCENE III. 
 Rosaline and the Same, 
 
 Rosaline. 
 
 Good-morning, sir. 
 
 Edwaed. 
 Good-morning, Rosaline. What tidings do you bring me? 
 How is Miss Grasp? 
 
 Rosaline. 
 My dear young mistress bears up wonderfully under her great 
 soitow. She wishes me to tell you that, by the desire of her 
 father, she is to accompany Mrs. Grasp to their country seat, 
 where most likely they will remain a long time. The departure 
 is fixed for to-morrow; and Miss Eleanor, wishing to take leave 
 of you, would be glad that you should see her this evening 
 in their garden. Here is the double key of the conservatory. 
 \IIandliig him a key.'] 
 
 Edward. 
 I shall be there in an hour. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 I must also tell you that Master has given orders to the ser- 
 vants to intercept all letters to and from Miss Eleanor ; there- 
 fore I am sent as her messenger. 
 
 Edward. 
 I feel much obliged for your kind errand. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 77 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Let me express to you my admiration for the manner in which 
 you bear this great disappointment; for I well know how strong 
 must be your grief. 
 
 Edward. 
 Rosaline, a Spiritualist yourself, you should not he surprised 
 at my resignation. We all know that no holy aspiration can 
 remain unfulfilled, and I am convinced that, if not here, Eleanor 
 will be my partner in heaven. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Oh, how consoling is our belief ! 
 
 Edward. 
 I understand that you are a great clairvoyante. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 I have seen spirits from my earliest childhood. 
 
 Edward. 
 This is a truly splendid gift. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 But it has its unpleasant side. 
 
 Edward. 
 How? 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Because I often see dark spirits surrounding men who are 
 thought just and good, whereas the low spirits that follow them 
 show that they are great hypocrites. 
 
 Edward. 
 True; rudimental spirits are always the attendants on bad 
 thoughts and feelings. 
 
78 SPIIttT AND MATTELL 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 James and the Same. 
 
 James. 
 Mr. Patience. 
 
 Edward. 
 Show him in. [ To Rosaline.] Say that I shall not fail at 
 the meeting. [Rosatjne bows, and exit."] 
 
 SCESTE V. 
 
 - Patlekce and Edward. 
 
 Edwakd. 
 I am very glad to see you, Mr. Patience. In what can I be 
 of service to you? 
 
 Pateexce. 
 
 Well, sir, after forty-five years of faithful service, Mr. Grasp 
 has summarily dismissed me this morning, and I come to ask 
 the favor of your recommending me to another situation. 
 
 Edwakd. 
 Sent you away without notice! and what for? 
 
 Pateexce. 
 Because, rather than oppress with law proceedings two of his 
 poor debtors, I preferred paying their small debts from my own 
 pocket. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 It seems ordained that we must suffer even for doing good. 
 The new philosophy that has come to illumine the world teaches 
 us that the trials of this life are sent to make us understand the 
 blessings of the next. Meanwhile be of good cheer. I will speak 
 to my uncle in the city, who might give you employment. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 79 
 
 Patience. 
 I feel much obliged to you. In speaking of a new philosophy, 
 you were, no doubt, alluding to Spiritualism. My many occu- 
 pations have hitherto prevented me from investigating these new 
 theories, which, by having attracted the attention of your worthy 
 father and of yourself, cannot but be deserving of inquiry. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 Spiritualism numbers amongst its ranks some of the most emi- 
 nent men of Europe and America. 
 
 Patience. 
 Although I am quite settled in my religious opinions, being 
 a convinced Christian, yet I should like to know what are the 
 points of divergence between the two doctrines. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 If you are a Christian, you are a Spiritualist, as we Spiritual- 
 ists are Christians in the broadest sense of the word. Immor- 
 tality of the soul, punishment or reward according to our deeds, 
 communion of the saints, are doctrines common to both beliefs. 
 If authorities were wanting to show that Spiritualism and Chris- 
 tianity agree, I might name Origenes, Tertullian, Whately, and 
 other eminent ecclesiastics of ancient and modern times, all 
 agreeing Spiritualism to be the very key to that grand yet mys- 
 terious book, the Christian Bible. The only difference that can 
 be discerned between Christianity and Spiritualism is that we 
 know what you believe, and you believe what we know, and to 
 your Memento mori we reply Memento vivere. 
 
 Patience. 
 In truth, one cannot deny the Bible to be anything else but a 
 history of the Spiritualism of the past ; but I should like to know 
 something of the ethics of Spiritualism. 
 
 Edward. 
 The subject is too vast to be exhausted in a brief conversation, 
 since Spiritualism is at the same time a science, a philosophy, 
 and a religion : a science, because it is founded on ascertained 
 
80 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 tacts ; a philosophy, because it enters the vast domain of morals; 
 and a religion, because it treats of the sold and its destiny. Spir- 
 itualism can indeed be defined the science of religion, the religion 
 of science, and the philosophy of philosophies. 
 
 Patience. 
 
 I should like to know something of the dialectics of Spirit- 
 ualism. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 A very wide field indeed, of which I can give you but an 
 imperfect outline. We learn, then, that all the worlds that 
 stud the firmament are so many cradles and schools for infinite 
 humanity; that these material worlds were made to develop the 
 human body ; that the material body was made to develop the 
 human spirit; and that the human spirit, this individualized 
 spark from the great central focus, is destined to everlasting 
 progression. On casting aside the mortal coil, the spirit finds 
 itself clothed with an ethereal body imperishable like the soul, 
 and witli which it can travel through space with the rapidity 
 of thought. The eye becomes then the channel of speech, for 
 thought is visible to the spirit. Reward and punishment are 
 awarded according to our deeds in the earthly career. Remorse 
 is the attendant on the transgressors of divine laws, and is not 
 given as a punishment, but as a means of purification, that the 
 spirit may, thus redeemed, return to Him that created it. 
 
 Patience. 
 I can see here a marked difference between our respective 
 creeds; for you do not seem to admit eternal punishment, or 
 those localities, the heaven and hell of the Christians. 
 
 Edward. 
 Heaven and hell are not localities, but states, which we cany 
 within us; and as for the eternity of sufferings, only unthinking 
 theologians believe in such a paradoxical theory, forgetting what 
 is said in Holy Writ, that " the wrath of God does not hist for 
 ever." The idea of an infinite punishment is not consistent with 
 the merc} T , the wisdom, or the prescience of God. We, the chil- 
 dren of a loving Father, cannot but be destined to inherit his 
 eternal love. A Greek word in the Bible being translated in 
 
SPIEIT AKD MATTER. 81 
 
 the sense of everlasting, instead of its true meaning which is long 
 lasting, has been the cause of that serious misapprehension. 
 
 Patience. 
 A convocation of bishops is now engaged in revising the trans- 
 lation of the Bible. I understand that many of them are great 
 scholars of the ancient Greek, and it is to be hoped that they 
 will not overlook this important point, and correct the error. 
 
 Edward. 
 The sooner they do it the better for their credit and their con- 
 science; for they ought to know that this frightful and revolting 
 theory of eternal vengeance is the principal source of atheism in 
 the world. 
 
 Patience. 
 
 One more question: I am told that not unfrequently very 
 unruly spirits take possession of your mediums and frighten the 
 assistants at your seances. Is this so? 
 
 Ed w AKD. 
 It is quite true; and your question offers me the opportunity 
 of calling your attention to what constitutes, perhaps, the most 
 remarkable and interesting phase of modern Spiritualism. A 
 number of these spirits which we call rudimental, believing in 
 their ignorance that they are condemned forever, try to revenge 
 themselves by doing all the evil in their power ; but, treated by 
 us with pity and kindness, and taught the infinite mercy of God 
 and the law of progression, they are rendered docile, and by 
 degrees made to enter the realms of light. I myself have been 
 instrumental in enlightening hundreds of these unhappy souls. 
 It is truly consoling to see the gratitude expressed by those con- 
 verted spirits, first to God, and then to us His humble instru- 
 ments. The discovery of this hitherto unknown power in mor- 
 tals to benefit the inhabitants of the spirit-world is, you must 
 admit, a truly wonderful fact. 
 
 Patience. 
 Nothing more stupendous ! I suppose many works are written 
 on Spiritualism. Could you oblige me with the title of some of 
 them, as you have awakened an interest in me to know more 
 upon the subject. 
 6 
 
82 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 Edward. 
 Thousands of volumes, in all languages, have boon published 
 on this new revelation. I possess a good number of them in our 
 idiom, which I place at your disposal. 
 
 Patience. 
 I shall profit by your kind offer. Let me now thank you for 
 the instruction you have imparted to me, as well as for the 
 interest you take in my behalf. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 I have only done my duty, and you may always look upon mo 
 as a friend. 
 
 Patience. 
 
 I again thank you, and wish you good-bye. 
 
 Edward. 
 Good-bye, good-bye! [Exit Patience.] [Edward looking at 
 his watch.] The time for the fatal meeting is approaching, and 
 I do not know whether I most wish or dread the interview which 
 may, alas! be the last on earth with her whom I so deeply love. 
 May Providence give me strength to bear this trial ! 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 83 
 
 .A.CT -VI. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 Grasp's drawing-room. Night. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Mine has been a bold resolve. It was a choice of dangers, 
 and I have preferred the least. Who can ever suspect me of 
 murder? And if they did, my gold will save me. But the hour 
 of the execution of my device has passed, and I cannot help 
 feeling rather anxious. 
 
 SCENE IT. 
 
 Thomas and the Same. 
 
 Thomas. 
 Please, sir, two very ill-looking individuals, who would neither 
 give their names, nor tell their errand, insist upon seeing yo i. 
 They look such ugly customers, that perhaps you would wish 
 me to stand near the door of the parlor and come to your aid if 
 necessary. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 It is all right, Thomas ; I know who they are. They belong 
 to my warehouse. You stay here until my return. [Exit.'] 
 
 Thomas. 
 What nice warehousemen those are of Master's, to be sure ! 
 They look more like bulldogs than human beings. And why 
 did Master wish me to stay here? With due respect for my 
 superiors, I don't believe a word that those two brutes belong to 
 the warehouse. They must be two cut-throats, and I smell here 
 a very big rat, which will soon fall into the trap of my under- 
 standing. 
 
84 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 SCEXE III. 
 
 Grasp and the Same. 
 
 Grasp. 
 [Somewhat out of breath.'] Thomas, you may return to the 
 halL [Thomas bows, and exit.'] It is done; and Complis at 
 the bottom of the Thames cannot hurt me now. Instead of three 
 thousand pounds, three hundred pieces of gold have freed me 
 from that villain. But — oil, horrible thought! — that document 
 may yet be found in the pocket of the drowned man! If so, my 
 ruin is certain! The water may fortunately have obliterated the 
 writing, and I must trust to my usual good luck. 
 
 SCE1STE IV. 
 
 Complis and the Same. 
 
 Complis. 
 Good evening, Mr. Grasp. How do you do? 
 
 Grasp. 
 [Shrinking with horror, and to himself.] Good heavens! What 
 is this? 
 
 Complis. 
 
 Why, Mr. Grasp, you seem frightened! Surely you have not 
 become a Spiritualist, believing in the return of the dead ! Be- 
 hold me, Ernest Complis, in flesh and blood! So, so, — you have 
 thrown away three hundred pounds, which you might have added 
 to the paltry three thousand you wanted to stint me of ! 
 
 Grasp. 
 What do you mean? I do not understand you. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTEK. 85 
 
 COMPLIS. 
 I mean that the two boys you commissioned to shove me into 
 the Thames happened to be my chums, and that you may now 
 consider yourself a transported convict. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Don't speak so loud, you demon ! I will keep my word ; and 
 if you have brought that accursed document, you shall have the 
 three thousand pounds you extort from me. 
 
 Complis. 
 You mistake the figure, Angel Grasp. The pounds must be 
 five thousand this time. 
 
 Grasp. 
 You are mad! You want to ruin me! 
 
 Complis. 
 To ruin you would require another Grasp. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Come, where is that paper? 
 
 Complis. 
 The paper is here. [Places the right hand in his breast-pocket, 
 and draws a revolver, then a paper, which he shows to Grasp.] 
 
 Grasp. 
 Wait, and I will fetch the three thousand pounds. 
 
 Complis. 
 [Pointing the revolver at him.] I say five, man! 
 
 Grasp. 
 Perdition! [Exit.] 
 
 Complis. 
 You shall not try your hand on me again, you desperate vag- 
 abond! [Takes a small box from his pocket and places it under a 
 couch.'] Before morning it will be said, " Here was the house 
 of Merchant Grasp." 
 
86 spirit and matter. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 [Returning with a roll of papers in his hands.'} Here is the 
 money. Give me the paper. 
 
 Complis. 
 I might ask to have the money handed first; but I have great 
 confidence in your delicacy, Mr. Grasp. [Hands the document to 
 
 Grasp'.] 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 [Takes the document, and, after scrutinizing it attentively, places 
 the money on the table.'] Count your money. 
 
 Complis. 
 It is soon done. — Five bank-notes of one thousand each, and 
 all good. You have ever been an honorable man. Nothing 
 remains for me to do now than to wish you a very good-night. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Recollect, Mr. Complis, that we are in each other's keeping 
 yet. 
 
 Complis. 
 
 That is, you rather more in mine than I in yours. Good- 
 night, sir; good-night. [Exit.} 
 
 Grasp. 
 That man may destroy me yet. At any cost, I must try to 
 make him disappear. [Exit.] 
 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Grasp's garden. Eleanor and Rosaline. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 
 You see, Rosaline, that there are positions in life when neces- ■ 
 
 sity overrules conventionality. It is not without much hesitation 
 
 that I have convened Edward here ; for were my parents to know 
 
 of this meeting, it would grieve them. But I could not resist the 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 87 
 
 wish of pressing for the last time that hand which I hoped to 
 have been given to me at the altar in the temple. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 
 Dear Mistress, I cannot see any harm in what you are doing. 
 
 As for your fears of meeting Mr. Edward for the last time, let 
 
 me remind you that as long as there is life there is hope, -r- But 
 
 I hear steps. — I think I see him. — Here he comes, and I retire. 
 
 [Exit.] 
 
 , SCENE VI. 
 
 Edward and Eleanor. i 
 
 Edward. 
 Sweet friend, thanks for granting me this interview. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Dear Edward, our meeting will be a sad one ; for I fear, alas ! 
 it may be the last on earth, as the opposition of my parents to 
 our union is irrevocable. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 I feared as much. All that remains to us now is resignation 
 and submission to the Divine decrees. I always felt that to have 
 you as a partner in life was a blessing fit only for angels. Let 
 us wait, then, until we leave this world of strife, and be joined 
 in the spheres of harmony. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 Apart from you I shall not tarry long on this earth, my be- 
 loved. Grieve not when I am gone, for I shall ever be at your 
 side awaiting to receive you when you are called. 
 
 Edward. 
 Our departure hence is ruled by the Highest Wisdom. Would 
 it were written above that we might leave hand in hand this vale 
 of tears, where all soon fades away. 
 
88 spirit and matter. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 
 And reach jointly that land of eternal bliss, where everything 
 ever begins anew, and where love and all true aspirations of the 
 soul are sure to be realized. And now, Edward, adieu. 
 
 ]j)WAi:i). 
 Adieu, Eleanor. May angels be with you! 
 
 Eleanor. 
 [Joining her hands, and looking upwards.'] Almighty Ruler of 
 the universe, we thank Thee even for this bitter cup, as we are 
 thankful for the knowledge Thou hast given us that all is for 
 our ultimate good. Grant us to be resigned for the time allotted 
 us here below, and then deign to receive us amongst the blessed. 
 [To Edward.] Adieu, Edward; adieu. 
 
 Edward. 
 Adieu, Eleanor; adieu, dearest friend. May angels keep you 
 company! [They embrace ; ex it Edward.] 
 
 Eleanor. 
 {Looking fondly after Edward.] Yes, farewell! Farewell 
 for ever in this world! 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Dear Miss Eleanor, have more faith. Who knows that God 
 may not make your parents relent? 
 
 Eleanor. 
 To Him all is possible ; but I have a strong conviction that 
 Edward and I shall only meet next in heaven. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Where we shall be all happy together. 
 
 Eleanor. 
 And where we shall call each other sisters. {Exit both.'] 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 89 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 
 Grasp and Thomas advancing cautiously, Grasp having 
 revolvers in his hands. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Are you sure you saw a man in this garden just now? 
 
 Thomas. 
 Yes, sir, as distinctly as I see you now. I saw him enter from 
 the conservatory. 
 
 Grasp. 
 "What was his appearance? 
 
 Thomas. 
 He looked like a gentleman. 
 
 Grasp. 
 Might it have been that fellow, Complis? 
 
 Thomas. 
 He was of the same height ; but I can't be sure it was him. 
 
 Grasp. 
 
 Thomas, go and wake up the gardener ; tell him to watch all 
 night, and shoot at any man he sees on these grounds. I shall 
 be responsible for the deed. Be also careful to secure the door 
 of the house leading to the garden, and bring me the key before 
 I go to bed. \_ExitJ] 
 
 Thomas. 
 
 Mysteries increase and multiply in this house. I see a man 
 in the garden, and a moment afterwards he disappears, leaving 
 the gates all closed behind him. Master gets terribly alarmed, 
 suspecting the man to be Complis, and giving murderous orders 
 in consequence. What can all this mean? I never was so puz- 
 zled in my life, and I would give anything to find it all out. I 
 will obey orders, and wake up the gardener; and I hope to good- 
 ness that no one will be found dead here to-morrow. 
 
90 SPIRIT AKD MATTER. 
 
 SCENE VIII. 
 
 Drawing-room in Db. Xew's house. 
 
 Dn. Xew. 
 I would my son were back. His meeting Eleanor in the gar- 
 den of that man was a hazardous step, for I believe Grasp capa- 
 ble of any excess. Oh, the corrupting influence of gold! No 
 one could have been more generous or kind-hearted than he was 
 when a youth; but no sooner had he inherited a large fortune 
 than the demons of avarice and ambition took possession of his 
 soul. Examples like this, though of most frequent occurrence, 
 seem to read no lesson to the parents of our times, who, instead 
 of leaving to their children the treasures of a good education 
 and of a well-formed heart, think only of accumulating wealth, 
 which becomes a vest of Nessus for their luckless offspring. Ah, 
 Spiritualism has not come too soon for the enlightenment of the 
 present generation. 
 
 SCEXE IX. 
 
 Edward and the Same. 
 
 Dr. Xew. 
 Edward, I am glad to see you back, for I was rather thought- 
 ful about you. Have you seen and taken leave of that dear 
 child? 
 
 Edward. 
 Yes, clear father. 
 
 Dr. Xew. 
 Has she shown firmness and resignation of heart at parting 
 with you? 
 
 Edward. 
 
 Nothing could be more admirable than her behavior on so 
 trying an occasion. She is truly one of God's elect, and very 
 little removed from an angelic being. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 91 
 
 Dr. New. 
 How different from her parents ! Although Spiritualism ex- 
 plains many a mystery in nature, yet it hides from us the reason 
 of the great disparity of character often observed between parents 
 
 and children. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 Unless indeed we look for an explanation of this fact in the 
 reality of reincarnation, a doctrine to which we pay so little 
 attention, and even spurn, in England, although admitted by 
 some of the greatest minds in all ages. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Nothing more reprehensible than rejecting a theory without 
 examining it. In their objection to look into this doctrine on the 
 part of the majority of English and American Spiritualists, and 
 condemning it a priori, they do not perceive that they only im- 
 itate the would-be men of science who act in the like manner in 
 regard to Spiritualism. 
 
 Edward. 
 
 You are quite right, father. I mean to investigate the claims 
 of the theory of reincarnation, which prima facie seems to me 
 reasonable. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 But it is now late ; let us retire. Good night, Edward. Cheer 
 up, my boy ; and God bless you ! 
 
 Edward. 
 Good night, dear father. [Exit at opposite sides of the staged] 
 
 SCENE X. 
 
 James. 
 Poor Master Edward, how sad he has been looking of late ! 
 It must be on account of the refusal he has received from Mr. 
 Grasp, who thought perhaps that he was not good enough for 
 his daughter. But he may go far and wide and never find such 
 a son-in-law as my young master. Oh, these rich people are 
 so unreasonable ! They think that gold is happiness, as if they 
 
92 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 could carry that happiness into flic next world! Ah, there are 
 neither rich nor poor there; and as God is just, we hard-working 
 people must fare better than they in the life to come. [A clock 
 founding midnight is heard.] Midnight is sounding, and I will 
 go to bed. [Cries of fire are heard from many voices in the street.] 
 What! lire;? My goodness, wherever can it be? [Goes to the 
 window, throws it ojjen, and a great (fare of fire is seen.'] Good 
 gracious! Mr. Grasp's house is inflames! I must awaken my 
 masters ! 
 
 SCENE XL 
 
 Dr. New and Edward rushing in. 
 
 James. 
 Master ! Mr. Grasp's house is on fire ! 
 
 Edward. 
 
 [Looking out of the tcindow.'] Good heavens! it is so! Father, 
 I go! 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 Go, my son! Would that my age allowed me to go with you! 
 [Exit Edward.] [Dr. New looking out of the icindow.] The 
 fire seems a very serious one. Fortunately, here comes the fire 
 brigade. 
 
 SCENE XII. 
 
 Rosaline and the Same. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Doctor, what are we to do? We are lost! All the first floor 
 of Master's house is in a blaze. Thomas and I attempted to 
 rouse the family, but we found the stairs all on fire ; and as Mas- 
 ter had all the issues of the house locked and had possession of 
 the keys, Thomas, I, and the other servants have escaped by the 
 window. 
 
SPIEIT AND MATTER. 93 
 
 Dr. New. 
 There is still hope. I see the firemen approach the escape- 
 ladder to the windows. 
 
 EOS ALINE. 
 
 But I don't see them opened ; and I am afraid the smoke has 
 smothered all within! There, I see Mr. Edward and Thomas 
 helping the firemen in all their operations ! Heaven protect us ! 
 I see the flames issuing from the roof, and all hope for saving 
 the family is over ! [A great crash is heard.'] Good God ! the 
 roof has fallen in, and the house is a heap of ruins ! 
 
 Dr. New. 
 What has become of my son? Can you see him? 
 
 Rosaline. 
 I can see neither him nor Thomas. May God protect them! 
 
 James. 
 There is Thomas ; I see him coming this way! 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Heaven be praised ! 
 
 Dr. New. 
 James, go and look for my son! Make haste! [Exit James.] 
 
 Rosaline. 
 [Looking spellbound out of the window, as if in a trance."] What 
 do I see! O beautiful sight! My dear young Mistress rising 
 from the ruins as a bright spirit, surrounded by an angel host, 
 all shining with light! — And there! — there! — I see also the 
 spirits of Master and Mistress striving to follow their daughter, 
 but they cannot soar, and fall back to the ground! — Listen! 
 Their daughter says to them, "Hope, dear mother! hope, dear 
 father! I shall pray for you, and you shall come with me!" 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Say, do you see my son? 
 
94 
 
 SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 Not in spirit. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 God grant that he has been spared! 
 
 SCENE XIII. 
 Thomas and Patience, carrying Complis wounded. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 You are safe, Thomas! God be praised! 
 
 Patience. 
 Doctor, here is one of the victims of the fire. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 What! Mr. Complis? 
 
 Thomas. 
 Yes, sir. He was watching the fire, when the fire-engine 
 knocked him down, and hurt him badly. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 How unfortunate ! Place him here. [Pointing to a couch. 
 Exit Thomas and Patience, whilst the Doctor and Rosaline 
 place themselves near the couch.'] [Feeling the pulse of Complis.] 
 Mr. Complis! Mr. Complis! 
 
 Complis. 
 [Very faintly.'] It is all over with me, Doctor! Before it be 
 too late, I will confess that it is I who am the incendiary of that 
 house ! 
 
 Rosaltne. 
 Oh, horrible deed! 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 Can that be? And why did you do that? 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 95 
 
 COMPLIS. 
 Fear and revenge led me to it. May God have mercy upon 
 me ! [Falls back and dies.'} 
 
 Dr. New. 
 It is all over; life is extinct. 
 
 SCENE XIV. 
 
 Patience, Thomas, and the Same. Patience and Thomas 
 carrying the senseless body of Edward New, which they 
 place on another couch. 
 
 Patience. 
 Dr. New, here is your son, much hurt, I fear. 
 
 Dr. New. 
 Oh, Edward ! Oh, my dear child ! [Rushes towards the motion- 
 less body of Edward, and feels his pulse.'} He breathes still! 
 but I have, alas ! no hope of saving him ! 
 
 Thomas. 
 Don't say that, Doctor! It is dreadful to think that he should 
 die so young! 
 
 Dr. New. 
 
 There is no death, my friend. What we call death is only a 
 step into eternity. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 Oh, save him, Doctor, if you can! He is so good! 
 
 Dr. New. 
 It is too late ! My son is now with the angels ! 
 
 [They all gather around the couch of Edward, and immediately 
 from the back of it three spirits are seen to rise, being those of 
 the Doctor's Wife, of Edward, and of Eleanor ; the latter 
 hand in hand, and the former a little higher, in the act of bless- 
 ing them.} 
 
96 srmiT axd matter. 
 
 Rosaline. 
 [Pointing to the spirits.'] I sec them! I see them! There, 
 there ! I low beau til ul ! 
 
 Dr. New. 
 What do you see? 
 
 Rosaline. 
 
 Your son and my angel young mistress rising together, and 
 your sainted wife blessing them! 
 
 Dn. New. 
 Oh, would that I had the divine gift of spiritual sight! — Hail, 
 my dear wife! I bless you, my son! I bless you, my daughter! 
 I shall soon be with you! 
 
 [J/ this moment, from behind the couch where the body o/'Complis 
 is lying, his spirit is seen to rise, dressed in a dark-gray long robe, 
 his face partly covered, and in an attitude of distress and repent- 
 ance.'] 
 
 Rosaline. 
 [Turning her eyes towards the new apparition!] Ha! 
 
 N. B. Should the drama be represented on the stage, it is well to observe 
 that the body of Edward New, brought in dying, must not be the real one 
 but a substitute, as he must appear in the apotheosis. Not so with Complis, 
 whose spirit may be represented by another person, taking the precaution of 
 hiding the face of the apparition. In order to imitate as well as possible a 
 spirit-apparition, it would be well to show it reflected in a so-called optical 
 ynirror, such as was used by Professor Pepper at the Polytechnic Institution 
 in London to show how a spectre could appear. The three spirits of the first 
 tableau should all be dressed in white, — Eleanob as a bride, with veil and 
 wreath, and Edward as a genius. 
 
SPIRIT AND MATTER. 
 
 A Drama, in Six Acts. 
 
 BY 
 
 G. DAMIANI, P. M.L., 
 
 President of the Psychological and Pneumatological Societies of Naples ; Honorary Member of the First Spiritual 
 
 Union Society of San Francisco, California; of the Pennsylvania State Association of Spiritualists; of the 
 
 British National Association of Spiritualists ; of the Scientific Society for Psychological Studies, 
 
 of Paris; of the Society for Spiritual Studies, of Buda-Pesth ; Corresponding Member 
 
 of the Oromase Society for Spiritual Studies of the Hague, Holland ; Honorary 
 
 Member of the Pneumutological-Psychological Academy of Florence, 
 
 and ot other Associations for Psychological Studies. 
 
 BOSTON : 
 
 COLBY AND RICH, PUBLISHERS, 
 
 9 Montgomery Place. 
 
 1880. 
 
;.; 
 
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