Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-02-17

six feet long and two and half feet
deep, the front consisting Of three doors
opening outward. In each end is a seat
with holes through which the ropes can
be passed in securing the mediums. In
the upper part Of the middle door is a
lozenge-shaped aperture, curtained on
the inside with black muslin or oilcloth.
The bolts are on the inside Of the door
The mediums are generally first tied
by. A committee Of two gentlemen ap-
pointed from the audience. The doors
Of the cabinet are then closed those at
the ends first, and then the middle one.
BY the time the end doors are closed
and bolted, the Dayenports, in many in
stances, have succeeded in loosing the
knots next their wrists, and slipping
their hands out, the latter then being
exhibited at the aperture. II does not
take the mediums long to draw the
knots close 10 their wrists again. They
are then ready to be inspected by the
committee, who report them tied as they
were left Supposing them to have been
securely bound, those who witness the
show are very naturally astonished.
Sometimes after being tied by tire
committee the mediums cannot extri-
cate their hands and get them back as
they we're in which case they release
themselves entirely from the ropes be-
fore the doors are again opened, con-
cluding to wait till after the spirit"
have bound them before showing hands
or making music.
1t is a common thing for these inn
posters to give the rope between their
hands twist while their limbs are be-
ing bound, and that movement, if dex-
terously made while the attention of
the committeeman is momentarily di-
verted, is not likely to be detected. Re
versing the movement will let the hand
out.
The great point with the Davenports
in tying themselves is to have knot
next their wrists that looks fair and
square" at the same time that they can
shift it and get their hands out in a
moment.
If -four has been placed in their
hands, it makes no difference as to their
getting those members out of or into
the ropes; but to show hands at the
aperture, or to make noise on the musi-
cal instruments, it is necessary that they
should get the -four out Of one hand
into the other The moisture of the
hand and squeezing packs the -four into
a lump, which can be laid into the other
hand and returned without losing any.
The little -four that adheres to the hand
can be wiped off in the pantaloons'
pocket. The mediums seldom, if ever,
take -four in their hands while they are
in the bonds put upon them by the com
mittee. aIa4 .ut
The principal part of the show is after
the tying has been done in their own
way. Mr.. Fay, who accompanies the
is thus fixed when the hypo
thetical spirit takes the coat off his back.
AS before remarked, there are several
ways in which mediums tie themselves.
They always do it, however, in such
maner that, though the tying looks Sc
cure they can Immediately get one or
both hands ont. Let committees insist
upon untying the knots of the spirits,
whether the mediums are willing or not.
A little critical observation will enable
them to learn the trick.
If the Davenports were exhibiting
simply as jugglers, Imight admire their
dexterity, and have nothing to say
against them ;-but when they presumptu-
ously pretend to deal in things spirit
ual,P j consider it my duty, while treat
ing of humbugs, to do this much at least
in exposing them.