The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-07-03
From The Correspondence of the Southern Lit.
~ crary Gazette.
New York EklnoekImgs.

Howard Hotel. 1--WE READILY assented to
ssthe proposition ola friend connected with
Ysthe daily press, to- pay. our respects to these
distinguished ladies' and accordingly we
4 prepared with him their hotel. We were
shown into private parlourrin which were
already assembled parlftTss score of per-
sons, upon whose faces there was an cvi-
dent expression of interest and curiosity.
Upon the entrance OF the "ladies," We
found them tobo very interesting persons,
three sisters, the eldest married, and the
Z others apparently eighteen and sixteen
years of age respectively. Their appear-
ancc indicated great intelligence, and VIC
could not help iancying, in that OF Mrs.
Fish, mixture OF humour and sl,rcwdncss,
botl, very great and evidently subjected to
ssthc contronl Of a strong purpose. The
ladies' now seated themselves upon sofa,
in front of which stood long oval malog-
any table. Connected will, the party were
two young men, one the door-kccper and
4 the other sort of general usher. The
mother Of the ladies was also present, and
while her face bcamcd with interest in the
scene, it certainly betrayed no conscious
ness OF any organized deception.
Among the visitors, we noticed the cclc-
bratcd clairroya,u, Mr.. Andrew jackson
Davis, whose "Prudcniial Revelations"
and other books Of mysteries, have won for
him no small degree Of fame. He has Il
inc, luslrous, eyc' and is exceedingly COM
municativc' When interested.
The visitors were invited TO draw their
chairs around the table and await the Mani
lcstations Of the Spirits" These were de-
laycd some five minutes, during which Il
general silence prevailed, and Curiosity set
her impress on every face. The two girls
whispered Ilnylu!!y TO each other, and Mrs.
Fish sat scn. and apparently uncin!mras-
Srd.
AT length distinct rapping was heard
upon the table, and immediately two or three
stopped TO look beneath the cloth which coy
cred il, but their Investigations were not re-
war,!rl with any discovery! We noticed /;
faint but somewhat arch smile upon the face
OF Mrs. Fish. whilo the Younger sisters look
cd at each ot.er;and laughed
One of heparty now began TO question the
Spirits their consent to hold cnmnunica-
,ion with him having been indicated by three
distinct raps upon the table.
& OF course rs the only mode of reply
vouchsafcd by the spiritual stranger, was
that of rappng, all questions had ,o be pro-
posed in form admitting OF direct answers.
either affirmative or negative, the former by
thrcn knocks and the latter by two.
3E The iirst qucst!oncr was Il man OF ri least
siiihy years, fine, grave-looking parsonage,
who asked 'thc spirits" "a name applied by
all to the knockers for want of II better
various questions touching n deceased rcls-
tive, to which, after some little confusion of
ideas and Interpretation, he obtained correct
rcplies.nnl seemed 10 be deeply impressed
with the result OF his inquiries. To the
next party soliciting communication, the
spirits refused reply also to the next, but
either time. A bustng little man now push
ed forward, and asked in loud tones, ':Will
Stfins spirits answer my guesions?"
ID i, tho response; and then
Sclisiied i really langhuble scSne. The
quorest evidently wished to be supposed no
supc, and affected most bluff and careless
tone; bnt we could mo, help rcmarking rs he
renewed his first question: nnansEsFee cd, Us
,aiFs Eisls qntee!;i Remarked, because unin-
tesiigiblc, that healeanod eagerly forward,
and putting his mouth close TO the table, de-
,nanded in very loud tones and slow words;
"Docs tho spirit mean to answer mc!'
I'.You need not talk So loud, Sir" said Mrs.
Fish. The spirit raped again. and agan !
tho visitor asked, ''lIow long has my father
hcc,fdeadl" No reply, but remark from
the young man in attendance, "Ask ittorap
the number of years" He did so, and eight
distinct knocks upon the table were lcard,
upon which the querist loukcd up in great
snrprizc and said 10 eager questions,
"Right' Several queries now followed 10
which answers were "knockcd," with more