Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-07-11
- Here's n Knocking. Indeed---ku0ck, ,
knock, knock: Who's there Il the
nasue OF z}elZcbub 7"

Just now 10 divide the aitentlon of wonder loving
community in New York. 1t is true the light dues
not yet shne but great is The expectation at results,
when Mr. Paine shall have succeeded IN making Cro-
Ion water perform the Offices of camphlne and coal
gas. The Knockers are more successful and. we
ougi, in say. wonderful; for, If we can take
their word for ii, they have brought he spirit world
under contribution. so that man may now have an
Interviewer n uversation-with any ghost 10 his
mind, al great convenience with perfect confort aud
equanimty aud upon strict commercial principles and
low terms-iee for the privilege one dollar.
The Knocking Family consists of Mrs. Fox and her
three daughters, Mrs. Fish AID the two Miss Foxes
The name suggests some old associations, esperIally
taken In connection with the crowds oil wise person.
ages who paroDze their exhibitlons but we are not
disposed To quote Esop unnecessarily. They are de-
scrihed being quite well demeanOred and interest
ing Indies, especially the daughters. of whom the
misses are young and pretty. while Mrs. Fish does
the talking. Mrs. Fox seems io have oiLer func
ton than That of q cha peron which would seem 10
be unnecessary with young women well attended
by guardian spirits. The whnle world of the depart
ed appears To dwell around ihern being quite le-
gitimae fer viSiIer to call for the soul of auy de-
ceased person lac wishes with. the call be-
ing always answerrd--excepi when the spirit is not
in a communicative mood. II is demonstrated that
these spirits litte capricous If mot nt times
suspicious ond tcrhy.
Ii is surprising, however, that their means of
the simple faculty of knocking. One would think
that would be easy for ghosts TO utter aculate
words as to knock on chairs aud tables; as 1t would
assuredly be digni6ed and more satisfactory.
Judging from the accounts the language OF knocks,
as employed by them, Is confined 10 the use OF yes
and no, simple assent and dissent the ges being
sign6ed by knocks, and the no by knocking at all
which makes the negative part Uf conversation very
easy. They understand III questions but they answer
none but leading ones. We are afraid they will be
considered spirits of very low order of Intelligence
Some Of our readers will hugh aud some will sigh.
but ought To be astUnished at The evidences
which the of the spirit knocking furnishes,
of the prevalence of human credulity. Morrnanism
and clairvoyance the special halucinatluns of
age and tortune-telIng and pow wowing are as much
III vogue now, IN the light and hustle Of the newspa-
per era, :hey the darkest ages of ignO
The love of maryels is an inborn trait of hui
moniy aud there is pleasure in superstition which
but the superstitous knos-a pleasure frnm
which men will neither be driven by persuasion
frightened by ridcule. The crotchet of the
kRockIHgs might be held la mess and langhabe, were
il not for the painful impression ii cnnveys of IT.
reyaleni spirit and centous disposition to lre with
subjects solemn and sacred TO be approached with
leyity. The spirit world is the world Of God; and
while know that living man is not. and cannot be,
permitted to hold converse with il. cannot but
be startled as well at the daring speculation which
affects lay bare its mysteries and make its unatta
able subject of trade and rare-show exbibi
tion, at The idle curiosity of the multitude by which
such project is countenanced and rewar arded.-Phid.
~ American.
From the Tribune and other papers we select what
follows, among numerous accounts of the " knock
ings" of the "sprits.
Mr.. Greeley says:
We have and looked into the ghostly drawing
Barnums, within two past, 10 watch the
operations Of the weird telegraph though confess with
than Of spelling out OF the peculiar myseres Of
the spiritual world The sister Sibyls wait the movements
Of their amiliais with the meeke ongsDeiing and
wise dauned frequent apparently capri
cious refusa to communicate, al the as frequent
meage and unsatisfactory character Of The replies The
room nsoaily crowded with hrong Of anxious inqu
ers We Ind there all varieties Of life Ito nothing Of
The specimens from the Inferno ~ from the sun-bTowned
Hooser OF the West to the jeweed afstocracy of New
If he receptions attracts visitors the curiosity Of
The manifestations We happy that the cuultesy
Of the sPecao usually less exemplary than the
thence OF the bieruphants-every disposition bring shown 10
secure the ladies and their unique invisible attendants fair
aud generous hearing little harmless ninth occasions
ally INDUCED the oddness Of the eene which the sub
inclined TO share the promptness uilness
Of the replies being seldom Interrupted BY any expIesion Oi
l-med evitv. There il certainly attempt at imposition
by eascling the sepuchal, i-nspng atmosphere
which usually attends the operation OF medicine men and
necomseeers They cheerful spirits, OF any rate fond
of music and poetry aud showing signs Of horns eOveu
feet.
An evening or two since we accompanied professional
gentlemen Of acquaintance, who haviug with 10 n
que about his grandfather cousins, proposed mentally 10
evoke the gim shade of Dr. Johnson probably ecoectlng
the study faith of the g,est cxcgapher IN the famous
London CockLane Ghost and presuming thai he might have
objection figure in similar for the bentht OF
his odein admirers. The questions part mental
and part audhy expressed Can converse with the
Row in my mind No answer Can soon Yes Can
receive 10 my questions about him Yes. Did
he live in the pIesent century In the last Yes. Was
he a lawyeri A Ciergyman' merchsntl No answer
haar hp o
person with whom interview desired. The gentle
asked mentally; Are you the spirit Of Dr. johnson
Yes Dill you believe in ghosts Yes Do you DOW believe
in them Yes. Was the st'ry true Of the Cock-L'ne
Ghost! Yes.
These questions were mental the hierophanis being
engaged brisk conversation the lie with another visitor
msch 10 the annoyance Of The Immediate intrrocuor He
then asked audibiy. Did love the Amercsns Did YOU
hate them? Yes. Do you hate them now No. Afiei
some oher coss-riDg with regard to The philosophical ideas
learned shade might be presumed to hold the
modern in theology and social science and
tained his pristine attachment 10 the Established Chuch-
The cooquy divine then ceased. without any apparent
disappointment 20 either party.
gentleman connected with the press in this city, who
went into the with absolute Incredibly was put int
communication with the sounds and without preliminary
eng inquired Will the spirit Of father
with me Yes. In what State did he dei In Nev York.
In Massachusetts! In Ohioi knocks. Will he rap the
number of years his dea,h' Fourteen distinct knocks
The disease of which the person died, bis christian
and then wrttsD paper among
other Names aud the sound requested to give two dis
tinct knocks when the tight was touched This was
done in each instance correctly and without hestition
As informed by the gentleman, the person con-
ceing whom he inquired left New York many years ago
where his family resided and died IN Cincinnati 10 1870
The same gentleman then asked for bother-in-law who
from a steamboat Lake Michigan, severs
wears since. Where did he diei ID New York? at seal
On the Lakes' Knocks How many has he been dead
Eleven knocks Did he die Of consump'ion' Of cholera!
small pox! No answer Was he burned! Was he killed
by bowl Was he shol Was he drowned! Knocks
The chri.tian then correctly indica
ted The previous case, with the number Of his brothers
aud sisters living
"A rharr niv the f,lloxinn of nI