Litchfield enquirer., 1873-07-24
''SPIRITISM." |"

We give the following from an old sub- scriber, suppressing names in some in- stances where the reference made might annoy surviving friends and relatives.
 While these mediums" have a very shrewd way of divining the thoughts of the applicant, and of getting at the knowledge he already has, they are singularly weak in the new information furnished. If, fo, instance, a spirit can see with considera, ble distinctness what passes in this world, as one of them claims to MT. Baldwin, why can they not give us information as to what is going on at distance among the survivors of the Hall Arctic expedi- tion, for instance? If, too, the spirits of departed great men can be really reached through mediums" why do they talk the awful nonsense the mediums always make them, instead of showing the peculiar power they once possessed? Why, too, does an old gentleman in the spirit land who can actually see another spirits thoughts, need to bny the able editors newspaper when he can see all there is in him free gratis?
 MILWAUKEE, WIS. July 18th, 1873
 EDITOR ENQUIRER You invite corres- pondents from your county to send items, and, while I am no longer a resident, I feel that have not altogether lost my claim on my old county. and take it for granted you do not quite disclaim me. Generally there is probably not much in this section that would interest your readers. When I think there is some thing I may take the time to send it. Not that time out here is so precious, but you know anything out of our regular busi- ness we are slow to set ourselves about. l have recently been having some expe- rience with the Mediums" here, and have got some curious things, which, if they entertain and interest you as much as they did myself this letter will do.
 MEDIUMS"
 I suppose it it unnecessary to explain to your readers that these Mediums are Q class of persons connected with Spiritual ism, as the subject is so old every one has heard something about it. Through these Mediums communications are received purporting to be from our departed friends. was induced to go first by 8 friend who was very enthusiastic over it; but, the first time, was quite unsuccess- ful, receiving the explanation that my friends probably had not had practice in controlling Mediums and I must give them another chance. Accordingly after about two months had elapsed since my first sitting, or ''Seance," as it is some times called. I concluded I would ''try the spirits" again. This time they did better. My sister Betsey and brother Jerome came, and I talked with them about an hour. Perhaps I had better ex- plain a little about the process. There are two Mediums hereof this phase, the mental phase as it is called; one is un- conscious, the other conscious, and in the peculiarly passive condition which they are able to assume, it is said spirit can reincarnate itself so to speak, or take pos session of the Mediums organism and control 1t to speak and act as they for merly controlled their own; and, accord ing to the theory, you find yourself con- versing face to face with some old friend you supposed to be dead and gone long ago.
 "AULD ACQUAINTANCE"
 The next time, my mother and father came, the hour being consumed in talking with them, and so went on, receiving two or three at sitting, until must have talked with at least forty or fifty differ ent ones. Many of these names as I rec ollect them will be familiar to my friends in New Preston and Judea, and some of them you will recognize as acquaintances of your early days For instance, Uncle Andrew Hine, Mrs. A. B Mary Nettleton, Chat attended Fred. Gunn's school in New Preston one winterl of Ju- dea; then from New Preston, were my grandfather, Abijah Tomlinson, uncle Charles Tomlinson, aunt Agnes Sperry, uncle Eliphlet Tomlinson, George Sperry, Chester Bonnet, J-B-,Jr., C. P--, uncle Hiram Wheeler, uncle Truman Baldwin, uncle Wm. Baldwin, Charity Hall, and, don't know how many more. All of the above conversed. Oth- CTS were reported as being present but have not communicated yet, though per haps they may. Among these were Mrs. Rachael Cogswell, my aunt Polly Tom inson and Harvey Stone.
 THE COMMUNICATIONS.
 To report all that they said should think would fill the columns of your pa- per several times over, but I will give you something oft. Their talk showed thor ough acquaintance with everything, past and present, that I knew anything about, and their interest in earthly affairs seemed to have increased rather than otherwise, though, as they express it, they don't have to do now only according to their tastes.
 Grandfather said he thought just as much of the newspapers as ever, only he was now able to estimate the men differ ently, he said Progress and Reform ir Spirit life were the motto much more than with us.
 My mother seemed to be dwelling more in the region of sentiment.
 Aunt Agnes had more of the lively. sprightly disposition, and said she had outgrown the earth-conditions more than any of them. @ Father said that his spirit h6d become so wearied and tired out from his long sick ness that he does know how long he alep after leaving the hody, hut he thinks i