Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-07-10
SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHS.


How progresses your investigation
into the subject of spirit photography? ;"
is the tenor of numerous letters of which
we are in daily receipt. We shall en-
deavor to answer this query as fully and
fairly as possible. A few weeks since
we,said that facilities were to be afforded
to us for examining the alleged phe-
nomena of spirit photography in. the
studio of Mr.. Hudson, of Holloway road,
who produced them professionally; but
about the time that we intended to avail
ourselves of this facility, circumstances
occurred which determined US to con
duct our experiments away from any
place where spirit photographs were
being produced for profit. We accord
ingly took advantage of an effer kindly
made by Mr.. Guppy that we should join
him in having thorough, scientific and
systematic investigation in aroom of his
hohe set apart for the purpose, aided by
the well-known mediumistic gifts of Mrs.
Guppy. The present state of Mrs. Cup
pys health, however, renders Temporal
ry cessation of these experiments not
only expedient but necessary. They will
be resumed after a while. So far as con-
cerned the obtaining a photograph Of
any other than our sitter as seen by our
mortal vision, the result was simply neg
alive; our eyes have not yet been glad
dened by the appearance of anything Of
spiritual nature. We have however,
obtained numerous good and well-lighted
portraits under circumstances which will
yield valuable materials for subsequent
articles. 1t may here be asked why we
did not visit Mr.. Hudson's studio, where
spirit photographs were being produced
day by day. Our reply is this: The
publication of letter by Mr.. Guppy in
orr impression Of May 3d. the epayport Of
which was chat, although he was instru-
mental in first bringing the subject un-
der public notice, he declined vouching
for the bona fides of all but the very few
taken in his own presence and under his
own conditions-the publication of this
letter, we say caused us to examine
somewhat closely number Of spirit
photographs" as pFodHcea to order by
Mr.. Hudson, and sold by him az genuine,
in the ordinary course Of business. We
confess to feeling Of surprise how any
photographer could be so blinded as not
to SOC that such productions would be
certain to BroYoke z perfect storm Of
hostile criticism; foT mora reckless laqlf-
ference to the necessity for removing
those features from which photographers
Of eFdiHsFT Intelligence were certain to
dednce inpostafs We have never seen.
il would almost appear as if Mr. Hud-
son had been aware of only one way of
producing spirit photographs, viz: pho,
tographing his ghost clad in the usuul
white habiliments, and then keeping the
plate in bath either of nitrate of silver
or Of distilled water until sitter came,
when the image Of the latter person was
taken on the same plate, the ghost being,
OF course. developed with the other.
Our reasons for this supposition are
founded on a consideration of the follow
ing circumstances: 1t happens that
there is a defect in Mr.. Hudson's back
ground, namely, tear Of triangular
form. This defect we saw very clearly
in a photograph taken by him, and on
which there was no spirit. Now IT
eurionsly enough happens that in
some Of the spirit photographs this
mark appears in different parts OF
the same picture. usually bearing the
same relationship to both sitter and
ghosts; that is to say, whether the ghost
be high up or low down on the plate this
mark has the same relationship to the
ghosts head assuming it 20 have been
standing in certain part Of the studio)
as the same mark repeated has 10 the
head Of the sitter. Sometimes, although
not always, these palpable evidences Of
double exposure are hidden BY paint
upon the photograph; the application Of
the tongue has, however, suiilced to lay
many OF them bare. Another proof Of