MEDIUM'S PREFACE

To gratify public curiosity, in a measure, it was deemed advisable to publish some extracts from this book before the work was finished, that the public might have an opportunity of judging, beforehand, whether it really did emanate from the source which was claimed for it.

The result was what would naturally be expected: Some could identify those characteristics which stamped it as the production of Mr. Dickens' pen, while others could not perceive anything about it that bore the least resemblance to the great author's writings. One individual affirmed, "The verbs are not in the least like Dickens';" but when requested to cite an instance, could not remember any particular case; he only knew they were not, because some one told him so! Most worthy representative of a class; but vastly more entitled to respect than that other class, — and a very small class, in every sense of the word, I am glad to say, — who, finding nothing of any importance to exist in those extracts which would warrant a just condemnation, conceived the brilliant idea that, by attacking me, public attention would be directed from the book, and in that way they could "kill it."

But, unfortunately for the latter class, the public generally were not to be influenced by any such superficial device, and could not be made to believe that an untoward event in my early life would add to or detract from the merits of this book, one iota.

For some wise purpose, no doubt, the Creator saw fit to place upon the earth a class of people who regard every thing they do or say as perfectly right and proper, and every thing other folks do or say as all wrong. They have a supreme opinion of their own ideas, and a poor opinion of other people's. Such persons always appear bareheaded in the argumentative field, and have no difficulty in finding a hat which will fit them nicely, even though it may not be so pleasant to wear. It would be supposed, however, that, after selecting the hat and putting it on voluntarily, they would be content to wear it, or discard it, and say nothing; but, instead, they go howling about, disgusted with themselves, and making everybody else disgusted with them.

In Mr. Dickens' Preface to this book, which was published as an extract, will be found, figuratively speaking, two hats, — one labeled "owl-like widom," and the other "ignorant bigots," and it was highly edifying to observe with what ease the above mentioned class of individuals discovered that those hats would fit them. This fact leads me to believe that there is a class of people in the world who will admit, — whatever they think of the other characters in this work, — that the character of Mr. Sapsea is not overdrawn.

To give the reader some idea of the ridiculous statements that were made concerning the authorship of this work, and which, — notwithstanding they were far more unreasonable than the true statement which affirmed this book to be the production of a spirit-pen, — were accepted as facts by quite a number of persons, I will cite one or two of them in this Preface. One statement was, that the manuscript of this Second Part was left completed by Mr. Dickens at the time of his decease, and that one of his heirs, with a view to creating a sensation, thought it would be a capital plan to send it to this country and have it published in this way, and had selected me as his agent to carry out the project.

Another theory, — and the most popular of any, — was that the Evil One was at the bottom of the whole business; and it was said that, at a certain hour every night, his Satanic Majesty could be seen emerging from the chimney of my house and flying away into space, leaving behind him such a strong odor of brimstone that one could smell it for an hour afterwards; and, I suppose, no chimney ever attracted so much attention, or inspired such feelings of awe as that one did, in consequence of this libel upon its fair bricks and mortar.

I am knowing to one instance where two or three of the more superstitious stationed themselves near my house, and patiently awaited the phenomenal or diabolical (whichever you please) display; and yet these very people would not believe it possible that the departed spirit of some loved friend could return to earth, even when they could obtain satisfactory evidence of the fact, with much less trouble.

Concerning the merits of this book, it would ill-become me to speak. I can say this, however, that it is given to the public, word for word, as it came to me. An uneducated man myself, I am not qualified to deny or admit the existence of grammatical errors in its composition. Of course, I could easily have prevented their appearance, had I been solicitous on that score, by employing some person of experience to go over the manuscript, discover deficiencies, and remove them. I preferred, however, to let it go before the public as they find it — a counterpart of the original.

By those who are acquainted with the principles of spiritualism, (and those who are not, can easily understand them by adopting Mr. Dickens' suggestions, as given in his Preface to this work,) it will be easily understood that the first production of a spirit pen would be very liable to contain some imperfections; and more especially would that be the case, where both the medium and the spirit by whom he is controlled, are lacking in experience, and consequently development; but I believe future works, which are to come from the spirit-pen of Mr. Dickens, will be entirely free from imperfections, even if any such exist in the present volume. Were I to judge from some criticisms which were passed upon this present work, before it had made its appearance, I might infer that, on the part of some, condemnation was a foregone conclusion. But, be that as it may, I trust that future criticism will be given in gentlemanly terms; and, above all, that prejudice will not be permitted to influence a verdict.

I am happy to announce that the first chapter of the next work, — "The Life and Adventures of Bockley Wickleheap," — is finished; and, opening with all the peculiar characteristics of its author, bids fair to equal anything from his pen while on earth.

Finally, I desire to state that the origin of this work does not rest upon my "unsupported word," as some have stated. As truthful people as any who stand upon the earth, can testify to the truth of my assertions, for they have "seen whereof they affirm."

With a heart full of gratitude toward those friends who have stood by me during the trials and fatiguing labors of the past eight months, and who have sustained me by their encouraging words when I felt that I must "sink by the wayside," and with a sincere wish that my calumniators may find some good in Mr. Dickens' book, if they cannot find any in his medium, it only remains for me to thank the reader for his attention, and say farewell.

THOS. P. JAMES.

BRATTLEBORO, VT., September 25, 1873.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

DURING the progress of this work, as with all others on which I was engaged during my earth-life, I have felt a great desire to know the comments which would be bestowed upon it by its readers, and so have been glad when the last line was written, that I could obtain the different opinions which were to determine its success.

If I was apprehensive then, while on earth, it will be easily understood that I was still more so, when attempting to give the public a work, every word of which could only be placed on paper through the agency of earthly hands, used by me as the operator uses the instrument which transmits words thousands of miles by the power of electricity. The day is not far distant when this wonderful science will be better understood by millions who now believe it a delusion; and when that day comes, the world will be the better for it, and thousands who are in this happier world, and those who are yet to come, will be glad to know that the dear ones they have left behind regard their absence as a blessing certain, and so abandon the harrowing thought that it is possible a dear mother, father, sister, brother, wife, child or friend may be engulfed in a flaming sea which is to burn them for ever and ever. How little such people know of the wisdom and goodness of that dear Creator who made all things for a wise purpose; who has placed before the eyes of his earthly children so many evidences by which to convince them that nothing in nature is ever totally destroyed, — much less human souls, which are a part of Himself. It has not been my intention, in any portion of this work, to strive to influence any living person to change his opinion. I would be glad, however, if my personal friends on earth would seek to investigate the truths which this science — religious science, I should say, perhaps — contains, for I feel confident they would be the happier for it in the end.

No man has a moral right to denounce a theory till he has had opportunity of seeing its workings, and has tangible evidence — the evidence of his senses — that it is not a consistent or reasonable one. These evidences are within your reach, if you will only seek them. But if you are satisfied as you are, and do not care to know more, for fear you will compromise your dignity, — at least have some regard for the feelings of those loved ones who have gone before, and do not ridicule that which, to them, is a living truth, or condemn that of which you know nothing, and of which you have no desire to learn.

Since the fact of this work being in preparation was first made public, I have been pained to observe the ridicule which was apparent in some published articles, but I have also found cause for considerable amusement in witnessing the owl-like wisdom displayed by those poor ignorant bigots who believe "the world was made for the people, and we are the people." We here are filled with pity for those bigots, but our consolation is, that they will be sufficiently punished for their obstinacy when they leave the world, where they now think themselves of such great importance, and learn for a certainty how different a world and life they are to enter upon.

I would fain hope that honest, candid men and women who read this work, will be satisfied that it is not a "delusion," as some have claimed, — even before an opportunity had been given them to read a line of it, and so form any opinion of its merits, — but will recognize in its pages the same desire which animated the author while living, — the desire to make his readers the happier for following the fortunes of those who were his "players;" and if I have succeeded, in even one instance, in making any reader happier, if not better, for the perusal of this work, I shall be content.

I cannot close this page without assuring the dear ones to whom I was so much attached on earth, — family and friends, — how anxiously I await their coming, that they may realize, by experience, how truly I speak concerning this other life. May God help and protect you all, is the earnest prayer of

THE AUTHOR