New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-21

n
City. who went into the room with abs lute mere
dulity, was put into communication win Tue
sounds, and without any preliminary maneuverins
INQUIRED, VIII the spirit Of my father converse
with NE ? Yes. In what State did he die
In New.York I'm Massachusetts In Ohio
Knocks. Win be rap the number oil years since
bis DEATH Fourteen distinct knocks Inc DIS
esse of which the person died. his chriatian name
and his surname were then written on paper
among several other names, and the sound was
requested to give two distinct knocks when the
right one was touched. This was done IA eacn In
stance correctly and without hesitation.
As We were informed by the gentleman the
person concerning whom he inquired LETT New
York many years ago, where all his family resided
ard died in Cincinnati in 1886.
The same gentleman then asked FOR brother
in law, who was drowned from steamboat, on
Lake Michigai, several years since. Where did
be die? In New.Yorkl At sea! On the Lakes
Knocks. How many years has he been dead
Eleven knocks. Did he die Of consumption l-oi
cholera of small pox No answer. Was he
burnedl Was he killed by blow Was he
shot? Was be drowned? Knocks. The ohriS-
tisn name and surname were then correctly indica-
ted az in the previous case, with the number OF his
brothers and sisters now living
A similar conversation was held with brother,
and the same correct replies obtained, with the al
di'icns information that the interrogstor was a..
tended with five guardian spirits, and that further
manifestation veuld be made to him at his own
house. In answer to the question, How long be-
fore this demonstration will be madel" the sound
FIRST answered within two weeks and then, calling
fer the alphabet, The word "S Don" was spelled
out.
Another gentleman, somewhat conspicuous in
the politics Of the City, and with nothing certainly
in his appear nee to invite one to select him as
dupe, inquired concerning & child, and was al
swered without hesitation or mistake as 10 bis age
the disease Of which be died. the time since bis
death and the number Of brothers and sisters both
living and deed. The child had been dead seven.
teen years and the questioner wrote the figures
from one to twenty-one, touching them successive
", and at seventeen received the answer.
The alphabet is & fsvorite mode of communica'
ton, serving to defer the hopes of the aspirant
with the ia;terng word "s oon," or to cut off all
inquiry with the fatal Done"
One gentleman, with whom we visited the Pyth-
opesses having the reputation OF a stubborn skept
ci,m in regard to ell supernatural affairs, in vain
endeayored to obtain an interview with some ofhis
ancestors, and was at last silenced with call for
the alphabet The sentence was then spelled out
"Ny friend it is often asked what good will come OF
ihete manifestations; will tell you. They are to
brI nearer together, and 10 convince the skep
tic Of Immortality The obdurate Saaducee was
not melted, but painfully conscious of the tedious
ness 4 the process By verbal spelling, suggested
10 the sound that i. would be q great practical I'M
prove ment to make use of letters on wooden blocks
TO which the sound at once knocked out cordia
and emphatic assent.
We notice tfat the sounds are apparently not
under the control of the hierophants, whatever
sgency it may be supposed they exert in their pro-
duction. 1t will often happen, when a person is
present on whom it might be thought desirable to
produce a favorable impression, that the sounds
will either cease altogether or give most vague
and ambiguous answers. A whole company
OF curious listeners may be assembled for the sole
purpose ofw aiting on the oracle, and reply what
ever, or none in the slightest degree satisfactory
will be vouchsaitd On the other hand, an entire
stranger may be introduced, all whose questions
Will be responded to with mathematical exactness.
But the answers, as whole, cannot be relied
on. There ere sufficient instances Of mistake 10
cause the credibility of a witness in a court of
justice TO be called in question. Whether the de-
feet be in the mind of the questioner in the medi-
um Of communication, or in the source Of the an
swer may not be determined; but it must neces-
ssrily operate to prevent any confidence in the
sounds as vehicles OF information. Ii shou d a.
so be remarked that there are few cases, if any,
v here the answers rendered are in advance Of the
knowledge in the mind Of the inquirer Even
where the question is met with the rapping OF
tune, as frequently occurs, it is an air familiar to
the interlocuior as well as the lady priestesses.
1t is easy to set aside all these strange pheno-
mers, sc the results Of deception, legerdemain
veDtriloquii N, fome secret power Of the laws OF
acoustics. This will be done with the greatest
ooseness, however, by those who are too redolent
If the odor Of Pharisaic virtue, to condescend 20
erd en- ear TO the facts in question. Our dainty
iilletante, who govern certain sphere in the world
of opinion, may uuite their voices with those ofthe
vulgar bscsguards, who sscribe every new phass
IF truth to nickery and fraud, and from whom fire
md water could no. take the prejudice tina, the
limits Of Heaven and earth are bounded by their
,wn ignorance and conceit but this is no wise set
les the question in regard to manifestations, the
ike ofwhich have attracted the attention Of wise
Ind noble men Of every age, and which We know,
n latter days, have been objects Of the strongest
interest not to say Of earnest conviction, with per-
IONS like Sir Walter Scott, Southey, CO!eridge, and
Washington ALston.
We do not believe that these phenomena are The
esut Of supernatural agencies, because We have
20 evidence for that opinion. As little could we
matic.llu dacide that iheu are No. having a. |