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Untitled Article
"A priest , named Bertholi , goes to the market at Filetto , to transact business there , and lodges with his brother-in-law in that town . In his bed-room he has a sackcloth placed between his shirt and his shoulders , and when left alone , betakes himself to the reading of his prayer-book . A few minutes later , an unusual noise is heard in his room ; he is heard to scream , and the people of the house find him stretched on the floor , surrounded by a light flame , which , as they approach , recedes , and at last disappears .
" The skin ( epidermis ) of the right arm and of the surface from the shoulders down to the loins , was found detached from the flesh . The shoulders , protected by the sackcloth , were not injured ; the sackcloth itself showed no trace of lire ; on all the injured parts the shirt was consumed j and everywhere , where the dress was not burned , no injury was found below it . The drawers and legs were not affected by the burning . " Dr . Marc ( Diet , des Sciences Mid . torn . vi . p . 85 ) attaches singular importance to this case , and declares that it sheds light generally on the cause of the phenomenon of spontaneous combustion , which he thinks must be sought for in electricity .
" This case is one chief support of the opinion , that a spontaneous combustion ia possible , and there has been attached to it the idea of a very " peculiar fire , which burns animal matter , without kindling the surrounding objects . But neither Marc nor Franck , who separates this case from the others , mention what is stated by more conscientious and accurate observers , namely , that , before the combustion , a lamp filled with oil was in the room , which lamp , after the event ^ vasfound empty and its wick burned to as 7 ies . " If we reflect , that the body was burned only where the shirt -was consumed ,
that no marks of fire appeared on the other parts where this had not happened , and further , that the skin was not burned or charred , but only detached ( it hung down in shreds ) from the body , while the shirt was entirely burned and reduced to ashes , it is quite impossible to -admit that the Icindling and combustion of the shirt were caused by the skin , which yet did not itself burn , and no other explanation remains but that the shirt had caught fire , and that the burns or wounds were the results of its very superficial combustion . The presence of the lamp , which , as the disappearance of the oil proves , had burned , removes every doubt as to the origin of the fire . "
This analysis of the reported case ( and we may be sure a sharp-sighted reporter would have told us much more ) will show how untrustworthy is the best of the evidence . . " With respect to the extraordinary rapidity of the supposed spontaneous combustion , this is a mere invention ; for in the cases in which persons have been found dead , nothing whatever is known of the course of the accident . " The same remark applies to the character of the flame , which is said not to be extinguished by water . All the evidence for this ( rapidity of combustion and inextinguishable flame ) is derived from one case which was described , not by a physician , not even by a surgeon of those days , nor by a bather , but by a priest named
Boineau . It was that of a woman of eighty , who' drank nothing else than , brandy . She began to burn , sitting on a chair , and burned , although water was poured upon her , till all the flesh was consumed . The skeleton alone remained , sitting in the chair . This case is related in a letter dated the 22 nd of February , 1749 , and is therefore one hundred and one years old . The narrator was not present , and did not see tlvo flame ; and the story plainly huVicutcs a good intention on his part , — that of inoculating his flock with a wholesome terror for brandy-drinking . This explains the resemblance between the flame of tho burning tippler and hell-fire . The chair , which had not sinned , of course did not burn , and was only slightly singed on the surface .
" Tho notion of the rapidity of the combustion , and the peculiar character of the flame , assumed in the remaining forty or fifty cases , rest on this case alone ; for , in all tho others , the people were found burned to death , who had been seen alive five , six , or twelve hours before . Nothing more is known of these cases . " There is in the human mind an inherent and irresistible desire for explanations , and a naturally facile credulity springing from that desire . Wo cannot hold the mind in suspense ; we hate to admit our ignorance . We insist on overarching the chasm , if it be but with a toord . For every
unusual phenomenon there is consequently an explanation at onco desired and forthcoming . The man who boldly flings forth the word , and satisfies the intellectual craving by even the semblance of an explanation , at once gains facile credence . TJiis is the origin of legends and myth ' s . Man , tho Hungry logophagist , swallowed the phrase Spontaneous Combustion as soon as it was thrown out to explain certain unexplained deaths ; and Bcmi-scienco built up theories to accredit it . Science , when grown older and wiser , saw through it ; and eliminated tho testimony to certain fact from the additions uneonHeiously furnished by imagination .
I utterly reject the evidence , partly because it is bad evidence for anything , but mainly becauso it testifies to a physical impossibility . . " Let us not deceive ourselves respecting the value of reported cases . You , Dickens , would not boliovo a whole neighbourhood of respectable witnesses who should declares that the lamp-post had been converted , by a flash of lightning , into mi elm tree . JVo , not if they swore to having seen it . Why P Simply because you would rather believe these witnesflos in error than disbelieve the millions of testimonies implied in the eH / ablishment of those scientific irufJis which contradict such a tninsmutaliem .
Although the notion of Spontaneous Combustion may not be ho ohviously impossible as the change ! from a lamp-post into an elm trees , yet I believe it is really bo ; anel if the- testimony of reported cuhcb beallowoel to shake our faith in the simple laws of organie ? chemistry , hereafter to be adelucesd , on tho Hamo ground respectables testimony may shake our faith in the impossibility of a lamp-post becoming an elm . liul , for Uio dear enunciation of these laws , and Ibeir application to Spont . 'incous Combustion , 1 shall require another letter . Believe me , my dear Dievkonn , Yours very faithfully , ( Ji . 11 . Lewes .
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DEMETRIUS THE IMPOSTOR . Demetrius the Impostor . An Episode in Russian History . By Prosper Me ' rime ' e . Translated by Andrew Scoble . Bentley . Of all the pretenders to an imperial crown , Demetrius is the most remarkable ; and if we except Louis Napoleon , none have been more successful . M . Merimee , the delightful author of Clara Gazul , Chronique de Charles IX ., Colomba , and several charming stories , besides a sagacious and noteworthy work on Homan History , has undertaken to separate from the legendary and historical confusion obscuring this daring adventurer a clear and interesting story , worthy to be placed among the best specimens of the romance of history . A strange , picture is presented of the early days of Utissia . Does it not seem wildly improbable that a man should be able to make a successful claim to a great empire by declaring himself to be the prince who was murdered as an infant , publicly bui'ied and mourned , and whose murder was the occasion of a long and scandalous trial , followed by a savage
slaughter P" Judgment was not long delayed ; it was pronounced , as it would appear , with considerable solemnity , and ratified by the approval of a numerous assembly of ecclesiastical dignitaries . The Tsarina-dowager was obliged to take the veil under the name of Marfa , and was banished to the monastery of St . Nicholas , near Tcherepovets ; and her two brothers , Michael and Gregory , were exiled to a distance from the capital . At the same time , Bitiagoiski and his companions were buried with a magnificent funeral , and a solemn service was celebrated in their honour . The inhabitants of Ooglitch were proclaimed rebels , and punished with a rigour bordering upon ferocity . More than two hundred perished in their tortures ; others had their tongues cut out , or were cast into loathsome dungeons . Terror had already dispersed the greater part of the population , and a once flourishing city had beconje a wilderness . The remainder of the wretched inhabitants were sent to Siberia , a province which had been conquered , and , as it were , discovered during the reign of Ivan , but which was still almost uninhabited . They there founded the town of Pelhn , one of the first Eussian settlements in that desert
land . " Yet this was done by Demetrius . Taking advantage of a peculiarity so trifling as that of a mole on his cheek , and of his own obscure origin , he made himself master of the history of Russia , and with a bold , confident spirit , proclaimed himself the son of Ivan the Terrible , whom the people believed to have been murdered . How he succeeded must bo read in Merimee . There all is made clear . The state of public feeling ana * national superstition makes it intelligible . For Demetrius , like Louis Napoleon , was successful by the force of circumstances . He was truly an historical person—that is to say , the centre to which a vast variety of currents were separately tending . Had he appeared earlier or later he failed t Stras
would have ignobly failed ; as Louis Napoleon ignobly a - bourg and Boulogne , yet succeeded in Paris , not because he was a better man than at Strasbourg and Boulogne—not because he was less stupid , less impotent , less contemptible ; but because circumstances formerly adverse were then favourable . To those who worship success , and think this depraved and reckless adventurer a great man because be succeeded ( they thought him an idiot when he failed !) , we suggest an attentive consideration of the circumstances by which he was enabled to succeed : terror of the Eeds , hatred of tho Assembly , contempt of the Legitimists , the name of Napoleon , the want of " strong government" and of " order , " the machinations of parties , and the influence of tho priests—these were all circumstances pointing one way ; and these make him the most historical
man of his time . Like Louis Napoleon in this respect , Demetrius is very unlike him in being intrinsically a gallant , high-spirited , heroical nature ; a Cossack capable of creating a place for himself under any circumstances ; a man of wit , of invention , of largo schemes , of remarkable cleverness , of generous soul , and of great physical superiority . His very superiority was his
. " He wan resolved to reign by himself , to know everything , to see everything with his own eyes . Basmanof , though always treated by him with the greatest distinction , and oven with friendship , quickly pcrccivoel that it would not be easy to govern this young man of twenty-three years ol < l , whoso Mentor ho had undoubtedly meant to become . Demetrius would havo neither favourite nor master . He was determined that all should bend to his will , and yet , despot though he wns , ho was fond of discussion , and allowed his boyards tho ine > st complete } liberty to contradict him . He daily premdeel over his council ; and his proeli ^ ious memory , his quickness of perception , and his penetration , confouneled bis ministers . They inquired where he could have gained nue : h n thorough aceiuaintance with tho state
of his empire , its wants and its resources . Though tolerating and even inviting contradiction , ho too frequently abused bis superiority to rail pitilessly at adversaries whom ho luiel convinced of mistake , or whom respect had reduced to silence . His pleasant lies lesft wounds an deep as the insults of a capricious and unreasoning tyrant could lmvo produce *! . Moreover , ho toe ) openly displayed a partial preference for foreign customs , which shoekert tho prejudices of the Muscovites . He was incessantly que > ting the example of Poland , that ancient enemy of Russia , nnd extolling on every e > ecasion tho superiority e > f hvv laws and of her civilization . ' Travel , anel gain instruction , ' he wemlel sny to his boyards ; ' you are savages ; you need tho polish of education . ' These jests upon the ignorance of his subjects worn never forgiven , for that , ignorance , in the eyes of many persons , bore a sacred character , akin to that of tho ancient religion and time-honoured customs of the !
country . " When he entereMl Moscow , it was still a prey to the ravages of finnine , imel misery prevailed throughout the city . lie succeeded in promptly remedying this « ael state * e > f things by wise regulations which , by encouraging commerce and tho importation of fooel , hooh produced abunelanco in tho place of . dearth , lie also npplie'd himself , from thes vesry outsest of his reign , to reforming the aihuiuistnitiem of justice , by Hotting bemnels to tins rapacity of tho judges , ami prohibiting the bIowiiosh of thoir preweeelingH . Following the example of liinny Tsars whoso niitinory was cheriHheel in tho traditions of the people , ho appenreel eivory Sunelny anel Wednesday on the threshold of his palnco , smel there received all petitions with his own hands . He'interrelated his petitioners with kindness , listened patiently < o their fitate'inonts , ami freque'iilly terminated with u single ) word an afliiir which had lasted for long yearn . If ho found it necessary to reject n request , ho did it
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138 T HE LEADER . [ Saturd ay ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 5, 1853, page 138, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1972/page/18/
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