The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-02-23
Enirit HapniuQa.
The Pari. correspondent Of the Cincinnati
Gazette relates the following:


extraordinary character brought about BY
the agency Of spirit rapping, the following.
which is authentic, and which occurred
somewhat in the following manner, may be
,cited. NJ. d. is rich proprietor, very ava
ricious and Of an original character. He is
a wdower, and father Of one child, Made
noiselle Hortense, young and handsome
| girl, and as intellectual as handsome. Idle,
and not knowing to what distraction to de-
vote himself, u. d. has become enamored
ot the rapping spirits; his only occupation
was to make the tables talk, and he had ar
rived at the blindcst and most omplete de-
gree of fanaticism.
was an estimabie young man, we'll connect
ed, and who would be content with marri-
age por ton Of sixty thousand francs-a sum
disproportioned to the large fortune Of the
avaricious proprietor. But NJ Adolphe did
not suit Mademoiselle Hortense, who had
made choice for herself and who loved NJ.
Alfred. Knowing how infexible her father
was in his wishes, she took the greatest care
not to manifest the least opposition; she re-
sponded with submissive air and an inge-
nious artiices
Il accept without hesitation the hus-
DdIu YOU nave AHOoCu, OEAI IAJuCTs Ullu
without doubt you did not make the
selection till after having consulted the ia
ble''
You believe than in the tables." de-
manded the father, delighted that his daugh-
ter should share his passion.
s'.And how could uot believe after having
been witness of your beautiful and decis-
i've experiments! believe SO strongly in it
that | should regard marriage as uRfortu-
tunate which should not have received the
appreciation OF the rapping spirits"
.You are right. Where has been my
head, that did not think Of consulting the
oracle on an affair 50 important But it's
time yet. Let US make the table talk; it
will approve, | do not doubt, the choice
which have made, and in my case owe il
to my convictions to decide in conformity to
its directions"
"Very WE'LL" responded Mademoiselle
Hortense, Il promise you the same ODE.
dience''
They called up the spirit, which was just
what the young lady wanted, for she had
placed herself in intelligence with the table,
and had rehearsed the answers which it was
to give, so that when the father demand
ed.
"iIave not done well in choosing NJ.
Adolphe as the husband OF my daughter!"
The table responded mo"
''ShouId then relinquish this choice!"
Eyes"
"You see, my good father, how we'll we
have done to consult the table. Who knows
all the misfurtunes that this union might have
brought"
'.The decree is formal and must be obey.
ed,' said the futher Nth gloomy resigna-
ton.
''But, dear father" replied Hortense, in :
cl.ass.ns tone, "sincs you have thought
Of marrying me and that we are in the train
Of consultation, why should we not demand
of the table to designate the husband ought
to marry!"
"Ne will" responded the father, who was
pleased with the conversation.
NJ. D. and his daughter named all the
young men Of their acquaintance, who were
candidates for marriage. NJ. Charles, NJ.
Eugene, NJ Gustave, NJ. Arthur, NJ. Vic
tor, but the table responded-"No."
At last Mdlle. Hortense named NJ. Alfred
and the table responded. Yes"
IN. Aifred!" said the father with dis
dainful al "that certainly is the last one
should have thought Of. And you"
Me, dear father, must obey; the table
has spoken. Twill marry nobody but NJ. Al
fred
"Nery well, we shall see"
sWhat do you wait for!''
as this marriage then So pressing!" asked
the father
alt is for the table to say" modastly re-
sponded the girl.
The table responded that the marriage
was to take place in month.
The next day NJ Alfred received an in
vitaton to dinner. His lesson was rehears-
ed. The young man showed himself as
greata fanatic in his love of the rapping spi-
rits as Monsieur himself; which was no
more than just, for he owed the table the
gratitude which this fanaticism imposed
The ardent zeal and intelligent enthusiasm
which he employed, gained him the esteem
and the affection OF his future father-in-
law.
All parties being agreed, the preparations
for the marriage proceeded rapidly When
the time for preparing the contract arrived,
NJ. ID. announced to his future son-in-law
that he proposed to give him as marriage
portion sixty thousand francs. NJ. Alfred
was one OF those young men OF these latter
days with whom the most tender passion
never obscured the bin of interests
The sum seemed small and he repli-
ed.
IL shall willingly content myself with
that, if the spirit, which consult in all my
affairs, says that this portion IS sufficient
and reasonable"
The table was interrogated on this sub
iect, and Of which M. d. himself demanded
ifthe sixty thousand francs were not enough,
the answer was "No."
"Very well, rapping spirits, fix yourselves
the figures OF the portion in rapping once
for each ten thousand frencs," said M. Al
fred
The table raised one foot aud struck twen-
ty times. That madetwo hundred thousand
francs VI. ID. rccoiled; but the oracle had
spoken--the believer was bound to obey
He was obstinate; but earnest supplications
his uyarice and he signed the
Thus, thanks to the rapping spirits, Nd'lle.
Hortense was enabled tc espouse, with two
hundred thousand francs, the young man
whom she loved.
This grand mystiication Of the turning
tables will be accounted as the most salient
am lnfr the characteristic traits of the year
which is about to close. 1t has been for
Paris the folly of 1853, folly which untor-
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