Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-12-18


The whole spirltualist world is greatly
excited nowadays over the astounding rev
Citations which come from the home Of the
Eddy family, in Chiltenden, Rutland
county, VT. The New York Graphic, al
ways ready for sensation, and happeu-
ing 10 have no balloon swindle on hand,
took the contract 10 inflatelthe bubble. Ii
sent to Chitenden one "Col." Henry S.
Olcott, a smart writer, who, with many
professions of caudor and a great air Of
scientific Investigation, has filled page af-
Ter page Of the Graphic, with descriptions
of the apparitions which he and others sec
at the Eddy house. His articles are Illus
trated by the Graphic with pict Tres of the
materialized spirits; and, all in all 1t
makes a story wonderful enough If true !;
but not wonderful at all on the very simple
hypothesis that the Eddy brothers are
charlatans, and Olcott a crafty Bohemian,
paid, first, probably, by the Graphic; paid
also, probably, blythe Eddys; and who ex-
poets TO make something additional out of
a book he purposes TO publish, and !lec-
lures he is announced TO deliver.on the
subject of their manifestations"
The claim is that spirits of departed men
and women appear at this Eddy house
"materalized :" or in other words, in the
body. These appearances .all take place
on a raised platform at one end of a large
room, which is lighted very dimly by a
single kerosene lamp, turned down low,
and placed inside band box without a
cover, in a corner at the other end of the
room. They come, always ono at n time,
| except that an infant in arms is sometimes
added, by parting the curtains of what is
called the Cabinet" sort of closet open
at the top, which stands on the platform.
Within this cabinet, the "medium," Will
liam Eddy, sits or is supposed to sit, in a
trance. Without his presence in the cabi-
net no spirit appears. The platform is
guarded by stout railing the front row
of spectators are ten feet from the edge of
the platform, and the rest further off.
Moreover, this front row must be all of
believers" who hold hands during the
seance. The skepties, if any are admitted,
must take back seats and the benches,
chairs and row of believers with clasped
hands are so arranged, that il is impossible
for any one TO spring upon the platform,
seize the spirit and expose the fraud. The
Eddys charge no admittance fee but are
making money by boarding, on very cheap
fare, at good prices, house full of credu-
| lous dupes who have come from all parts
of the country, TO see and talk with depart
| cd friends. The spirits which material
izo" best and oftenest, are an Indian squaw,
named "Honto," a sailor, "Geor2e Dix"
who was pirate in this life, and "May-
flower" an Italian girl but the visitors
also have interviews with deceased friends
and many of them are full in the faith that
the lifting of the dingy drapery over the
door of this Eddy cabinet is the lifting Of
the curtain between this life and that be-
yond.
A few days ago, Major George t. Childs
of st. Adams, Mr.. Lucius Bigelow, and
another st. Adams gentleman, were pres
ent at one Of these Chittenden "Seances,
and being men of some sense of course
found no difficulty in satisfying themselve:
that the whole thing was fraud,-a piece
of cheap jugglery. Major Childs has since
written to the Boston Traveller an interest
ing and truthful account of what he saw
and learned.-Burlington Free Press.