TALE OP A TAIL.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 85, 29 April 1882, Page 99

TALE OP A TAIL.

Spiritualism is at a very low ebb in Auckland just now, but there are still some who hare remarkable " experiences." We were informed of one of these the other day, and it is of such a unique character as to be worthy of publicity. We refrain, however, trom disclosing the real names of the victim and the persecuting spirit. Smith is a man who holds peculiar views on many subjects, and he also believes firmly in spiritinfluence, animal magnetism, electro - biology clarivoyance, etc. He numbered amongst his acquaintances, one Jones. It pleased Providence to afflict poor Jones with spinal disease, and in due time he departed this life, and entered that of the spirit world. (N.B.; — Brownites and other conditional - immortalities are not exj>ecfced to accept this last assertion. We give it on Smith's authority, and that is sufficient for us.) Shortly before Jones' decease, Smith had a slight quarrel with him, and Jones (so says Smith) was one who would carry the recollection of this. even beyond the grave. Be that as it may, this is certain — that two or three weeks after Jones' corpse had been deposited in the cemetery with Mr Walker's usual gentleness and care, Smith experienced a curious .sensation at one end — the lower end — of his spine. He says it felt as if something were nibbling it. It was a gentle tickle at first, but day by day it became stronger and stronger. At

first he thought he was about to become the missing link, so anxiously sought by the late Darwin, and that these feelings were the premonitory signs of an approaching tail ; but as no elongation of the^vertebra took place, this idea was abandoned. Meanwhile the torture became almost unbearable, and interfered seriously with his daily avocation. At last he was wandering along disconsolately one day, thinking that soon he would have no backbone left, when he suddenly thought of Jones. The origin of his mysterious complaint was manifest 1 at once, and with medium - istic intuition he divined that Jones was hovering near him. He shouted out, " Jones, you old rascal, what do you mean by tormenting me so ?" Then with a sprinkling of " big, big Ds,"he commenced to solemnly curse Jones from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot. He was fulminating with terrific power and volubility against Jones' spinal marrow, when he heard afar off the deceased's voice beseeching him to stop, and promising not to nibble his spine any more. Smith, who is naturally forgiving, granted the request, and he has never been troubled with his troublesome complaint. Positive fact 1