The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-29

actresses 1t would have been non
the worse If it had been; but in reaIit,
1t was composed of twelve gentlemen 8
nigh position in their respective profes
sions, who actuated by common curi
oslty and interest, joined in thorough
practical, and exhaustive investicatio,
OF the phenomena of "spiritualisrn.U
we were quite ready for either result
TO believe 1t If 1t were true to reject +
II found false; and in the latter case 7. Al
least, resolved in due time to expose II
For more than two years we had weekly
meetings. At these, by practice, We
nad succeeded in producing not only ali
the wonderful manifestations, of the
professional "media," but other effects
still more startling. We simple tried to
reproduce the appearance and the results
which we had heard of, and read of, and
seen-and we succeeded. Pushing our
practice and experiments further. we at
tanned the capacity to execute feats
much more remarkable than those pre-
sented at any of the spiritual seances. u
An American gentleman and myself
took the part of the "media," and the
resi- or the company assisted; and I do
not hesitate to say that we outdid any,
thing ever attempted or accomplished
Dy Home, or the Davenports, or any of
the other more notorious spiritual ex-
Not the least of our discoveries was
tnat the whole thing was a myth. We
ana all that the spirtualists did, and
more put we were our own agents
ana had no need of recourse to SUPER
natural influences, had we had the
power to command them. We COM
menced our sed,'ces in a spirit of Iegiti-
mate Investigation; we continued them
lor the sake OF The amusement they gave
ourselves and our friends. We became
famous in small way We had TO
start an engagement book, and to make
People came from all
parts Of America, and waited for their
turn. We got into larger line of bust
ness IMAM any of the professional exhi- |
oitors' ana we were extensively patro-
nized: The only difference was we
lldht charge anything. We took no |
money directly or indirectly. Our Ell.
.ertaihment, being free, was literally |
supported, and when ! add that the |
evenings Invariably wound up with a |
oily little supper, given solely at our
, Mv expense, It may be understood that |
A'aot5 ~ NiIClC WAS llllcn favored
ln0 warmly encouraged.
The indulgence of our love of finn cost
IS some money, but yielded us an i'm
nensity of pleasure. 10 speak colo
Iuially, it was an extensive but expen.
i've "sell." We did not put pens under
he table and get signatures of Shak-
peare and Garrick and other valuable
autographs; we did produce spirit hands
nj spirit forms; people did float in the
ir-at least we made our audiences
eaily believe they did-which was
ute sufficient for our purpose and
heirs. We exhibited phenomena which
'ere startling enough, in all conscience.
M we made our visitors believe i'm
leir reality. How we succeeded i'm
olng this--hOw we made some of the a..
lost Intelligent men in America be- :
eve that they really saw and felt what u,
icy only fancied they saw and felt
oW we produced results the causes of !,
men were not apparent to the physical
'nses OF the spectators-hOw, in fine.
e did things which must have seemed :
be, ana what many of our visitors n
siieved to DO, supernatural and mirac-
ous-l do not intend to explain. We
Il them; how we did them do not a
ell disposed to declare; but have not I
70 slightest hesitation in saying that .
did not do them by spiritual agen- .
esa Yet professional and paid "mediau II
me and saw, and themselves avowed p
Y superior power over the spirits.u =
/ have been told by many scientific u
in this city where / am ~
w residing-tbat am "wonderful j
ychologist." II is extremely pleasant Is
a very nnftering to be told that. Per-
ps am wonderful psychologist :" nj
nope ! am, but 1 doubt il. At an IS
ents, whatever psychologist cal or quasi W
ritual powers | may possess, ! have 80
yer exhibited them in public; have Of
yer made money by displaying them: "
have recognized the difference he ii
cen performing an interesting and
lusing delusiOn to entertain myself gu
private company and swindling be
pubiic by taking guineas from people on
showing them, as spiritual mani ar
Iatlons," feats which ! could perform be
physical and mechanical forces of
own. 4a esl
do not know the Messrs. Davenport: b" h."
ever saw them but once, when paid We
ne fifteen shillings, | believe. and a.
ne away powerfully impressed with I 10
conviction that either their sllpDort-
and believers were mad or that l
), and yet with a comfortable belief SUI
NV own sanity had ~ ,th;u e ha
q their memorable exposures in Eng WI
d and France. ms
lie object of this writer in the lie
ritual Magazine has been to repre-
me as having exhibited spiritual Co
in America, and having HO
osed them here. / have stated. / ito
o clearly, that | did produce all the by
and did exhibit them: Z
they were not spiritual" and | did Ro
exhibit them I'm public for money. Ro.
erelore consider myself free from live
impntatiOns of having obtained tot.
icy under falsepretences, encouraged r
superstitions, or perpetrated bias ono
nous burlesques OF sacred things. La
upon every spiritualist as either an 60 g."
oster or an idiot. l regard every GRO a
tllal exhibitor who makes money sc,
lis exhibitions as swindler. 'o1,
ne things that these people do are ~
zone by spiritual or supernatural VT
ms, | know that. | have proved frit
I have done ali that thew can do tim,
more. The history of Hsnir;tuaI egat
in this country and i'm America is of p
ne one hand, a chronicle of imbe- b
7, cowardly terror of the super of
raj, wiliul self-delusion and ire cleo
u, ana on the other of fraud and omy
ldent GhlCanery and hlasphemOus Vers
;ency.. do not say that there are &c
more things in heaven and earth the
are dreamed of in our philosophy; ingt,
do say that, as the result of such II is
'cul investigation OF "spiritualism' Dou,
elieve few other men have made. blocl
81 INnn lIxr., n