56 GHOSTS.

him altogether. Let us write his epitaph; it is
all that remains for us to do.

“He claimed a natural right to the unrestrained
use of his natural “‘powers—had his way—and
perished in consequence.” It will fit.a good many
graves besides his.

As to what became of the ghosts, I dare not
venture to say. But if you don’t like to call them
ghosts, call them elementary principles, endécom-
poundable substances—gases, even, if you please.
The name is not very important in the matter.
And be patient if some old grandmother tells you
this is nonsense—that fire and air are elements;
that is, simple substances made up of nothing but
themselves ; so that all I have said about ghosts
being in them is simply impossible. She speaks
as she was taught in the days of her youth ; so be
patient with the good old soul; but do not limit
your ideas of possibility by an old grandmother’s
limited means of judging. The ghosts are there,
though her strongest spectacles will not enable her
to see them.