New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-12
WHY NOT!

WHY NOT!
Judge Edmonds and DR.. Dexter have written
a new volume in calculation and defense Of what
is known as "spiritualism," in which among
many things equally remarkable, Judge E. gives
the following account Of phenomena occurring ia
the case of Miss Laura Edmonds-(his daughter
If we mistake not)-a recently developed "me-
"dium:"
"At first che was Violently agitated in her per-
son. She soon wrote mechanically; that is, with
out any vofon on her part, aad without any
consciousness of what she was penning. Having
strong vD che was able at any moment by exercising
IT, TO arrest the manifestation She next became a
speaking medium. She was not entranced as some
are into state Of unconsciousness, but was fully
aware Of all she saying and Of all that occurred
around her, She. however had not aivan ed far
enough TO know the source whence came the thoughts
which she was uttering, and she imagined they might
be the product Of her own mind. To convince her
upon that subject che was shown through the iostru-
me ntality of her own mind all the particulars Of the
wreck Of the steamer San Francisco-thet her upper
deck had been swept off, and certain number had
thus pershed that the residue OF those on board had
been taken off 10 three vessels, and were then on
their way in different directions for different ports
and the steamer had been abandoned on the sea-
All this several days before any news had reached
the land of the accident to that vesse and she was
told 10 welt and see if the information which had been
II.
have written was not strictly accurate and then de-
ternine for herself whether II was her own mind.
few days brought minute confirmation Of every incl
dent which had been disclosed to her.
Since then this faculty Of knowing things at dis
tsrce has greatly improved. She Jaw the wreck Of the
Arctic when il was occurring She saw and detailed
with gres. accuracy, as subsequent accounts sh )wed
the recent collision the Canada Railroad and that
few moments after it happened and while the dead
and wounded were being lifted ut Of the ruins. She
has and described the state of things at Sevas
topol and its vicinity, and she has frequently de-
scribed scenes and conversation going a. the mo-
rueIt at the distance of several hundred miles from
her; and all this, not when she in q trance, but
in a state of mental consciousness TO all around her,
She next became developed to speak different
languages. She knows no language but her own,
and little smattering of boarding school French.
Yet che has spoken in nine ten different tongues
sometimes for an hour at tins, with the ease aud
fuency Of a native. II Is not unfrequent that for
eigners converse with their Spirrie through her.
in their own language. recent instance occurred
where Greek gentleman had several interviews, and
for several hours al time carried on the converse
ton on his part in Greek, and received his answers
sometimes in that language and sometimes in English;
yet until then she bad never heard word Of modern
Greek spoken.
About the same time her musical powers became
developed. She has repeatedly sung in foreign
languages, such as Italian, Indian, Germsn and
Polish and it is now not unfrequent that che sings in
her own language, improrising both words and tune
ss abe proceeds-the melody being very unique and
perfect and the sentiments ia the highest degree ee
yatirg and ennobling.
Her next advance was TO see Spirits and spiritual
scenes, and row scarcely day passes that she does
not describe tie Spirits who are present, entire
identified by their inquiring friends. This has, of
late, been witnessed by very many persons, and
many an unbelieyer in spiritual intercourse has been
overwhelmed with the evidence Of Identity which
thus by sight and by communion has been presented
Now be it far from US to speak of such
Manifestations" with levisy OF stubborn in
credality. If such provision, or whs.ever it
may be termed, a. is here attributed TO Miss Ed.
monds, actually exists, we want to know it, and
that the world should know and prost BY it,
When shallow psted iguoramus reels of nom
sense BY the yard, and tells us 1t is philosophy
or poetry, or metaphysics, communicated through
him by Pythagorss, or Plato, Shakspere or By
ron, swedenborg OF Franklin, we haze to laugh
who could help it but this is different mat
ter. II, then, Miss Edmonds saw the wreck of
ada railroad collision, and the armies in and
around Seyastopol, she eau Likewise see where
the gallant Kane and his heroic party are now
battling the watch against Polar frost and
darkness, and it is her duty to enlighten their
many friends with regard to their position and for.
tunes IT. then, she will send us statement. show.
ing their present latitude and longitude, how they
are sheltered, subsisted and employed, aud what
ever else may be necessary to give rs true re-
port Of them-as if traveller in balloon had
aIghted among them yesterday and brought
away such tidings as they could send-we will
give 500 to such charitable institution or 5enev
olent enterprise as she may designate, payable
whenever her statement shall have been con-
frmed by ordinary human testimony.
Il not this fart Ought not our offer to be sc-
crlsed II not, why not