The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-06-17
EditOriaR Correspondence.
ScorT, N. Y, June II, 1856:

DEAR Echo The season here is
very backward, though less so, I think,
than in Rhode Island. It is now nearly
haying time and the grass but just
starting in some places, and it is no
where more than few inches in heighth.
There was frost the other evening that
destroyed many of the young plants
which had dared to show their heads
above ground in spite of the almost
winter weather. We have had a cold
and almost unceasing rain for about a
week. 1t is decidedly uncomfortable
without fire, and overcoats with shiv-
ering occupants are no uncommon sight.
This community are favored with an
uncommon share of the "Spiritual Man
ifestations," which have taken the place
in a great measure of the "rappings. A"
Believers now receive their communica-
tions from the spiritual world by pro-
cess Of "spiritualizing" in which some
spirit takes possession of the medium,
and makes use of his hands and voice to
make itself Ineligible to the inhabitants
of this world. They have not entirely
given up their favorite mode of commu.
nication by rapping yet, though thai
form is used mostly for the imperfec,
mediums; yet "much instruction i,
given through the raps made by the
hands and feet' of the more perfec,
kind. Ihave been twice to see the
manifestations" at the house of one OF
the most perfect mediums in the place.
The FIRST evening there were present,
besides the medium and his wife, gen.
tleman from Maine, two gentlemen from
this vicinity, and myself. About nine
o'clock the demonstrations commenced
by the medium springing from his sea-
and pacing the room with his eyes closed
After pacing the floor a moment, ht
shook hands with the gentleman from
Maine, whom We will call Mr.. A., as ar
indication that it was the spirit of some
Of his friends. Mr.. A then named ovel
all the friends he could call to mind who
had departed this life, but none of them
was the one. The medium said it was
a Professor, an old teacher of Mr.. AS
but he was still at loss as to who was
meant. The medium then gave us an
eloquent lecture of some half an hour in
length, said to be in the manner of the
spirit while it was an inhabitant of the
clay. Mr.. A. asked if he knew the per.
son was dead, and received an affirmative
answer, when he said that he knew Of
none of that description unless it was 9
Mr.. Tell. At the mention of this name
the medium jumped from his chair and
appeared very happy to see Mr.. A
shook hands with him and bade him
good night with the promise of seeing
him again.. Mr.. A. said the medium
represented perfectly the appearance Of
Mr.. Tell, though he was not aware O,
his death.
Another spirit then took possession
Of the medium, said to be friend Of
mine. l will give the conversation as
nearly as l can recollect. els it a
male ?" "No." els it a female i''
Yes" els it-in "No.n And
thus I continued naming over all whom
could call to mind, but did not get the
right one. The medium then gave the
manner of her death by sort of panto-
mine, when 1 asked, "Is it-w
Yes. Twill go no farther with the
demonstrations as il is wearisome.
would have a talk with you; you re-
member talked with you before I died.
| am really the one that you suppose.
Do not reject The truth, but believe,
l''''. Tell them that II is wen with