The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-11
from the Boston Post.l
Katie King.

Since the "carline Mamie" wrenched the
tail from Tam OShanter's grey mare Meg,
the supernal, or Internal, powers have deigned
no such physical manifestation as that which
a young and handsome ghost is now Offering
Philadelphians at a dollar a head. Katie
King already has a transatlantic repui alton,
and like other celebrated performers, nat
urally comes to America. In England, her
fist appearance was made under the chap
eronage of a Miss Cook, through whom she
was introduced to Prof. Crookes, the dis
tinguished scientist, known as one of the
investigators in the experiments of the Dia-
lectical Society, Mr. Wallace, the most learned
student of spiritualistic phenomena, Mrs.
Ross-Church and others. These all testify
to the physical personality of Katie, while
the last mentioned had .he satisfaction of
touching the ghosts material flesh anil
assuring herself Of its reality. No other spirit
has come to this country with such unexcep-
tional vouchers, and it is only fair TO say that
Kate's performances in Philadelphia fully
warrant her claim to consideration. Profess
ing to be the daughter of one Henry Morgan,
pirate OF Queen Ezabeth's time, she is
now expiating the sins of her family by the
use OF remarkable powers acquired since her
residence in the other sworld. She seems T.,
be well attended; for, in addition TO the in
material presence Of the old buccaneer, since
coming to America she has joined to her
trdln tue spirit Ol Uen. bdWlilS, tnuS dttdcD-
ing herself to the Grant Administration and
the military arm of the Federal power. With
these two formidable protectors, who, how
ever, have not Katie's facility of endowiDy
their spiritual essence with flesh and blood,
the amiable ghost does not hesitate TO bestow
kisses and embraces and other pleasurable
proofs of her physical reality upon the select
company to whom she appears. Indeed, the
exhibition has nothing of the religious or
soI.
Justly rests its claim to reverence and respect.
This being the most popular as well as the
most astounding manifestation which the
spirits or the mediums have yet given, the de-
tails of the phenomenon are OF peculiar inter-
est. Katie's appearance is made at the door
of sort of closet cut off from the corner OF 4
room in an ordinary boarding-house, about
which the spectators are ranged. On solicita-
ton she usually condescends TO "materialize"
outside the closet, whose door she opens and
walks out into the room for conversation.
What then appears is a very pretty young wo-
man, with face 'framed in mass OF black
ringlets," and an agreeable figure clad, not in
equity sark O. Paisley yarn" but gracefrl
robe OF white muslin. A silver cross, pre-
sented by one Of her earthly admirers, hangs
from necklace, and she usually carries Other
gifts, such as bouquets or a fan, which aI1
pear and disappear with her in way to eau,
anguish aud CONSERVATION TO kleptomaniac
ofthis world. Heretofore Katie has show
none of the predatory disposition of her an-
cestor, but with such powers OF spiritualizing
whatever she lays her hands on, the associa-
ton is not without its anxieties. Katie's colt
versation is somewhat jocular, and her iamil-
| iarity with modern slang is remarkable for
| one who has been not less than two centr-
| res in the spirit world. She halls one OF her
| friends as 'stupd," and jovially remarks,
| "Good evening, Father Oweu," as she takes a
| bouquet from the hand of the ex-Minister
| Plenipotentiary and causes it to vanish into
| air before his eyes. She makes nothing OF
| disappearing aud again 'smaterializing," OF ali
| lowing her robe to be cut for sample aud re-
| constructing it on the spot, of kissing her 10
male friends and patting the hands OF the gen.
tlemen with ''soft, gentle, magnetic touch.
| She has even allowed herself 10 be photo
graphed in magnesium light, aud is in ev-
ery respect very accommodating, except IS
regards talking sense. This also NAV posi-
| bly be gained by further association with Gem
eral Rawlins, who used to be accounted al
intelligent man when here; but if this is all
that K te King has to present, with her IT,
markable talent of NATURALIZATION" she eau
be regarded only as an unusually pleasant
ghost who illustrates the remarkable def .ien-
cy in the system OF popular education in tue
spirit land.