Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-31

experiments further. we attained the capa-
citv m execute feats much more remarkable
than those presented at any Of the "spiri-
tnal seaneesn An American gentleman and
myself took the part Of the media" and
the rest of the company assisted and i do
not hesitate to say that we oladid anything
euer ATTEMPTED or accomplished By Hume, or the
Dapenrorfs or any Of the other more notori-
Gus spiritual exhibitors.
Not the least Of our discoveries was that
the whole thing was a myth. We did all
that the spiritualist did, and more; but we
were our own agents" and had no need OF
recourse 10 supernatural influences, had we
had the power 10 command them. We COM
menced our seanccs in a spirit Of legitimate
investigation: we continued them Tor the
sake of the amusement they gave ourselves
and our friends. We became famous IN
small wav. We had TO start an engagement
book. and to make appointments. People
came from all parts Of America, and waited
for their turn. We got into larger line OF
business than any Of the professional exhibit
tors. and we were extensively patronized,
The only difference was we didn't charge
ANYTHING. We took no money directly or
Indirectly. Our entertainment, being free,
was literally supported; and when L add
that the evenings invariably wound up with
a iolly little supper, given solely at our own
expense. IL NAV be understood that The
Miracle Club" was much favored and warm
ly encouraged. The indulgence Of our love
Of fun cost us some money but yielded us an
immensity of pleasure. To speak colioqul-
ally. twas an extensive but expensive sell"
We did put pens under the table and get
signatures of Shakespeare and Garrick and
other valuable autographs; we did produce
spirit hands and spirit forms; people did
float in the air-at least we made our audi
ence really believe they did-which was
quite sufficient for our purpose and theirs
We exhibited phenomena which were start
ling enough. in all conscience, and we made
our visitors believe in their reality. How
we succeeded in doing this-how we made
some of the most intelligent men in America
believe that they really saw ana felt what
they fancied they saw and felt--how we pro-
duced results the causes of which were not
apparent TO the physical senses Of the spec
tators-how, in fine, we did things which
must have seemed to be, and what many of
our visitors believed to be supernatural and
miraculous-I do not intend TO explain. We
did them. how we did them / do not feel
disposed 10 declare; but l have not the
slightest hesitation in saying that we dld not
do them by spiritual agencies. Yet probes
SIGNALS and paid "media" came and saw,
and themselves avowed our superior power
over the spirits"
/ have been told by scientific persons
even in this city where / am now residing
that l am wonderful psychologist"
1t is extremely pleasant and very iiatterlng
TO be told that Perhaps l am wonder
full psychologist hope / am, but doubt
It. At all events, whatever psychological or
quasi spiritual powers l may possess, l have
never exhibited them in public; l have
never made money by displaying them; 1
have recognized the difference between per-
forming an interesting and amusing delusion
to entertain myself and private company,
and swindling the public by taking guineas
from people for showing them, as spiritual
manifestations" feats that / could perform
by physical and mechanical forces of my
own.
| do not know the Messrs. Davenport;
/ never saw them but once, when l paid
some fifteen shillings. believe, and came
away powerfully impressed with the con-
yiction that either their supporters or be-
LEVERS were mad or that | was, and with
comfortable belief in my own sanity. | had
nothing to do with their memorable expo
sures in England and France.
The object Of this writer in the Spiritual
Magazine has been to represent me as having
exhibited spiritual manifestations in
America, and having exposed them here.
have stated, hope clearly, that did pro-
duce all the manifestations and did exhi-
bit them, but they were not spiritual" and
/ did not exhibit them in public, nor for
money. / therefore consider myself free
from the imputations of having obtained
money under false pretenses, encouraged
idle superstitions, or perpetrated bias
phemous burlesques Of sacred things. i
look upon every spiritualist as either an inn
poster or an idiot. regard every spiritual
exhibitor who makes money by his exhibit
tions a swindler The things that these
people do are not done by spiritual or super
natural means. / have done all that they
can do, and more. The history Of spiritual
ism" in this country and in America is, on
the one hand, chronicle Of imbecility,
cowardly terror of the supernatural, willful
self-delusion and irreligion and the other OF
fraud, and impudent chicanery, and bias
phemous indecency. I do not say there are
not more things in heaven and earth than
are dreamed of in our philosophy but | do
say that, as the result of such a practical in
vestigation of "spiritualism" as l believe
few other men have made, must honestly
and fearlessly denounce it as a mockery, a
delusion, snare and a swindle.
Z. A. SoTHERN.
THEATRE ROYAL. GLASGOW, Dec. 6, 1865.