TACKS AND GHOSTS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2511, 23 January 1877, Page 3

TACKS AND GHOSTS.

y There is nothing which is more revolting to a sensitive ghost than the sharp, flat-headed tacks known to artists as "drawing tacks." When, one of these tacks is tossed on the stage where materialised ghosts disport themselves, it invariably remains with its point upwards. It may readily be conceived that an unsuspecting, barefooted ghost who treads heavily on such a treacherous and pene*trating tack would have a right to manifest a hearty and violent indignation, Indeed, almost any amount of language on the part of the injured ghost would be pardoned by all humane men. But what did the ghost of Daniel Webster do when he recently tried to walk over a stage strewn with the drawing tacks during a materialising seance in a Wisconsin town ? When the first tack entered that ostensible ghost's right foot he calmly lifted up his injured limb and undertook to withdraw the intrusive bit of steel. It was not until, in his efforts to balance himself on one leg, he ran another tack in his >left foot, that he broke silence by. softly remarking " Ouch; " and it is doubtfuhif he would " have repeated that statement, or ventured upon any other, had he not incautiously sat down, and - ihus inserted two more tacks into his person. In these circumstances he might have totally lost his temper, and no man could have had a word of blame for him ; but instead of letting his ghostly passions rise, he merely expressed his views of the matfcer by the simple and touching remark, "Well, by gosh!" and hurriedly withdrew into the mystic cabin et.