The New York herald., 1868-12-16
SPIRITUAL MEDIUMS.


| Inspirational Orator and Logician-The
| Humbvs Of Clairv0yancy-(;uessing Subj
| limated Science-Eact and Fiction In Strik.
| ing Contrast-AIasculine Mediums Attempt-
ing the AHlnifat Dodge ON Their Lady Vis-
hors.
OF all the varied species OF arrant humbugs the
spirtualstic species-fOr the growing prevalence OF
tins class OF charlatanism entities IL to the name OF
special specles-is decidedly the worst, the most
objectionable OF all modern Frauds the meanest and
West Of all human, or rather inhunan rickery. IL
deals with the strongest, weakest point of our COM
mon humanity or, 1t would be better and more
truthfully expressed, with our commonest humani-
ty, those OF weaker intellects and more
imaginative and susceptible mental organ
isms-for no one, we claim, OF terse
vigor OF intellect, Of strong native energy OF
VIII and everyday, practical, common sense views
OF lie ana Its duties can be humbugged by the most
skilled exhibitions OF these sprtuastic ugglers, or
hoodwinked by the pomp0us periods OF its sacre-
gious seers or baser satellites No one has any idea
OF the number OF these sprituastic thimblerggers-
we can call them by no milder Understanding in
our city, these people OF pretended potency as me-
diums, these exorcisers OF the spirits of the dead,
these pseudo revelators OF our past history, with
equal capacity to unfold our exact present sur
roundngs and present at the same time faithful
panorama OF our future life. There are hundreds
OF them now, and the number promises
soon to become legion. They live and
flourish like the green bay tree-live and
flourish the credulity of Others live on the
fat OF the land and nOurish-the men on the best
broadcoth and beavers and most spotless OF linen,
ana the women in silks and satns and most expen-
sive OF paniers and loudest OF snowy plaids and
pinchbeck ewelry. The guiding principle OF these
people is to live without work, and they hit on to
| no he IL
What Is Spir tuallsm ana now much OF 1t can be be-
lieyed are agltating many. what idea more fascnat
Ing than this that our friends, whom we have we pit
over and buried out OF sight, only really liv-
ing, but actually that conversation possl-
BILE? What cheering thought for those OF us who
have watched our brightest treasures fade and die
have known what IL ID to part with all on
fact that Spritualsm numbers among its
stanchest adherents the speculative, imaglna-
tive and bereaved The desire to believe
thoroughly the truth OF any theory has immense
though sometimes unconscious influence with all
seekers after tests. One of our reporters has been
spending week in visiting some OF the leading spl-
ritual mediums of the city, and gives the following
sample specimens Of the persons visited and results
My first essay in the work OF Investigating spiritual
istic phenomena began on Sunday evening IN attend
ing public meeting of Splritualists where 1t wast
advertised first class nspratonal speaker was to
| edify the audience. There was pretty numerous
| attendance made up OF the usual number Of long
| women. The speaker was introduced, and 1t re-
quired clarvoyant quality to understand tnat We
| were TO be treated 10 D urSL CLASS uumDuB. Sne
| dently not spring chicken-and decked out
with an indescribable amount OF laces and
witches our lady commenced her subject. "The
occupation Of spirits' had been previously an
nounced, and the congregation were informed that
an individual OF considerable earthly celebrity would
inform them on this important topic. Now we were
selves with: and having always heartily sympathized
with the old sailor whO when congratulated by
minister the near approach OF angel life, seriously
NH lnip hnr hu iyh
cloud" l listened intently to a long, super-subl
mated DISCOURSE which had not the slightest anal
ogy to the subject under consideration. There was
the usual spherical bombast but, shades Of Lindley
Murray what grammar. At the close OF the eXer-
cises approached the speaker.
"You spoke Of the spirit who controlled you"
remarked, las being that OF q very celebrated man
in his life on this earth. May inquire his names'
arms, "Daniel Webster.n
is it to be supposed that any sane, educated per-
after hearing this could be made to believe that
woman anything save detestable fraud 2 That un-
grammatical, unrhetOrical twaddle an emanation
lous % But there we're those present who from the
Beraphc expression on their elongated faces actually
dollars wo Of ese ee
lures dictated by the spirit OF Daniel webster. The
| spirit Of Edward Everett was announced to dictate
her next discourse. 1t is to be hoped that this cul-
| tiyated writer and exqusltey chase orator spoke
better sense through the medium OF better English.
On Monday morning visited place pretty well
| up town. i was ushered into q reception room,
where early 1t was (ten A. M eleven persons had
ana tUSa
| poems by Lizzie Datcn adorned the centre table.
Having to wait for these eleven to be attended to
prospect; so by dint OF o little strategy
obtained an interview with Madame, who promised
me ''sittlng" in an hour and half. Meantime
called on another female medium the neighbor-
hood, whom had the good luck to find alone. After
searching glance at my face and dress she COM
messed trance "mejumsr enter their peculiar con-
dition know how strangely narrowing are the
ffAr
about two minutes Of fearful facial contortion
Madame commenced. Her tone was strangely
~ am your grandmother" she whined out.
"Well, what has grandmother 70 say to meP"
inquired, with view to test the genuneness OF the
| spirit.
"Oh, how you suffer physically ~ continued my
good-naturea progenitor. ~ am with you often
went TO turn my stomach, liver heart and lungs
inside out, UNTIL to my utter surprise found myself
not the possessor OF one healthy orga-had tuber.
culous difficulty OF the left lung, slight bronchial
affection, digestive apparatus considerably impaired,
enlargement OF the liver, spinal weakness and host
OF other ailments.
(Which OF my grandmothers is thisr' inquired
"iour paternal grandparent." was the reply.
"She must have become q graduated M. d. since
her residence in the spirit world" observed
Such Is the case. Poor humanity sto od 80 much
In need OF medical advice and treatment that she
has made 1t speciality" quickly responded the me-
dium.
Now this woman had been totally deceived by my
personal appearance. II ~ my misfortune to pos
certain delicacy OF physique and very little
color; but as my digestion almost equals that OF
ostrich and my lungs can bear four miles Of quick
walking on cold, bracng day declined, therefore,
purchasing numberless liquids OF Madames concoc.
ton, which, as an especial favor, she would sell at
the low pr1cc OF one dollar per bottle. Notwith-
standing my grand maternal progenitor's earnest
entreaty and expostulaton renamed iirm on this
point and, after paying the usual fee, departed.
Leaving my grandmother's spirit to find its own
way back to the spiritland the best way 1t could
returned to my first calling place. BY the time
arrived at this latter locality the excitement aud the
walk had transformed me into very different look
ing person. This woman, now that we were about
TO enter on business, gave me quizzica examina-
tion, but proceeded TO her business in very diff.
ferent manner from the one with less Of the jerk
and more Of the lackadaislcal.
"Did you come to consult me about any domestic
inharmony fr was the first question.
"You advertise, Madame" answered, s'to tell
past, present and future events. shall be perfectly
satisfied you will conne yourself to facts concern
ing the first two points for the present.
al see little girl standing by your sde," she re.
marked. slightly nOnplussed. 'I cannot tell whether