Strange Visitors: A series of original papers, embracing philosophy, science, government, religion, poetry, art, fiction, satire, humor, narrative, and prophecy, by the spirits of Irving, Willis, Thackeray, Brontë, Richter, Byron, Humboldt, Hawthorne, Wesley, Browning, and others now dwelling in the spirit world; dictated through a clairvoyant, while in an abnormal or trance stateHorn, Henry J.
Religion
Strange Visitors: A series of original papers, embracing philosophy, science, government, religion, poetry, art, fiction, satire, humor, narrative, and prophecy, by the spirits of Irving, Willis, Thackeray, Brontë, Richter, Byron, Humboldt, Hawthorne, Wesley, Browning, and others now dwelling in the spirit world; dictated through a clairvoyant, while in an abnormal or trance state
Horn, Henry J.
Spirit writings
I will state for the benefit of ladies that we have no millinery
establishments, as the females wear simply their own beautiful hair,
which they adorn with flowers and a peculiar lace, as thin as a breath.
The hair, owing to electrical conditions, is usually abundant and of
beautiful texture, forming the chief ornament of the head.
On the street I have described are also many studios for artists. These
_attelliers_ are very ornamental in appearance, being placed in the
centre of a large court. They are of various fanciful shapes, according
to the design of the artist, generally open on the sides, with a dome
supported by pillars, and resembling in form an ancient temple. Within,
they are hung with rich draperies, which are adjusted at pleasure.
The open dome admits the light and may be covered by a screen when
necessary.
These studios are all on the ground floor, and usually with airy
reception rooms attached, opening upon a court gay with flowers, birds,
and fountains, making it a pleasant retreat for the artist and his
friends. As my friend H---- gaily suggests, these accessible studios
compensate the artist for the _attics_ which he occupied on earth.
The art of painting is here carried to greater perfection than it ever
has been on earth.
As the development of the intellect in the material world depends upon
the subservience of matter to mind, so in the spirit world, the same
principle is the great motor power; for there we have matter (that is,
spirit matter), and this we work into forms of beauty as we desire.
Speaking of art, I must digress to allude to the _fête_ which we held
in our park in honor of three quite eminent artists, who have recently
arrived in the spirit world and taken up their abode in this city.
As they were all new-comers, and but slightly acquainted with our
manners and customs, we gave this celebration to surprise them, and
also as a token of our appreciation of their efforts to spiritualize
humanity; for art we regard as one of our most spiritualizing agencies.
In the centre of the park, I had forgotten to state, we have a temple
erected, somewhat resembling those of ancient Greece, and which is for
the use of orators and public singers. This temple was beautifully
decorated with garlands and paintings by spirit artists. Within it
were seated the visitors and a few friends, and without were stationed
musicians, with curious instruments of melody, such as are unknown to
earth.
Various ingenious machines for locomotion and amusement attracted
general attention. Another source of interest were the graceful and
picturesque groups of children moving in the air. At intervals, one
of the most fascinating of their number would descend with offerings
of fruits and flowers for our guests. The amazement expressed by our
visitors, as these lovely children would suddenly sweep down through
the air like graceful birds of radiant plumage was delightful for us
older inhabitants to witness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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