The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-11-03

Correspondence Of the Chicago Universe.
Astounding Phenomena.
LONDON, Enc, Sept. ss, 1869.
Thrilled the other day by the recital of
remarkable experiences contained In q letter
written 10 "a by Signor Damiani, we invol-
UNFAIRLY eaclaimedl "Oh; that this great
throbbing, doubling world could witness
these wonderful phenomena !" A book of
great merit, irter-related with this thought
Of phenomenal spiritualism, has just fallen
into our hands, fresh from the hands Of Wis
count Adare. The introduction, by Earl
Dunrayen, who is on the most intimate
terms with the medium, D. D. Home, xhib-
its a fine taste and high scholarly attain
ments. 9a ;ld .-,'. Ff' f-I 3s, Sea -'i
at has been my aim," says Lord Adare,
/ 'in writing Of these seances of Mr.. Home,
to divest my accounts of all sensational ele
ments and for fear of exaggerating in any
particular. I have simply recorded the bare
facts witnessed. To put down on paper
accurately what others, with myself, have
seen, or to report even the substance of what
is spoken in a trance, is extremely difficult.
1t is well to mention that have
witnessed many persons make, at their first
seance, every effort to account for the phe-
nomena by trickery and mechanical contri-
vance, and failing in that, to reduce them to
the effects of some unknown force. I have
invariably found them, provided the seance
was successful very soon obliged to admit
that these phenomena cannot be accounted
for except on the supposition that they are
caused by an unseen but active and reason
ing intelligence. have printed names in
full, whenever obtaining leave to do so,
knowing how little value Is generally at
tached to statements unsupported by the
testimony of more than one person."
Lord Adare gives to the public, in this
book, the names fifty persons as witnesses of
these spiritual manifestations These indi-
viduals are well known and responsible.
Some belong to the aristocracy, some are
scientists, some are eminent in the pursuits
of literature, and Others in the law, physics,
and the military department. We take
pleasure in furnishing for our readers the
gist of some of the wonders seen at these
seances, and recorded by Lord Adare.
BEANIE NJ. 1--bdAUOW1 rOhMS-lNN ISL
avg BILE ACCORDION PLAYERS.
"During this sitting, in the presence of
DR.. Gully, Mr.. Earl, Mrs Thayer, and others,
the table began to vibrate with great rapid
ity, and danced around the room in various
directions 1t was tilted up to an angle
greater than forty-6ve degrees. The sur
face was smooth, polished mahogany, yet
the candles, paper, and pencil did not move.
Feeling cold currents of air pass across my
face and hands, chair standing against the
wall, at distance of perhaps, five yards.
came suddenly away from the wall, and
placed itself beside me at the table. The
effect was startling. Mrs. Thayer saw
shadowy form standing between Home and
myself: I was touched lightly upon the head
An accordion was brought; Home took it,
holding the lower part with the keys hang
ing over the edge of the table, when it be-
gan tune resembling voluntary upon the
organ the melody was perfect, and the ex-
preston beautiful. While the ACCORDION
was being played looked at it two or three
times under the table. All was permitted to
do the same demonstrating the fact that it
was played without visible hands,
SPIRIT BIRDS
Present, Mr.. Jenckin, Mrs, Jenckin, Mrs.
Heming, Mr.. Russell, and others. The man.
ifestations commenced with the usual vibra-
ton of the floor and our chairs, and also the
cold currents of air passing over the hands
OF those present. Curious sounds were heard
something between the chlrping of bird
and the whistling produced by birds wings
Soon the spirit voice was heard distinctly
During the time of the rustling of the birds
wings and the spirit voices, Mr.. Home en-
gagged in social conversation. showing that
the sounds were not produced by ventrilo-
quism.
~ FLOATING TABLES.
Present, Lady Galway, Lord Adare, Mrs.
Scott Russell, and Others. A very large ia.
Bile, seven feet long and five wide, vibrated,
at first strongly, and then sprang forward
violently, as though forced by mighty,
mysterious power The table was lifted in
the air, and vibrated sufficiently strong, at a
later hour in the evening, to be felt in the
next house. Music was heard, and other
remarkable manifestations, demonstrating
the reality of future existence.
| LORD LIFTED IN THE AIR BY UNSEEN
| HANDS.
During this sitting the scene was exceed
| ingly harmonious. Mr.. Home. entranced,
spoke beautifully and was elongated, from
his natural height, five feet ten inches, to six
feet four. Lord Dunraven placed his hands
on his feet, and they were fairly OH the floor;
Others unbuttnned his coat and he was elon-
gated again; the space between his waist
coat and the waistband of his pantaloons
being four or five inches. He also grew in
breadth and size all over, but there was no
way of testing to what extent. Spirit-voices
were heard, and spirit-forms were seen.
HORRIBLE GRAVEYARD NOMINATIONS.
Lord Dunraven, Charles Wynne, Home,
and Lord Adare went to the Abbey, and
while standing near the altar, Home was en-
tranced, and by the expression Of his face
appeared to be in great agony. His head
and hands became luminous An owl flew
round the Old Abbey screeching. I attrib
uted the noise at first to Home, but as he
passed me he said in most awful voice
mo, it is not me you are mistaken" he
kneeled upon the ground, waved his hands
and, appearing in great distress, said DO
you see that tombstone with a light shining
upon it? 1t would be better, million times
better, to lie there in the cold dark clay thar
to spend years upon years, every moment of
which is an eternity, in wandering here. Oh,
am so weary-so wearym Soon he awoke
from his trance in a nervous state. En-
tranced again we saw him approaching. an6
evidently raised from off the ground, for he
floated by in front of US at height which
carried him over broken wall, which was
about two feet high. There could not be
better test of his being entirely off thu
ground, for, as he crossed the wall, he wa
quite horizontal, and uniform in movement
The distance that we saw him carried mus
have been at least ten or twelve yartls
THE GHOST OF AN ANCIENT MONK.
When Home came out of the trance, h
seemed excited, and remembered that pre-
vious to losing his consciousness he had beer
walking about with man dressed like
friar in brown gown--a costume common
to this order in the Catholic Church. Th,
spirlt-the friar-told Home he was unaIl
to leave the earth. Some psychologist Law
seemed to hold him to the old scenes of hi
mortal life. Finally be was led back to tn
church, where he kneeled and prayed Upol
coming to himselfhe told us the spirit woul,
be better and happier for what had trans
pired that night. As we were about to leav
Home saw figure in the air, Charlie Wynn
and myself both saw the shadow NOV
across the window.
MR.. HOME FLYING In THE AIR.
After little quiet, Home was taken u
in the air and carried out of one window
and brought into the window of anothe
room. During the session there was tn
rushing sound of wind, the CHIPPING of
bird heard, and luminous emanations aroun
! Homes head, which, at times, changed int
the form of tongues or jets of flame The
entranced again, he spoke in an unkn"w