The oldest scriptures of the world tell us that when wild animals die their life flows back into a group soul, a ma.s.s, as it were, of undifferentiated life essence. As the animal becomes domesticated, as a dog or cat learns to live with man, shares in his joys and sorrows, to be his constant companion, then it advances rapidly in evolution. It is developing human qualities, and in due time will no more return to merge in the group soul, but be born into the human family. A lowly human family it is true, a primitive savage to begin with, but that animal has pa.s.sed one of the most important milestones on the long, lone trail. It will never more return to the world in the form of the beast, henceforth it will commence its slow ascent from the most elementary human body to the exalted heights of a G.o.d. They tell us in the East: "First a stone, then a plant, then an animal, then a man, and finally a G.o.d." This is how the wisdom of the East understands Divine evolution.
Cases where the ghosts of animals have been seen are becoming quite common. Before describing the astral apparitions of some of our animals, I will recall a very interesting case which was investigated in recent years at Ballechin, Perthshire. The accounts of the Ballechin hauntings are contained in a big volume, but at present I am only concerned in the four-footed ghosts that were seen. The trouble began upon the death of the eccentric owner, old Major Stewart, in 1876. He had frequently stated his intention of haunting the place after his death, and, furthermore, had a.s.serted his determination to "walk" in the form of one of his many dogs, a favorite black spaniel.
The family, anxious, as they thought, to be on the safe side, had all the pack, numbering fourteen, destroyed at the death of their master, but this wholesale slaughter of the innocents proved of no avail.
The first intimation of its futility was immediately apparent. The wife of the old Major"s nephew and heir was seated one day adding up accounts in the dead man"s study, when the room was suddenly invaded by the old doggy smell, and an unseen dog pushed distinctly up against her.
Many other unpleasant incidents followed after, but the really great happenings did not begin till 1896, when a shooting tenant, after a week or two, was compelled to quit the house, and forfeit the considerable rent he had paid in advance.
The above fact came to the notice of that inveterate ghost-hunter, the late Marquis of Bute, and he, and several other members of the Psychical Society, hired the house, and went into residence. _The Times_ of June, 1897, contains elaborate details of the various experiences and the names of the investigators.
The phenomena they describe are very startling, but perhaps the most unnerving specter was the frequent appearance of a black spaniel, which was seen by numerous persons. One member of the party had brought a black spaniel of his own. He saw it run across the room, when at that moment the real dog--his own--entered and began to fraternize with the ghost dog.
Two ladies occupying the same bedroom had a curious experience. A pet dog on the end of the bed began to whine, and looking to where its eyes were fixed they saw, not the black spaniel, but two black paws on the table by the bed.
Various other sorts of dogs were seen by many people. The black spaniel by no means had the monopoly, and dogs, purposely brought by the investigators to aid them in their elucidation of the mystery, made friends or exhibited mistrust of the pack of ghost dogs haunting both house and grounds.
Twice in my life I have seen the wraith of our own dogs, "Pompey" and "Triff." Pompey was a big brindled bulldog of terrifying aspect and angelic nature. My husband and I adored him, and his death caused us great grief. Indeed, the whole household mourned him long and deeply.
One day, about ten days after his death, I suddenly caught sight of him walking in front of me down the avenue.
On the spur of the moment I called him by name, then he vanished.
I mentioned this occurrence to my maid, who at once told me the kitchenmaid had seen him in exactly the same place.
When alive on earth "Pompey" had a habit of stealing into a guest"s room when the early tea was brought up. He would lie in wait in a dark corner and then attempt to enter behind the maid or valet. When the door was shut again he would emerge from his hiding-place, and attempt to leap on the bed. He was exceedingly gentle and affectionate, but externally he was so forbidding that his offers of friendship were not always accepted, and he was a great weight.
One day a Mrs. Shelton came to stay with us, and the next morning asked to have her room changed, because "Pompey" had kept walking round her bed all night, and she had not been able to sleep. She was sure it was "Pompey," because she recognized his peculiar, heavy, slithering movements.
Some time after this Millicent, d.u.c.h.ess of Sutherland, came to pay us a visit. She had been very overworked, and needed a complete rest. She brought with her a maid and a small French bulldog, and she and the maid occupied a suite of three rooms, two bedrooms and a bathroom, shut off from the rest of the house by a heavy swing door.
The French bulldog was accustomed to sleep in the maid"s room. We had no dog left of our own. The beautiful d.u.c.h.ess went to bed about half-past ten; she was very tired and ought to have slept well, but she didn"t.
In the night she was awakened by what she took to be her own bulldog prowling round her bed, yet its footsteps sounded strangely heavy.
She knew nothing about "Pompey"s" ghostly visits; we had been careful not to mention them.
When she came downstairs the next morning she told us what a disturbed night she had pa.s.sed through. She was awakened soon after midnight by the restless movements of a bulldog round her bed. She did not doubt it was her own dog, that owing to the forgetfulness of her maid had been left asleep under her bed. She called it, and at the same time switched on the light, but could see no signs of any dog at all. Rather puzzled, but concluding that she must have been mistaken, she composed herself to sleep once more.
Before very long the noise began again. A bulldog with its heavy, slouching tread was moving about round her bed.
This time the d.u.c.h.ess got up, and made a thorough search of her room, but could see nothing in the shape of any animal. Yet so convinced was she that a dog had been in the room, that she determined to look into her maid"s room to see if her own dog was there.
She opened her maid"s door, which was shut, and went into the room. The woman was asleep, and on the bed at her feet slept the French bulldog.
There was nothing to be done but to go back to her own bed once more, and try to sleep in spite of the disturbances.
This was the story the d.u.c.h.ess told us, and added to me, "If he comes again to-night I shall come along to your room and rouse you."
It did not come again. The peculiarity of "Pompey"s" visits was that they only occurred once to each stranger, though he came several times to me, as was but natural.
We honored his memory by raising to him a large granite headstone, on which was inscribed--
"Soft lies the turf on one who finds his rest, Here, on our common Mother"s ample breast, Unstained by meanness, avarice and pride, He never flattered and he never lied.
No gluttonous excess his slumbers broke, No burning alcohol, no stifling smoke.
He ne"er intrigued a rival to displace, He ran, but never betted on a race.
Content with harmless sports and moderate food, Boundless in love, and faith and grat.i.tude.
Happy the man, if there be any such, Of whom his epitaph can say as much.
"On this spot are deposited the remains of one who possessed beauty without vanity, strength without insolence, courage without ferocity, and all the virtues of man without his vices.
This praise, which would be unmeaning flattery if inscribed over human ashes, is but a just tribute to the memory of "Pompey" a dog.
Born 1891. Died 1902."
Our next dog, "Triff," was a very handsome sable collie. Of course, we became devoted to him, and when he also pa.s.sed away we felt very desolate without him.
For a long time I never could feel that he had left me. Though I could not see him, I used to speak to him, just as if I could see the dear presence I so strongly felt. It was hard that I never could catch a glimpse of him, because others did. The butler saw him many times, and my maid caught sight of him twice.
One often reads in ghost books of abnormal animal-like creatures being seen by psychics, but it is rare to meet with living individuals who can testify to such personal experiences.
I remember Lilian, Countess of Cromartie, telling me of a strange incident that once happened to her.
She was walking alone one bright summer morning in Windsor Great Park.
Suddenly she saw an amazing looking creature loping slowly towards her.
It resembled an enormous hare. That is to say, its legs and head were those of a hare, but its size was that of a goat, and its horned head was half-goat, half-hare. This creature, loping without any fear, and with a hare"s movement straight towards her, caused her to pause. She stood still and breathlessly waited its approach. It pa.s.sed quite close to her, and as it did so she struck at it with her parasol. Instantly it disappeared.
Princess Frederica of Hanover, always intensely interested in psychic phenomena, and herself no tyro in psychic knowledge, told me many years ago that she had seen several different sorts of abnormal animals, quite unknown to this earth, and under circ.u.mstances which left no doubt as to their actual existence.
Many years ago there was much talk amongst a certain set of an experience that had come to a foreign Grand d.u.c.h.ess and her husband, who spent much of their time in England. This couple were traveling in the wilds of Greece, and one night they wandered out together on to a bare mountain side. Sitting down to rest they were enjoying the beauty and utter loneliness of the moonlit scene, when they suddenly heard the galloping of many horses" hoofs approaching them. This astonished them greatly, as they were in so wild and unfrequented a part of the country.
There was no road near them, and it seemed strange to hear horses galloping so fast on such rough ground at night, even though there was a moon.
Husband and wife stood up immediately in order to show themselves. The sound suggested a headlong rush, and they feared that in another second a whole regiment might ride over them.
They had not long to wait. A troop of creatures, half-men, half-horses, tore past them, helter-skelter. Fleet and sure-footed they thundered by, and they brought with them the most wonderful sense of joy and exhilaration. Neither the Grand d.u.c.h.ess nor her husband felt the smallest fear; on the contrary, both were seized by a wild elation, a desire to be one of that splendid legion. The thundering of their hoofs spread over the hills, and died away into the distance.
On returning to their camp the husband and wife found an uproar.
Something had gone wrong with the Greek servants, who were shivering with terror, and struggling with equally terrified horses to prevent a stampede. All that could be learned from the Greeks was that they had heard something, something known of and greatly feared.
I happened to hear the Grand d.u.c.h.ess tell of her weird experience, and I have often wondered in later years if Algernon Blackwood had also heard the story, and founded upon it his fascinating book, "The Centaur."
There were several people in the room whilst the Grand d.u.c.h.ess was unfolding, in the most impressive manner, this strange event. Amongst them was the first Lady Henry Grosvenor, born Miss Erskine Wemyss of Wemyss Castle.
She told us that when a child of seven years old, she had pa.s.sed through some minutes of such absolute terror, that as long as she lived she would never forget the experience.
With another child, and a nurse in attendance, she was playing one summer morning out of doors. After a little while the nurse rose from her seat amongst the heather, and wandered away a short distance, out of sight but not out of hearing.
A few moments after the two little girls heard some bushes behind them rustling, and a huge creature, half-goat, half-man, emerged and leisurely crossing the road in front of them plunged into the woods beyond and was lost to sight. Both children were thrown into a paroxysm of terror, and screamed loudly. The nurse ran back to them, and when told what was the matter scolded them for their foolish fancies. No such animal existed, such as they described, an animal much bigger than a goat, that walked upright, and had but two legs, and two hoofs, that was covered with s.h.a.ggy brown hair from the waist downward, and had the smooth skin of a man from the waist upward!
The nurse bade them come home at once, and as they gained the road Miss Wemyss pointed down into the dust. Clearly defined was the track of a two-hoofed creature that had crossed at that spot. The nurse stared for a moment or two, then with one accord they all ran. She never took her charges near that spot again.