The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-10-31

SO eminent a scientist as Professor Al
fred X. Wallace has written several elabo-
rate articles in an English periodical in
support Of the claim that the physical
phenomenon ealledspiritualistic is produced
by spirits which once inhabited human
bodies. Many marvellous things are re-
ported almost daily Of this spirit nantes
tation. A few years ago nothing more
startling than raps and table-tipping WIS
produced, but now We are asked to believe,
not only that mediums like Home elongate
their bodies from six to eleven feet, carry
red-hot Goals in their hands without injury,
and float yisibly in the air, but that the
"spirits" can "materialize" themselves so
as TO become the solid flesh and bore that
they were in this life. Nay, more Col.
Olcott, clear-headed practical lawyer and
gentleman Of unimpeachable veracity,
who is at Chittenden, Vt, investigating
the alleged phenomena produced by the
Eddy mediums, telegraphs to New York
in triumph that he has succeeded in catch
ing one of the spirits--a female one, and
weighing her on Fairbanks scales.
Now, all this from Messrs. Wallace,
Crooks, and Varley, from Colonel 0lcott,
from Philadelphia, Morayia, N. Y, and
other places haunted by materialized spirits,
and from persons who have sat with Slade,
Foster, and Mansfield is very wonderful,
but is it conclusive proof that the claims
of Spiritualism are right? What if it can
be shown that phenomena quite as extraor-
binary have been produced by professional
jugglers, men who have made no pretence
that they were assisted by occult powers,
and who have even explained the mechan-
ism of their tricks If this can be done
the inference must necessarily follow either
that the Spirtualistic mediums are cunning
impostors or that the professional necrom-
ancers are liars when they declare that
their phenomena are mere trickery, and
that they are really assisted by supermun-
dane agents. All history is full of the
deceptions practised either by these pro
fessional characters or Of others who pre-
tended to supernatural powers, and were
subsequently exposed as charlatans. jug.
glery was allied to the ancient religions Of
the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chal-
Oceans Hellas had its oracle, with its
cunning prie sthood; Rome its augurs and
diviners, and Chaldec its world-renowned
magicians. In the dark ages Of Europe
there were enchanters, sorcerers, and as
trologers, and, little later, witches, who
had to have their conjury burned and
drowned out of them. The Thaumatur-
gists and Rosicrucians pretended to magi-
cal powers. There is not an age in the
worlds recorded past, hardly year even,
that some prestiiigitateur has not figured
on the scene, either as court appendage,
religious leader, or an actor performing
for the amusement Of the populacc. Let
the Davenport Brothers or DIR. Slade do
more than is related here, and then they
will have right to ask us to consider il
the phenomena they show are the work of
"spirits."
In the "Lives Of the Necromaneer, by
William Goodwin London, 1884, there is
an account of conjurer at the Court Of
Wcnceslaus, King of Bohemia and after
wards Emperor Of Germany. On one oc-
easion this person, Ziito by name, exhibit
ed his extraordinary skill to the court.
He showed himself first in his proper shape
and then in those Of different persons sue
ccssively, with countenances and stature
totally different from his own. At one
time he was splendidly attired in robes of
purple and silk, and then in the twinkling
Of an eye in coarse linen and a clownish
coat of friezs.
In the same volume sketch is given of
Doctor Lamb, a noted necromancer in the
time Of Charles the First. The celebrated
Richard Baxter is authority for the state
ment that Lamb, meeting two Of his ac-
quaintances in the street and they having
expressed desire to witness some example
Of his skill, he invited them home with
him. He then conducted them into an
inner room, when, presently, to their no
small surprise, they saw tree spring up
in the middle Of the apartment They
had scarcely ceased wondering at this phe-
nomenon when, in moment, there ap-
peared three diminutive men, with little
axes in their hands for the purpose of
cutting down this tree. The tree was
felled, and the doctor dismissed his guests,
who were fully satisfied with the solidity
Of his pretensions. An account Of this
feat will be found in Baxter's works.
One Of the most remarkable exhibitions
Of clever jugglery is mentioned in SaIyertes
Philosophy Of Magic" london, 1916,
vol. l, page 1867 Il was seen at Nancy,
in France, in 1929. A man from the au-
dience was induced to lie down on the
stage and the magician deliberately chopped
of his head. lie displayed the severed
head TO the audience so that they could
recognize the features he permitted them
TO touch il, 70 open the mouth, which shut
again of its own accord, and to examine
the bleeding section Of the neck at the
extremity Of the trunk. He removed the
body and Withdrew curtain and almost
immediately the supposed dead man ap-
peared in perfect health. sa!verte says
that the bsheading trick was performed