New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-29
SPIPITUALISM IN BOSTON,

Correspondents Of The N 7. Tribune
Boston, July "a, 1857.
fear that your sensible readers will be tired Of
hearing about our Boston foles but if they please,
they can pass by this letter. and select better read
ing. Oliver In bis letter Of the 18th, gives % -
account of performances which he witnessed In
Hancock Avenue. The first trick was that Of
opening watch under the table with the hand
bound up in handberchiefs Oliver doubtIess means
to give correct account Of what no did and Of
what he saw. He does not however, tell US, what
have no doubt is true that the handkerchief were
rolled up cravat-fashOn, and that neither Of them
was put over the hand bag -fashiOn. know that
Squire has failed to do the trick when the handker-
chief was put on bag.fashiOn and l know that
have performed it successfully with my hand very
securely fastened with handLerchiefs, crsvat-ashion.
The second trick, of writing, eau bo imtsted BY
any one who has any manual dexterty, to hold tho
card against aeg.of the table orr against the under
side.
The third trick, of throwing the table over bis
head, was performed by Prof Eustis. 1t is said that
the exertiOns Of Prof. E. were much greater than
those of the medium; but it must be remembered
that the exeBtiOns Of the one were visible in bright
gas hght-Of the other concealed in darkDess; that
the one bad had no practice and that the other had
often gamboled with the spirits. 1t must also DO
remembered that physician of our city, whose
character as an Observer needs 40 voucher has
assured US in The B0s.0a Post that the muscss Of
this medium do swell when the table moves, pro-
csey as though be was doing it by Muscular streagfh,
that another gentleman Of equal character, con.
Dected with one Of our life insurance OfSces tsaS
this mediums hands rasped roaBd the tabie,es
while George was causing it to dance; that oenSf
testimony Vi the same kind can easily De procured
from lawyers, clergy@en ana pnyseahs' rom wuosS
sseDt 10 the Justice Of remark made by a distiD-
uisbed politician from Ohio, who, coming cut Of
he hons. in Hancock Avenue said, f" Nothing is Q
atirfact preOf Of the presence Of disembodied
pirits, which easily be explained on the suppo-
itcn of muscular strength and adroitness in tho
medium
The fourth performance is nothing at all astOnish-
ing, and can very readily be initiated.
The fifth operation is n new one t0 me, and can
only guess at the Rodxs Operaadi The dif6culty Of
coDcevmR how the thighs can be tied down TO
chair with handkerchief as tn prevent the persoa
in the dark from slipping the band below the knee
and then replacing it-and the wellknOw fact
which Oliver forsets u give ~, that thfs medium
wears soft slppers-woud make guessing easy, wefo
it not that Oliver thinks he d,mly saw the mediurs
sitting quietly. But certainly, Oliver would ms
have NE admit the stupendoxs fact &c spiritusi NJ
tercourse on the accuracy of his vision in "''~
room. A,
Oliver concludes with the testimony Of the gssNs
man at whose house these things take pace
observation on the moral evidence ~ ~ .a
The testimony of the gentleman sgoa as s va as
goes. He has seen things done u the ,lsat sSs 20
cross.questioning him, Oliver will hnd .oas Sna. az
has actually seen in the light has oeen result, . J%s
not operations. He has seen penc,' ISsy 49,
after il was thrown on the hoor-ou' 90 an ~; "a
| it hare the floor. l. too, have caused gen.u -
nav hands were lns at rest, and have done it with
out any previously arranged aPpsrstas; r,.-
! Az for mora considerations Oliver d0es not Ho0"