The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-20
SPIRITS.
An InterestInG Interview with InosrpsreaI De
parted Friends-Whose spirits Were Present
nsd whose Were NOt-A Chapter from the
Ann ais of spirltuaI1su,

Last evening most interesting sednce in the
interests Of the art called splritua.sm was held
In pameless locality by nameless lady and
her assistants, at which nameless results were
attained. For the benefit of those who may be
interested full report of the proceedings is here
given.
gregate has small hall, furnished with about q
dozen benches, on which we're seated about half
hundred of corporeal beings, skeptical or other
wise. On small platform in front we're arranged
various contrivances TO aid in any physical
manifestations which might be expected, such
as bells, iron rings ropes, speaktng-trumpets,
wire cages, ard the like. When the hour APP
pointed had long passed, fair looking lady
mounted the platform and proceeded to arrange
the parapbernalia, announcing herself to the
audience as the owner of the medium, her son,
who was to exhibit there and then. She said that,
a condition of spiritual manifestation, silence
and darkness must he maintained at all hazards,
and appealed feeliDgly TO the audience, asking
that no matches be struck upon the walls while
the lights were out, or other disturbance created,
IRON which appeal it might be inferred that
such things were not CT uncommon occurrence.
BY way of threat, she added that the exhibition
was under the protection of the Mayor of the
city, as we're all other religious societies. but
did not deign to notice the fact that an admis-
sion fee of twenty-five cents per capita was
charged by this society," which brought 1t more
under the head of q Slgnor Blitz performance
which neither Mayor nor citizens would protect
If giveH on Sunday evening.
AS it was impossible for the whole audience
to inspect the operations closely, such thing
being fatal to the spiritual operations, commit
tee of two from the skeptics in the audience was
requested, to whom the critical powers of the
audience might be delegated.
An individual who had been conspicuous
earlier in the evening by reason of his oticious-
ness in arranging chairs, tables, and apparatus
in the right positions on the platform, thereupon
arose and nominated a gentleman in the au-
dence Casually, of course) as a committeeman,
yUh xyp far In tuaI
than skeptcal circles. Another gentleman
offered himself and was accepted, and the two
stepping forward all the lights were extnguished
save one, drop-light on the table of the me-
diums mistress table, which was alternately
lighted or lowered during the evening as the
spirit called for darkness or light. The shutters,
hitherto open, were made fast, and all things
being ready the performance began.
The first question asked in the black darkness
by the lady of her son, the medium, or of the
spirit or spirits acting through the medium, was
whether the spirit of Colonel McSomebody was
present To this the spirit gave q negative by
one gentle tap with his fingers upon the table.
Colonel McSomebody, it may be mentioned, was
a member of a Connecticut regiment, and was
killed during the late war, since which time he
bad taken in charge the medium mentioned as
his vcegerent upon earth, and has devoted him
self entirely, through the mediums aid, TO per-
fecting such little tricks as might be pleasing
to the general public, such as the tying. and un-
tying of knots, the ringing Of bells,
the making of the vocal organs to sound
in a sepulchral manner, the balancing
of chairs upon the head, and the fastening
of iron rings upon the wrists. 1t being thus
announced that the regular stage manager was
not present, 1t was thought expedient to find
out why he was not present This question was
accordingly asked. The spirit who had kindly
consented to supply the place of the Colonel
stated that he did not know why he was not
present, and left it to the audience to conjecture
either that the gentleman had found more
profitable engagement elsewhere, or that he had
been arrested by subterranean policeman for
running to Internal fires, which it might be
supposed had by this time lost their
novelty. But in, few minutes the
substitute announced that he had sent for the
Colonel, who had started to come. The telegraph
in those regions works quicker than ours, but
the means of locomotion are defective, as the
Colonel did not arrive during the evening. The
medium said that the substituting spirit was an
Indian, on the receipt of which information we
were fam to leave the accursed spot, but finding
that the Indian understood the English language
perfectly, we calmed our fears and remained in
the interest OF our readers. The Indian spirit
was not as successful in his working as the
Colonel, owing probably to some evil power in
one of the committee, who certainly appeared
to be skeptic.
After this information had been elected, the
table light was lit, and the committee were re-
quested TO tie the medium firmly to his chair so
that he could not unite himself. This was done
several times, and each time that the light went
out straining aud tugging most heart-rending
| chair and medium, and on the spirit calling for
| a light, the medium was observed entirely free
| from all restraint But it was also noticed that
whenever committeeman No. tied the tied the
victim there was no difficulty experienced by the
| spirits in untying the knots but whenever com.
| mitteeman No. 2 did the work, the time required
| was much longer, and sometimes the job failed
| entirely in which event the failure was attri-
buted to the absence of Colonel McSomebody.
| The knot trick having become somewhat
stale, gold ring trick was tried, but with no
| success. The victim was tied to prevent his
aiding himself, but the spirits were either obsti-
nate or did not understand their orders. All
| they would do was to unite the medium, or when
| united to tie his wrists together In close
| proximity to the mouth, which tie the committee
found no difficulty in undoing. This course oi
action was persisted in by the Indian to the
| verge of the monotonous, so much so as to cause
| committeeman No. 1, who appeared to be
slightly profane Throughout, TO remark with more
truth than polteness that he, the Indian, was "a
| hi of spirit"
Other tricks were attempted, but with but
| little better success. The spirit did indeed
| succeed in placing a solid C?) iron ring two
inches in diameter, which had been placed upon
| chair within the distance of a foot or So
upon the wrist of the manacled medium, bul
the order was to place similar ring upon the
other wrist also. While the light was out al
ominous sound was heard, such as is made by
an iron ring falling and rolling upon the ground
and when the call Eight" was given, one ring
| was found on the wrist as before stated, but
the other was found ON the floor at more thar
the distance of foot or so. After this failure
the spirit could not be prevailed upon to have
anything more to do with rings. and whenever
the light was put out took to his old tricks ol
| tying and untying.
A member of the audience attempted to make
| a slight variety by suggesting that the knots bt
tied with the back of the chair to which the
hands were frequently tied, towards the obser
Yers, but this the lady exhibitor explained WoulC
| w