So you perceive he exemplifies by his own actions the wise saying, “Once a prophet, always a prophet.”  His original mind cannot keep silent, and his thoughts find readiest utterance in speech.

Hawthorne is living here with his beautiful daughter, who devotes her attention to art.

His mind is as active as ever.  He informs me that many of the mysteries that seemed inexplicable to him while on earth are now cleared up.

I have spoken of the noble buildings of this city, surrounded by spacious gardens and beautified by trees and flowers, fountains and singing birds; but I have not alluded to the way in which property is held, and the reader will naturally inquire if these handsome dwellings are owned by their occupants.

They are not, but are simply loaned to them.  Spirits congenial to those at present residing here lived in them ages agone.

It is true, each individual taste may alter and embellish the buildings and surroundings, but these improvements belong to the city and not to the individuals.  The titles are vested in the community, and its members can vote, as in the case of Abraham Lincoln, in reference to any individual coming among them.

There are three daily papers issued in the city, and only three.  One is especially devoted to reporting news from earth,—­revolutions that transpire, changes in state and national politics, recent accidents which have thrown individuals suddenly into the spirit world, and to recording the names, as far as possible, of persons who have deceased from earth.

Disasters that occur on sea and land are immediately telegraphed to the newspapers in Spring Garden and published for the use of the community.

It may be interesting to the curious to know that in cases like the sinking of a vessel, where fifty or a hundred individuals are suddenly ushered into the spirit world, delegates are sent out from this and other cities to meet the sufferers and offer them the hospitalities of the city, in accordance with their individual merits and degrees of development.

Our method of printing newspapers differs materially from that in vogue on earth.

Our papers might be termed photo-telegrams.  A much less space is occupied by a communication of a given length than the same would require in your papers.  We have a system of short-hand, understood by all, similar to that used by your telegraphic operator.

We have various places of public amusement, two fine theatres which are devoted to dramas originating with the inhabitants of our world, and another appropriated to the representation of dramas familiar to earth.  Our places of amusement are of large capacity, hence but few are needed; and the people of this city being congenial in their natures, as many as possible like to assemble in one place.

The several actors who have been famed on earth appear at the theatres in Spring Garden.  Garrick, Kean, Kemble, Booth, Vandenhoff, Cooke, Macready, Rachel, and Mrs. Siddons, visit us from time to time.