The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-11-17
Eumbug excitement at Cincinnati.


Prof Spencer gained triumph over the
spiritualists last week at Cincinnati, but lost
"a victory over the people this week. de had
boosted amazingly of his "subjects'-that in
a certain "statea-i in which he placed them;
they did things which years practice would.
not permit them to do so well in their natural
Icondition, and could stand tests whichno nian
could stand unless in psychological state.
Last Monday evening large crowd was drawn
by the announcement that the Professor would
give grand physical test"-he would pre-
sent silver goblet lined with gold to any one
who would stand physical test like his sub
Iiects. The Hall was crowded. The Professor
chose two of his crack subjects, put them in
the "state," and there they stood as transfxcd
statues. In acceptance of the challenge mum
Der Of the audience stepped on the platform,
assumed the attitude" and with distended
mouths, "tried on the great physical test"
They must truly have presented Imaginable
| figures standing motionless with open jaws,
gazing fixedly at space. All soon gave up, ex-
cept one Of the subjects and stranger. The
Professor declared the strange young man
must be psychological subject--in fact he
had been told he was. This was denied and
the young man still stood up to the rack.
Finally the Professor stopped that part Of the
Exhibition. He was not going to allow his
Subject to be pitched against the Boston sub
liect This was received with Kisses The
young man denied being a subject. Here for
the amusement Of our readers we give the Cir
cinnati Enquirer's account of the conclusion:
Here one of the Professors subjects arose
and addressed the audiance, stating that he
lhad never been under "the influence" that he
went on the stage to amuse himself; the Profes-
sor told him what to do and he did it. He
believed that the whole thing was humbug,
Professor and all. [Cheers, stamping and hiss
les.l
Coffin, the great subject of whom Spencer
Ihad boasted so loudly, next mounted chair
He said:
"Ladies and gentlemen-I have been on the
stage three or four nights. have never beer
under the Professors influence The whole
thing is a humbug / have never seen any
thing unnatural, though, to amuse myself ]
Ihaye done as the Professor told me, and acted
las he directed me. But the whole thing is a
Ihumbug"
This speech was received with applause, and
misses, and the speaker sat down amid great
Iuproar.
| Professor Spence,'-I would ask that young
man if he did not pledge his honor that he
was not shamming while on the stage.
C9fin-No, sir l never pledged any such
thing. You're humbug.
Great laughter, amid which Spencer looked
decidedly sheepish. But his native impudencc
speedily returned, and he said he had another
test. lie could accelerate the pulse of his
Subject five beats to the minute, and if the
young man from Boston would do the same he
could have the cup. This test was tried and
the young man failed Still, the audience
were unsatsfed, and many of them declared
the cup to have been won, and demanded that
the Professor give it up. The professor made
an appeal to the ladies and put the question
to vote, when the ladies almost unanimously
! voted in his favor, and the result was, he was
declared the winner, much to the modification
Of the male portion of the audience.
Immediately afterwards this audience broke
up, and as they left the hall saluted the Pro
lessor with shouts of "Humbug!" "Cheat!'
'Put him out!" "There's nothing in it!'' in The
last of which remarkstwe cordially conceded
E