Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-11-27
WORE OF 9TH. MARVEL
f'O" me .NI'rarI ~ j ~. .f,tvr, .N.,. II
TiiE WOODBRIDGE WONDER

iut WobDbRiesE WONDER
The very general interest which tins sub
jcct appears TO have excited gives II a con-
sequence which, together W ith the tcstisnon,
Of intelligent and even professional meo, ba.
induced us To investigate u, and, after the
fullest inquiry which we have been enabled
To give IT, ~. are fcec To declare our entire
conviction that Il is 4 sheer imposiurc Mr.
Barron's family, however, Que aud all. and
probably many Of their neishbors, adhere to
the Impression that the girl - the subject OF
some inscrutable ply SIC al influence, aud Ga Al
she exercised no sort OF voluntary agency IN
producing the sound, with which the public
are sufficiently familiar. On thi, point Ne
have ourselves no doubt whatever The art
with which girl so inexperienced La. been
able successfully 20 practise upon the crc.u-
'ny oi not only ono family, but Of multitudcs
who vent expressly TO discover Il, -, how
ever H'eii amsr'el, and one which yet need.
explanation.
Having aseertained by conversation with
number OF gentlemen whose Judgment 4. al
all tunes entitled 10 respect, and among Others.
Drs- Craig and Drake Of Railway, that the ir
closest obser' alton had failed To unrayeI the
mystery, we called upon nr. Drake on Mon
day, ~ company with Dr. Pennington Of thi.
town, and together with Mr.. Green, late ed,-
Tor OF the Advocate, were introduced TO the
family. Nots outstanding the assurance g.
ven that the NOISE had some hour. before
ceased for The day. and probably would not
return until next morning, the girl vas re
qnested TO run up and down stars an exer-
oi'e which 1t had been alleged usually agra
vailed the paroxtsms, and even sometime,
produced them Very contrary to all expec.
iation, after the assurance given. soon after
the girl had left the room the humping com.
mcnced, as II for our special accommoda.
ton.
rs has been observed by Others, the noise
evidently accompanied her through the house
aud was at times loud enough TO create A
question whether little girl OF II could have
produced II by stamping with a slipper. AZ
Ter this exhibition, she was confined 10 a small
room, and requested 10 keep moving on q
line between the door aud window. On eve
~ approach 10 II. the door was violently sha-
Ken, as II with the full force OF mar, though
inc blow itself could not be distinguished -
me window, however, marvellousiy escaped
this tune, notwithstanding that in the h,stor,
oil the case windows appear 10 have been
specially exposed 10 the mystic principle
Failing In these efforts 60 dcmonstrate the
gIrts agency, though the fact that the nr, ..-nc,
oi an eve vas sufficient ~ stop the noise ia mo-
mcnt, might seem sufficient To disp-l an, l,,tL,
not strong enough TO remove mountains Ne pr,.
d.
sh' Was requested, being called To take charge OF
an infant IN the nursery TO sit in given position b..
lore the door, which of cour Sc Was closed. In
lev minutes the dumping returned frequent and
ioud as ever. Hut unfortunately Tor the illusion
a~ide ere'iec at the bottom Of the door fully ex-
poseI 70 us all The agency ot her feet in producing
IT, We watched her from this position ~ it'll ,ut
inconvenience through nearly an hour. until a.
suranee VAS rendered dnublv sure
One ~ our number oprned the door ,n,drnIy
when the humping suddenly ceascd Cornelia
however a"ntIy resisted the imputAtion of having
any voluntary agency ia 10.
There being no logger the slightest doub, in
our minds on the subject, the only urpLlrm re-
manning 20 he solved SAs, how she had eontriSeJ
~ deceive thc family, the physieians and other,
Who hal repeatedly witnessed az we'll ~ listened
tn the performance and the motive ~hieI, nromnt
ell II. For q Is proper 90 remark, tbs, the state
ments on this subject heretofore Published have
h'''n sbuodantly verified, and give evidence Of
degree OF dcStcrity And art equal to the tDost
practiscd eoniarer.
he circumstances Of her having kept the whole
family NJ through several nights the phy stefan
being called ~ At midnight, and finding her an
parr"'Iy under some spAsmodie affection, her sub
uniting To the Ianert, and the failure 10 dra~
blood, the periodical suspension and return of tn,
same scenes through fortnight, Of her being rx-
am'ncd by I'hysicians who. during these perto,is
thought her circulation irregular snd her nerves
hurrIei. the fact of the noiss being nro.Iue4d IN
differently before the family and spectators At
various times, without the least apparent evidence
o. Ahy eSertion on her part. and more especially
vhcn she had been - tied - to render IL Srern-
'ngiy impossible that she could have made sny
ehort' all q ~hieh, and much more, is substao-
u-trd nv the most respectable TESTIMONY arc in
cSPiieall~ without q frsnk copfe,,,op from her
Every eh ~, however. % procure this. has utter.
isIird, ~ ell efforts To- obtain u must ~hiIr the
family cling to the eon'etioo that the girl Is ano
cent.
We Onghi. perhaps, TO ssy tat thcrc ha, been
h'tl" OF no rrtnrn nt the noisc since VI H,ds, IL
having born heard t-iee or three times ouIy. Ne
believe, sinee.
We have bccu thus particular not ONLY fro,n q
Just regard 10 public curio.its bat because H.,
esse has attracted tie syriDus sttention 1T pro1s
s,onal and seienthe gcnilrrn-n "a various ,,lscrs
ih''c ~ho have addressed special, go this
su'J-ri, viii. Se presume consider this asirmept
= 'u'heief answer 10 thor Inquiries
utStELEANV.