Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-01-10

81
claimed demonstrations have been before the pub
lie during the past week, through the milwaukee,
press. In the Free Democrat we notice the repor
of a committee of twelve, who state the manifesto
tons to be beyond their comprehension, and ex
press the opinion that the family purporting to b.
the medium, are just as ignorant and innocent il
the matter as they are. The editor of the Demo
crat thinks there is something strange in the mani
festatons, but is not prepared TO give a definite
opinion with reference to them. The Sentine
gives couple of columns, detailing two or tire,
interviews with the "spirits," which divests tn,
matter of the seriousness which should pertain I,
such subjects and shows it up in rather ludicrou
light.
We find our own name appended to the repor
of the committee alluded to; put there however
by some one without our knowledge or consent
We had couple of sittings with the spirits. anc
while we not certain that what We heard anG
witnessed the first time might not have been done b,
the parties themselves, we are quite certain that i
was so done at the second sitting Not SOUND
was made or an article moved but was manifest,
'NSA
added to which, one of our party, who had slipped
his hand without being perceived along under the
bottom of lounge, where the demonstrations see.
med most powerful, received in his open palm rar
from the heel of the medium, which beyond ques
ton was intended for spiritual demonstration or
the aforesaid lounge. Whether this little girl could
be rappng away day after day with her heels and
toes, seeking at the same time to make people be-
ieve it was something very different, and the res
of the family know nothing about it, we think quite
doubtful. As to the involuntary theory; that is
that the little girl cannot help but rap, we do not
subscribe to it, for the that il has one volun
tary feature which quite overthrows it. that of stop
ping when people scrutnize it too closely. The
final conclusion TO which we come was. that il was
a very shallow attempt at deception. but friend
at Milwaukee, who is quite as shrewd and consid-
erably more skeptical in such matters than we are
writes in reply to query of ours, as follows;
IL never have or heard any thing but wha,
THINK could with suitable preparation have been
made by natural means. But am constrained r.
say that have no reason to believe that anv prena
ration was made. That many of the rapp!nrs and
other demonstrations are made by the medium |
have no doubt but am not prepared to saw that
the medium is conscious Oft. On the other hand
have witnessed some demonstrations that could
not have been made by the medium have seen
lounge with no one on or touching it (the compa-
ny standing round table, the family standing back
to the lounge and one two feet from III rock back
and forth with as much violence as think could
nave made It. In this case my wife was present,
and went and set on it behind the familL and !,
continued to rock as before. Ona former occasion
saw the lounge move in to me an un accountable
manner, at which time | turned it over and exami
ned the bottom OF IT, together with the floor under
It, and the wall back of it, but did not discover any
thing that would account for its movement
Several such demonstrations have been made
when | was present The questions that have
asked have almost in every instance been answered
enormously, whilst others say they get correct an
swers have been present when | think there
has been more raps than could have been made by
the medium, though they could undoubtedly have
been made with suitable preparation"