Death of Mrs. Home.

We read in the Nord of July 15, 1862:

“The famous Mr. Dunglas Home passed through Paris in these days. Few people saw him. He has just lost his wife, sister of the Countess of Kouchelew-Bezborodko. However cruel this loss may be, he said that it is less keenly felt by him than it would be for another man, not because he loved her less, but because death does not separate him from her who on Earth bore his name. They see each other and converse as easily as when they dwelt together on the same planet.

“Mr. Home is a Roman Catholic, and his wife, before breathing her last sigh, wishing to unite herself to her husband in a final spiritual communion, abjured the Greek religion before the bishop of Périgueux. This took place at the castle of Laroche, residence of the Count of Kouchelew.”

The feuilleton – for it is in a feuilleton, beside the Pré-Catelan, that this note is found – is signed Nemo, one of the critics who did not spare their mockery of the Spiritists and of their pretensions to converse with the dead. Sir, is it not amusing to believe that those whom we love are not lost forever and that we shall see them again? Is it not ridiculous, very foolish and superstitious, to believe that they are at our side, that they see us and hear us when we do not see them, and that they can communicate with us? Mr. Home and his wife see each other, converse as easily as if they were together. What an absurdity! And to think that in the full nineteenth century, the century of enlightenment, there are people credulous enough to believe in such frivolities, worthy of the tales of Perrault! Ask Mr. Trousseau for the reason. Nothingness, speak to me of that! there is what is logical! We have more freedom to do as we please during life. At least we do not fear the future. Yes; but where is the compensation for the unfortunate one? – Nemo! A singular pseudonym for the circumstance!