The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-21

pheasant Valley has been made q focus of interest
by the announcement that grand picnic OF Spirit
ualists would be held here on the 18th of August
1879, and that three different steamers had been
engaged to transport the light and airy 'cussesn
up the noble HUDSON to this spot, where, as Nelse
Seymour would say, "the festivities were to
eventuate."
The people who live in this place and in the con.
tlguous localities OF Fort Lee, Leonia, Engelwood
and Shady Side-once called Bulls Ferry-are all
quiet, weI-todo-families, who have, seemingly, az
little interest in the great hive-swarmng down the
river as II they were transplanted to Kansas OF
Colorado. Originally the district for five miles
fronting on the west side OF the Hudson and fol
three miles back In the country was settled by
English families about sixty years ago. and until
some time ago the district was known as English
Netghborhood. There are but few families OF the
sect known as Spirtualsts In the vicinity, and II
created quite sensation among the more orderly
people to hear that the band Of spooks, gnomes
and mediums were to pay them visit And it
seems SO contrary to their doctrine to have any
carnal or physical enjoyment that many persons did
not believe In 1t ut all.
THE BAND THAT DIDN'T "BEGN TO Play"
The excursion had been vigorously heralded, and
was to all intents miserable failure. 1t had been
started by q little, sandy haired and sandy-whis.
kered man named e. G. Townsend who ekes out
an existence by selling Spiritualistic literature at
counter in Robinson Hall. in West Sixteenth street.
in New York CITY, the place in which the spooka
congere meet every Sunday afternoon and even
ing to discuss and fight over subjects that would
evoke shouts of laughter from the silliest school
boys' debating society in the land 1t was al
Robinson Hall that the fierce combat took place, aa
reported In the HERALD in last Mondays
ISSUE between the adherents and OPP
I,,rI lnAf ntinrr md
reasonable conjecture made 1t possible tina
the row would be renewed at the proposed
picnic. Gilbert's band, OF Brooklyn, mad been
engaged to discourse strains, musical or dis.
cordaut; but when they came to the dock, at spring
street, 1t was discovered that there was no money
among the spOoks, and as there were only about
nine or ten Spiritualists the dock the band was
discharged and they went away in very angry
spIRrTuALIsM GOING DOWN HILL.
taking on board the small saHsa If @
steamed up the river to It's destination The da;
appearance. Circulars Of deep yellow
giving list OF articles OF iOod which were to be
procured at pretty high prices on landing at Pleas.
ant Valley These rascaS printed o small catechism
Tor the secular use OF the elect, in which specific
details by question and answer were given or the
manner IN which the place was to be reached, how
to take care OF hats and coats and overshoes and
umbrellas, all OF which details should be mere
puerieties TO o true Sprttualist, who Is supposed
to be always in communion with beings Of another
world. None OF the great lights OF the New Jeru.
salem put in an appearance at the festival and con.
sternaton was visible on The faces OF the conductors
OF tue celestial '.jamboree."
ANGUISH OF THE SPIRITS.
"Alas,' said stout, masculine old lady to the
writer, who sitting on the forward part of tho
boat, '.aas the palmy days Of Spiritualism have
gone forever, never to return. Pm afraid. You
present ut our gatherings now. What has become
OF the Foxes Why, one OF the gals Is married 70
and the other has lett the spirit world ior good.
Where, oh where are the Edmondses, the Dex.
tsrs the BALE Inc wa hntSns te rtan
b. w. Richmond and Andrew Jackson DAVIS
Where Is the great Pantarch, stephen Pearl An.
been married four times and lately has eloped with
another mans husband. The only man whom we
self talk too much. An, these are dark days IN
deed for Spiritualism. There Is left to us Dudley
sprggs great heaven born intellect, and Anthony
nodded In her choicest and most benefcent man
ner. But the spiritualism OF to-day, where Is it
brought 80 much trouble on us. 1t is In the hands
OF old Mrs. Clanin and her daughter, Mrs. Wood
I Rrocks has gone TO the southland and darkness ID
"wei, madam" said I, "irom whom do you take
"DID swEDENBoRG pANCEr
MASCULINE WoMAH-"Why from Emanuel Swe.
denborg and his Heavenly Arcana' and from the
doctrines OF the New jerusalem, written by thar
Seems TO have forsaken as altogether in these dis
NAL days OF the devil and his cohOrts.n
"Did swedenborg believe In picnics and dane
ingy" ventured to ask the sturdy old woman.
MASCULINE WOMAN don't believe he ever at
tended picnic in his lie or danced a quadrille,
although they do say that the Dltn,1et de In COuv
was very fashionable In his time. But SwedenbOrQ
delighted in all rational enJoyments, and espe
Ssrna his eonce pon and he despsed money!
No unlike the splritualsts OF this day. who are on
the gran-all principle. There Is now no refuge iof
sprltaalism but IN the bosom OF the Roman Catho
lic Church, and II things go on as they have done
will fold myself IN ITS capacious bosom.
TIE sPooKs AT DINNER.
Half an hour after the boat mad been fastened al
the Pleasant Valley dock saw this same celestial,
unveiled lady was engaged in furnishing beef.
much gusto as n she had never heard or dreamed
Of the philosophical doctor OF Upsula. The small
dancing giong on among the worldly minded,n
they manifested proper dsdain for the sport.
the EXCURSION Is postponed until Monday; Septem.
everything" the od LADY said. who was leaning on
being pcrpetrated by the 'sconcrs."
the sr0oKs 90 HOME DIsGUsrED.
docs. yainiy endeavoring 70 muster enough Of his
True rom each boat that stopped at the dock TO
star, hls picnic or feast OF souLiovem as the the
slect-svord Of the Lord and OF Gideon peope-bus
hosts Of sconers and merry-makers with sturdy
o% ,se s' huge s' city dance Ssee' and sing
ana eat and drink, regardless Of swe.
denbOrE, the New Jerusalem spiritualism
OF soul love- And homeward went the small but
select bans Of spooks. indignant and gnashing their
teeth st the indifference OF the world-seryers and
the prevalence OF the power Of the devil and his
pomps and powers and principalites And as
there was but tour dollars and q half In the squad
the nucleus n considered To be rather small 10
make the deferred picnic, which Is TO take place
september 2 o success. But on sunday next, a!
Robinson Hail. the subject will be discussed IN an
its bearings providing always that the gathering
should not result IN q rabid row.