It was not Saint－it was too large－1
Nor Snow－it was too small－
It only held itself aloof
Like something spiritual－
Nor Snow－it was too small－
It only held itself aloof
Like something spiritual－
(F.1052/J.1092)
[1] It:: necromancy, a pretended communication with the dead. too large:: necromancy was too over.
[2] Snow:: pure, fair as snow. small:: mean, inferior.
[3] aloof:: apart, away. Necromancers kept their souls aloof (seemingly) during the ceremony.
[4] spiritual:: a hint on spirit-rapping, the practice of claiming to communicate with the dead by rapping (OED 1852).
While the spirit-rapping fever was at its full height, a professor of necromancy challenged any "medium" in America to produce a rap on a table in his presence for which he would not account by a natural cause; and he pledged himself to forfeit ten thousand dollars if he failed. ─ The Original Secession Magazine (1858)
Dickinson used the word Necromancy in poem J. 77 and J. 1170.
