Research source

I am still near, Watching the smiles I prized on earth, Your converse mild, your blameless mirth.[64

Date of account: Late nineteenth-century compilation
Source: The Ghost World
Reference: The Ghost World · selected passage 103
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

In Wraxall's 'Memoirs of the Courts of Berlin, Dresden, Warsaw, and Vienna'[168] there is an amusing account of the raising of the ghost of the Chevalier de Saxe

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Source passage

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In Wraxall's 'Memoirs of the Courts of Berlin, Dresden, Warsaw, and Vienna'[168] there is an amusing account of the raising of the ghost of the Chevalier de Saxe. Reports had been circulated that at his palace at Dresden there was secreted a large sum of money, and it was urged that if his spirit could be compelled to appear, that interesting secret might be extorted from him. Curiosity, combined with avarice, accordingly prompted his principal heir, Prince Charles, to try the experiment, and on the appointed night, Schrepfer was the operator in raising the apparition. He commenced his proceedings by retiring into a corner of the gallery, where, kneeling down with many mysterious ceremonies, he invoked the spirit to appear. At length a loud clatter was heard at all the windows on the outside, resembling more the effect produced by a number of wet fingers drawn over the edge of glasses than anything else to which it could well be compared. This sound announced the arrival of the good spirits, and was shortly followed by a yell of a frightful and unusual nature, which indicated the presence of malignant spirits.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

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