The Placer herald., 1856-04-12
NUMBER 81.
Spiritual Phenomena.

FEBRUARY last:-
A New OPERA BY A SPIRlT.-A few weeks
since, young lady Of sixteen years, daughter
of an intelligent gentleman who resides 4
few miles from Boston, (and who was devel-
oped some time since as a musical medium,)
was informed by her spiritual instructor
purporting to be Beetfoven), that he had
prepared an original opera which he desired
to perform through her on the piano forte.
The young lady Immediately commenced
practising the same under the influence of the
spirit, and soon after on an evening desgna-
ted by him, certain ndividuals-competen
to Judge of musical composition and per
tormancc-assembled to hear the first com
lete rehearsal of this complicated and (as it
proved) most wonderful production. A
programme was prepared by the invisible
author Of the opera the entire composition
being divided into eighteen parts, including
the overture and grand finale. The young
lady performed the entire composition in
one hour and twenty minutes without leav,
ing the instrument. If we may respect tire
testimony of good judges, the original per-
formance was extremely brilliant and etfec
tive throughout.
A few days since the writer met several OF
the parties who witnessed this singular
operate performance including the young
lady herself. The spirit was also present
and the mediums was inspired with some OF
the grandest strains that mortal ever listen
ed to or may hope to hear on EARTH On
Sunday evening, the Sd instant, the writer
was one of a select company assembled at
the residence Of distinguished gentleman
No ilne., I'm
On that occasion the spirit improvised on a
grand piano, for an hour Or more, with such
mastery skill and power as left US no room
to deny the presence or to question the claims
Of the immortal musician. Two pieces were
played first purported to be from Bee
thoven and the second from Mozart, each
occupying half an hour in the performance,
and the brilliant style and extraordinary eX-
ecution of the compositions thrilled the sense
and the soul with more than electric power.
1t is worthy ofremark that tie younq lady
to ,0hom ace ha0e referred has neoer taken
single lesson on the piano, yet she performs
when under spiritual influence with all the
skill Of master. In her rapid lingering,
tone, volume, and in all that is comprehend-
ed in the most accomplished art, or displayed
in the varied and difficult range of intricate
harmonles, she seems to be endowed with
preternatura powers. All who have CHANGED
to witness the results Of her musical inspira-
ton have regarded her performances Az
truly startling and wonderful.
How SPIRIT BEAT TIME-At the same
time and place the writer witnessed sohe
most remarkable displays of spiritual power
through the mediumship of young gentle
man who, for some time, has been pursuing
his studies at Harvard, designing to adopt
the Christian ministry as profession. Mr..
W., the person to whom reference is here
made, is a young man of rather slender
organization, refined taste and habits, with Il
strong tendency to intellectual pursuits and
religious life When he is seated at u
grand piano and is running his fingers over the
KEYS the instrument itself, which weighs oper
nine huodycd poundS, will rise and beat the
time to the music, causing the floor Of the
apartment and every inanimate object to
tremble before him, This remarkable power
was freely exercised in our presence on sever
al occasions, when other witnesses We're pre-
sent and the lights were burning. W. has
not the strength to move the end OF the In
strument when-under the most favorable
circumsances-al the force he is capable
of eXerting is concentrated on his muscles.
As no other person-yisbe to men in the
| hesh-was touching the instrument at the
time we were obliged to refer this surprising
exhibition of power to some invisible and
supra mortal agent