The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-04
THE SPiRlTUALISTS.

Mr.. COnlklin Turns a Penny with Reminds
ccnces.
Mr.. J. b. COnklin related last evening his expert
ences as a spiritual medium with the "Queen OF
England. President Lincoln aud Others" though be-
fore the mediumistc individual had fairly arrived Of
the others the audience, having listened long, had
mostly effected retreat from the hall. 1t the
traditional gathering, ut DOdw0rth Hail. the tradi
tional gathering place, though there were some
rather untradtiOnal features about the assemblage
even for so promscuous place as DodwOrth Hall
Of Sunday evening. The Sprituaists who were
present and who, it may be taken for granted were
present-to be ediiedafer their peculiar manner OF
edfcation-were few; while the unregenerate-poor
fellows who have no more respect for o real me-
dunn Of the first water than they have for
gymnast, were many. 1t was an ex-
ceedngly unappreciative assemblage, on the
whoje-an assembage with an odor of rather rank
tobacco clinging to Its SKIRTS which cooly turned
up its great hydra face at Mr.. Conklin and coolly
surveyed that individual he crept down the aisle
with all the noisclessness Of thing that crawls
all tours and took his place at the desk-a thin,
wiry, emaciated gentleman, who looked as If the
vitality had all been pumped out Of him. leaving moth
ing but sort Of mummy in the place OF what had
once been man. cadaverous face, as II by some
accident the individuals blood had been all turned
to water II by long subsistence upon vegetable
diet the vermiliOn had all been washed out OF 1t;
shock Of frOwsy hair that stood up all over the
head which It enveoped and stood up OF
it, own strength, with sort OF persistent capillary
weird wonderful eyes, that absolutely giittered, and
were the only things In the whole face that indi-
Gated that it was not dead face; soft, singular.
half-demented, metallic sort Of voice that never
seemed TO issue from the individuals mouth ut all,
but rather from the individuals pocket from any
the constituent parts Of OF the oldest impersona
tons Of absurdty that opened its mouth, even
real and well authenticated spirits. every one Of
them just from the other world and having the Gre
denals In his pocket to prove 1t.
Having crawed stealthily upon the platform and
taken his seat 1t was one naturally Of the odd ind
viduaity at the desk; and the absolute surprise OF
everybody when the individual arose, opened those
weird eyes with black rings around them and spoke.
could hardly have been equalled by that Of Mr. Elery
Anderson had one of his pet mumines taken into his
embalmed head to get up, make an Egyptian toilet in
the fashion Of Thebes and breakfast with his present
proprietor. The individuals eyes were the only
things about him that did not seem TO be deadabsO-
lutely dead-and they rolled about In his head and
winked after the most ordinary fashion; and when
it was just possible that one might fancy
he detected a cadaverous sort Of edluvia
the streets with his eyes shut one would have been
likely TO wonder how he got out OF his coffin or
OF his case, and might have insisted perhaps upon
which unfortunately had not been buried 80 deep but
that II had gotten up again. About Mr.. Conklin's
experiences with The Queen-for Mr.. Conklin had
made the most Of his singuarty, having hawked
himself about considerably for exhibtiOnthere was
nothing especially salient, though about his remnis-
cences Of Mr. Lincoln there was somewhat more
humorous interest. lie had had, he related, nine
teen slings with Mr.. Lincoln, having first visited
the Presdcn nc about the time Of the Balls Bluff disas
ter. His nrst call WAS made at the White House.
when he sent In 10y friend, whose name was =. p
Case letter informing Mr. Lincoln THAI the spirits
had inpeed him (Mr. Conklin) seek him (Mr. Lin
coin for some purpose, Of the purport OF which he m
c. was not aware. Mr.. Lincoln saw him q couple OF
daya after, but after full half hours sitting not a
thing came Of IL, and the President invited him to
come 10 his house the next Sunday. He went but
aiter sitting or an hour and quarter not thing
came Of It. The third time was after the battle at
Balls Bluff, and then lines were scrubbed by
the responding spirit which seemed TO make a deep
ON the President. The few lines constl.
tuted communication from Colonel Baker, and
warned Mr.. Lincoln that his life was In danger
. The President. however, never paid him tMr. Cont-
I'M anything, and as he could not afford TO board
himself at sl5 week and dance attendance upon
mr. Lincoln without some compensation ne ieh
ashngton. lie did not mean 10 accuse Mr.. Lin
coin OF dishonesty littlcness: IL did not probably
occur to the President that he (Mr. Conkln) Deedet
money-though that the President should have failed
70 notice IL reflects no great credit on MS acumen
Mr.. Conklin continued with other experiences, re-
lated In the snRularly muied voice tbat seemed all
the time to be calling from the other world, "C0me,
C0nklin, Ii IL time you were one OF us,' and con-
Guided with an audience somewhat sparser than
when ne began. The inevitable contribution went
round and begged it, pennies being better aware OF
on a former occasion; and Mr.. Conkn went home
better satisfied with the contribution box than nc
had formerly been with the President.