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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 Excerpt: ...of day, it is still night. The tendency toward repose and a letting down of the armored guard that the activity of day brings with it, are still there. There is a calmness and a soothing stillness in the air of night. All is gentle, nought stirs rudely, but congenial with the night, whatever walks is gliding like a spirit. --(Byron.) There is a mystery in the season of darkness that inheres in the very atmosphere. However we may explain it, man's credulity is greatly increased at night. He is willing then to believe in the existence and power of supernatural agencies, that have no influence on him during the day. Night is the season of ghosts and hobgoblins. The dead then waken from the grave and malefactors return to further curse the scene of their former crimes. Whoever heard of one of these mysterious personages appearing to the ken of man in the daytime? No matter if the earth is enshrouded in the impenetrableness of a London fog, ghosts do not appear in it. Hobgoblins and night are inseparable, and the only sufficient explanation for this curious circumstance would seem to be that night has such influence over our emotional states that we are then ready to accept as sufficient evidence appearances that at other times would be wholly inadequate. There is an element of timidity and fear in our organization that is greatly enhanced at night, and this may largely account for our increased credulity at that time. Our belief is born of our fears. How many physicians are there who can not bring proof of this? Many of their night calls are due to the greater uneasiness of the patient, or his parents or friends, on the approach of night. They are affrighted then at symptoms that would not alarm them during the day, and hasten to send for the physici...

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