New-York tribune., 1873-05-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MODERN MAGIC.
MODERN MAGIC BY NJ sCHELE DE WE'RE. i2ino.
pp. 466. G.. p. Putnam's Sons

,,ooL;r, of the decay of faith in certain religious
doRmas remarks that il is just as impossible to
restore them to general beieasit would be to revive
the feudal system the faith in witchcrat. In the
present volume however, Mr.. Schcle DE We're gives
in his adherence to what are usually deemed the
products of human delusion, and are rejected with
no less decided conviction than even the
strange pretensionsof witchcraft itself He believes
an the existence of certain laws aud the occurrence
Of certain phenomena, belonging to a world Of which
no ooguizance can be taken 10y the ordinary senses.
His object in writing is to present series of facts
which throw light upon the magic powers with
which he believes that man is unquestcnaby en-
doMod." These powers in his opinion, are not sub
ect 20 the general laws of nature are more or less
independent Of space and time, and form an lntegIh
part of the human constitution. There is notH!uS
he airms to forbid the idea chat the souls oil 'he
dead are in communion with the spirits ol 'he Nv
ing with which they share all their esSehtl'u aIlI
butos except that of bondage to the BODY Ihi'
belief forms the cornerstone Of MI Schce De Ncleb
new work. IL collecting au,h0uues iol the support
OF his position he shows wide range OF readlhE Du'
little discrimination ana sound judgment. lie ls
ready 10 accept every story which appears to IaNor
his ideas. without much inquiry as to the strength
of its foundation. lie is less anxious to examine
evidence than 90 make point which illustrates his
theory. Sill lis book is not without its uses, the
chief OF which is to throw light on the action OF
human Cgeduity. Many OF the instances which he
brings forward are doubtless curious, but their au-
tbentcitv Iabor under snch extreme suspicion that
they can oa.r 40 conviction TO rejecting readers.
In rsracd u witchcraft M. Schele De We're OK
prcs,ce himself with more hesitation than accuds
with the prevailing tone OF his volume. He "is-
gc-ts that the belief in It's power which prevailed
for many centuries among all classes of men. offers
L.. ~ ||
upon Iy many as mere creation of the lnQuis iD.'
Butuothior heargucs is gaiuedh by that suIpo,iton.
Witohcrlt Is repeatedly spoken of in the Bible in
wav that implies it's reality. Bat it cannot be ac-
counted Cor upou purely natural basis. Its essence
u 10 Doe found in the magic force which belongs to
the sTill.u nature of man.
With respect TO the prevailing forms Of magic at
the present day. such spirt-rappiug, tabietuIn-
ing and the like IL Is singular fact which the
author states. that they have their origin among the
natives of this country. In England the belief Is
said to have made considerable progress, including
the late Lord Lytton, and Alfred Wallace lwho am
tcipated part of Darwin sltheoryl among its adhe-
rents The STAR newspaper now defUnct and
the "Couhill Magazine We are told, support 1t
with some ability. The author, however, is not san
ruine as to any useful effects from its prevalence,
although he recommends the impartial study Of ali
facts relating to the subject
Spritualists in the Old the New World are hope
ful thar tne new ma gic Will produce universal re-
hcOu and q better social order Ia this direction, how
ever. no substantial success has yet been obtained
Outsiders had expected that at least inter
,onrse win depirted spirits might be secured,
and tlIs the Immortality OF man might De pfdc.
tcany demonstrated But this also has not yet
been done. what then can learn from modern
magic? Only this that there are evidently forces in
yet acquainted ana which vet deserve to be studied
and carefully analyzed. Modern magic exhibits certain
phenomena in which not subject 10 the known
laws nature and thus that man possesses GER
exert I'M ordinary life Where these powers appear in
consequence Of special preparation OF an exceptional
because they in such cases merely the result OF
physical mental disease and we can hope 70 profit
these powers become manifest by spontaneous action,
apparently as the result special endowment they de-
unknown branch Of knowledge.
The celebrated professor of necromancy, Home, is
the subject of an interesting sketch, in which the
positions and claims of that notorious parsonage are
described with fairness and probably with accuracy
Among the media Of our day. Home Is naturally Jacile
frino,ps A ScOtchman by birth, lie claims that ms
mother already possessed the Gift OF Second sight
mcuts were frequent among their neghbOrs AT the |
of three years he saw the death 0f acousn, VINO
lived in distant town. and named the persons who
were standing around her couch; ho cOnVersed con-
stauuy his childish way with spirits ana heard heay-
euy music bis cradle was rocked by invisible hands,
and ms toys unaided into his hands. When ten
years old ne taken TO an aunt IN America IN whose
house me- had no sooner been installed than cntrs anu
tables, beds ana utensils, began 70 move about IN VIA
disorder, Il tue tciliutQ Etuy Htub uhuth9 DVS
away Attending once an exhibition of tabe-mOvne he
fen into hts suddenly became catalepuci dunug
ANNOUNCED the of two sailors the table began
rock storm. the whistng OF the WIND through
thud the against her bows, an were distinctly
heard and finally me taDe Ns upset H1lo the sHlts
scameu that day Home carefully cultivated ms
STRANGE gifrs and developed what he considered a
deeiaed talent for reading the future. A young mau
he returned 20 Europe, and soon became famous tIor
ence was for time he principal stage Of his
by invisible powers from the ground ana
hovered time above the heads Of ms visitors
Tie supertitious Italians finally became excited and
threatened with death, from which Count Branl-
chi saved hun at great personal peIll IN Naples tue
spirits suddenly declared their intention TO leave hun
February 10 1885, and 70 remain absent for whole
year; they ana SO, ana duIlhg tne IutetNdl iioue
enjOycd better health than ever In his life! In Rome
he became Catholic, ana g3oe 70 No92 hnT5eH ha4Si
offered him hs crucluN 10 KISS WIN Ihe MOIus; 4nal
is the only magic wand unfortunately this was
Homes view always at least we ma MN IN 1854
IN the same city IN cOuhct with the papd ponce WHO
ordered him 10 cease all intercourse with higher as
well with lower spirits and finally compelled him to
leave the Eternal City. He then claimed publicly, what,
il must be- forgotten he had consistently maintained
from the beginning OF 9lS caresI 1at ne SS
tne uhN.Lg asynI Oi t f ,e vii s, ftcT
contrary dearest wishes. il must be added that
he gave strongest proof OF his sincerity by never
accsntnp fron me public peculiarly compensation for
The exhibition Of peculiar powers. ~
Ills exterior Is winning; he is Of medium hight,
light haired and Hglt-cOmpleXOned OF slender hgure
simple and Webred ia his manners, and OF lrFeprOach
able morale The highest circles Of society have always
open 10 him aud hs marriage with daughter OF
The Russian General Stroll has given him wealth and an
agreeable position IN the world As the spirits had
predicted they returned the 10th Of February 1851
and announced themselves by repeated gentle Knock
ings-in other words, Homes former nervous disease
returned. and with II his eXcepuOnabe powers. He
was then Paris, aud soon excited the attention Of
the fair but superstitOus Empress, whose favor he
speedily obtained by revelation concerning the En-
de Paveur, the spirits had the galantry 10
eaIl her infant Napoleon also began 10 take an
Interest in the clever talented man, whose special gifts
did moi prevent hun from being plant couruer and
cunning observer He showed himself grateful for the
Stnduess with which Eugene provided for his sisters
edueaOn by exerng his powers TO the utmost az the
rileres and by revealing TO the Emperor the secrets
ne had slfuy elected, during his spiritual sessions,