1875.] Another View of Levitation. 303 
taken, we may appear in one instance to be throwing, dis- 
credit on the whole matter by absurdities, and in another by 
what some persons might fancy to be profanities, it may, in 
another point of view, be shown that it is right, in order 
that we may see to what opinions may lead, or from what 
remarkable origins they may spring. This is said because 
it seems uncertain which is the character of the true begin- 
ners, although, as a rule, it is the smallest that must be 
held as such. It is true that we, with most persons, do 
consider all this Hibernian matter a fine exaggeration, not 
exceeded by any Americanisms, of which it is perhaps the 
ancestor; but we give it partly because of the matter being 
interesting in itself, as belonging to the history of ideas in 
Physics, and partly to show that the subject is by no means 
exhausted when viewed from one side only. Scientifically, 
however, we must not forget that the ideas in the battles of 
Ireland are like the religious narrations in England and the 
Continent in exciting times. In the history of the Irish 
Saints we have an exaggerated levitation, if we may so call 
it,—but that again runs into the absurd, and it is quite pos- 
sible that it may have its origin in the minor, and apparently 
better authenticated, risings during prayer. One of these is 
about the wildest thing that man has imagined. 
The flying of excited heroes is scarcely so well represented 
in the church, by any example known tous, as by “‘ Christina, 
a virgin of Tron, who is said to have been carried into the 
church for burial, when her body ascended from the coffin, 
and, being recovered from her trance, she related her visions, 
and ever after was so light that she could outstrip the 
swiftest dogs in running, and raise herself on to the branches 
of trees or the tops of buildings.”— (“ Encyclopedia Metro- 
politana,”—Occult Science.) This is more remarkable even 
than “‘ Swift Camilla,” who skimmed o’er the unbending 
corn. Savonarolo, as related there, quoting Calmet, is a 
remarkable instance. 
Of course we shall not blame anyone for considering the 
whole of it like the tale of Mogh Ruith, who called for his 
white-speckled bird head-piece, with its fluttering wings, and 
his Druidic instruments, and flew up into the air to the 
verge of the fires, and turned them northwards against 
his enemies in a great Druidic battle—(O’Curry and 
Sullivan’s ‘‘ Customs of the Ancient Irish,” vol. ii.) Or they 
may be put among such exaggerations as in the fight be- 
tween Cuchallain and Ferdiaidh, in the same volume, when 
they made such holes in each other that the birds could fly 
through them; or when “ Cuchallain sprang from the brink 
VOL. V. (N.8.) 29 
