The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-11-15
Doesticks Sees tEse Spirit zsaPpers.
J. - NEw YoaK. Oct. p. 1854:

Doesticks Sees tEae spirit Rsappers.
90 30 New YoRK, Oct. p, 1854.
SEVENTY HUNDREi1 AND ONE, NARROW ST
Being satiated with tie ordinary com.
mon-place things Of every day life, aud
having heard Il great deal about the mys-
terious communications tclegraphed tc
this, our ignorant sphere, BY wise and
benigpant spirits of bliss, through the
digniied medium of old chairs, wash
stapds and card tables, we three { who
had met again. determined to put our.
selves in communication with the next
world, to find out, if possible, cur chan
ces of favorable reception when bust
ness or pleasure calls us in that direc-
tion. Up Broadway till we came to an
Illuminated three cornered Transparency
(WHICH made Bull Dogge smack his lips
and say /" OYSTERS which informed us
that within large assortment of spirits
of every description were constantly in
attendance, ready to answer inquiries,
or to run on errands in the spirit world
and bring the ghosts of any body's de-
funct relations or friends to that classic
spot, for conversational purposes, all for
the moderate charge of twenty-five cents.
(Damphool. who had been there before,
said that these " delicate Ariels" were
the spirits of departed newsboys, who are
thrown out of their legitimate business,
and strive to get an honest living by do
ing these eighteen-penny jobs )-Entered
the room with becoming gravity, and
overcoming awe. Two. old foozles in
white neck-cloths, and no collars, re-
turned Californian in an Indian blanket,
two peaked nosed old maids good look
ing widow, with a little boy, our own sa-
cred trio, and the medium" composed
the whole of the assembled multitude.
The ".medium )" aforesaid, was vinegar
complexioned women, very ruby nose,
mouth the exact shape of the sound hole
to violin, who wore green spectacles,
and petticoats of equivocal purity.
The furniture consisted of several
chairs, mirror, no carpet, a small stand,
large dining table, and in one corner
of the room bedstead, washstand, and
bookcase, with writing desk on top
After some remarks by the medium, we
formed the magic circle, by sitting close
together, and putting our hands on the
table. Bull Dogge took big drink be-
fore he laid his ponderous fists by the
side of the others After a short length
of time the table began to shake it's
ricketty legs. to flap its leaves after the
manner of wings, and to utter ominons
squeaks from its crazy old joints. Pret-
ty soon g knock under Damphool's
hand he tfembled and turned pale, but
on the whole, stood his ground like a
man. Knock, knock in azy Immediate
vicinity-looked under the table, but
couldn't see any body-knock, knOck,
KNOCK, KNOCK, directly under Bull
Dogge's elbow, He, frightened, jumped
from his seat, and prepared to run, but,
sensible to. the last, he took drink,
felt better, reyerestly took off his hat,
and said, IL d--n It and resumed his
seat. .KnockIh@ became general-medi-
um said the spirits were reaGy to answer
questions2asked if any spirit would
would talk to me-yes. Come along, l
remarked-noisy spirit announced. its
advent by series of knocks, which
would have done honor to a dozen pen
ny postmen s'rolled into one" Asked
who it was-ghost of my uncle-(never
had an uncle Inquired if he was hap,
py--tolerable. What are you about ?
occupations are, hunting
wild bees, catching cat fish, ehopping
pine lumber, and making hickory whip
stocks. HoW's your wife ?-S0ber, just