The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-12-23
"A SSance.

| Saturday evening we avaed ourselves of the
| invitation Of an old acquaintance to meet a
| few friends at his residence, where there would
| be an exhibition of those phenomena known
| as the spirit manifesto TONS About thirty
| persons were present, the most of whom would
be classified as srirtualists. The medium was
Mr. Allen from Canaan, VT, who is travel.
ing with another gentleman, who is evidently
master of ceremonies so to speak. The mani
festations were to consist of performances up.
on several instruments, including a harpsicord,
guitar tambourine and several bells These
were placed on chair behind screen, which
was simply shawl reaching up about five feet
from the floor and about two feet from the wall
OF the room. We examined the whole ar
rangement as it was put up, and afterwards,
and are satisfied that whatever else it might
be it was not an imposition or trick. Outside
of the screen chair with high back was
placed and alongside of it another chair in
which the medium sat- These preparations
being completed the audience was grouped in a
half circle in front of the screen, two or three
unbelievers being set in front. The room was
well though not brilliantly lighted by lamp
standing on the piano in the other end of the
room. The medium took his position and DR..
Hopkins occupied the other chair. The me-
dunn put one hand upon the Doctors arm and
the other upon his wrist. A small cloth cover
was thrown over the arm and hands by the
medium. At this juncture lady was called
upon to perform upon the piano which was in
terspersed with vocal music, ranging from Old
Hundred to some of the popular songs. The
audience waited some time, but no demonstra-
tions beyond few rappings was made unil Mr..
j. Is. Hall took the chair, and a gentlema not
q believer" was asked to preside at the piano.
After some delay the so called spirits appeared
but did nothing beyond knocking the instru-
ments upon the floor and retiring. These were
again adjusted, but five, ten, fifteen minutes
elapsed, during which period the spirits were
wooed by various musical performance. At
length when many of the believers were de-
Spending and the unbelievers were pleasing
themselves with tie idea that they had broken
the charm, all of sudden the most violent
demonstrations were made A tongueless bell
was thrown over the screen, the guitar was
thrown over the screen near the medium with
some force, and the tamborine flew from one
end of the screen to the other just at the top.
and the medium writhed in contortions which
were shared by others in the room who were
mediums. Soon, however, the ''spirits"-we
use the tern for want of better one-quieted
down, took back the guitar and commenced
playing tune which the medium was whistl-
ing, using all the instruments in the best time
and max ing gerry agreeable music to which
many of the company kept time. Several
pieces followed with such curious variations as
humping the mediums head, a la the end men
of negro concert, and then striking this indi-
vidual with unseen hands, as he averred. A
small pocket inkstand was taken from his
pocket and thrown out into the audience; a
white hand with three sharp fingers appeared
over the screen and clenched white fists with
one black one by way Of variety. Mr.. Hall
reached his hand back to the top of the screen,
which was loudly slapped. Indeed the spirits
were not so civil as good spirits should be-
These and many other demonstrations took
place. The reporter then took Mr.. Halls
place and the medium placed his hands upon
our arm We had not been there half min
ute when the medium had a sharp spasm and
gave the arm nervous grasp as the whole
musical establishment was thrown with vo- I
lence over the screen towards the audience.
The master of ceremonies said that the spirits
had left and would not appear again.
We have but briefly noticed a small portion of
the manifestations which were all in this line.
We are not believer and do believe that this
seemingly supernatural phenomena will some
day be as generally understood as is electro
magnetism now. Bnt is is due to those who
caused the manifestations noticed, to add that
there was no fraud, no cheat, no room behind
the screen for an imposter and the medium sat
perfectly still all the while, with his hands re-
naming in the positions named Indeed had
his hands been at liberty the performances
were 20 far from him that he could not have
produced them. The above is simply report
of what we SaW-nO more no less