Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-13

Louisiana MO- Journal Of the seventh
instant, which reached US yesterday
marked. We copy it in the interest of
fair-play, and with view to the COM
plete intelligence of our people as to 8
couple OF whom the APPEAL has pub
lished much, both pro and con-:
A JUGGLER EXPOSED.
We well remember the days of NAL
lister, the elder BIitz, Prof. Anderson,
and other noted magicians, and how
delighted audiences nightly crowded
their entertainments. In those days the
art H1dO5oue was a paying institution,
and It's professors could afford to pay
healthy license to the constituted au-
tho,ities for the privilege Of giving their
entertainments. But time has wrought
numerous changes. So many buoglers
have gone into the business, it has be-
come disreputable, and as consequence
does not pay so largely as in days of yore.
To save expense and hOOdwink the
license law, many travelling mOUnte-
banks now call themselves spiritual
mediums, and brazenly claim that the
spirits of the dead come up at their
bidding to entertain the living with
sleight-of hand tricks. More than this,
thew have the effrOnteTy to dub this
mummery religion, and proclaim it TO
civilized people q creed as distinct
as Catholicism or any branch OF
christian worship. A lIan and woman
calling themselves Mr.. and Mrs. Miller
came to this city a short time since, and
established themselves 1T the residence
Of Mr.. John DeGrOOdt, where they
nightly gave performances to a delight
ed few, but where no meddlesome unbe-
lever was allowed to approach too near
the sacred precincts (cabinet), wherein
sat Mrs. Miller. Under these circum-
stances, of course, the spirits brought up
BY the medium did wonderful things,
and many well-meaning people were
firmly convinced Of the supernatural
tiDge OF the operations. Mrs. Miller's
particular programme, from which there
has been little variation, is about as fol-
lows: Two persons, selected from the
audience, tie her hands crOsswise. The
cord is a small worsted, and the knot is
sealed. The claim is that while in this
condition spirits place articles upon the
arms Of the medium which it were inn
possible to put there while the hands
are tied. On Friday night of last week
! toe Mnlers were persuaded to give q
/ seance at a pubic hall, and several
persops bent upon investigation at all
| hazards, attended. DIR. Bartlett and L.
| II. Howard were selected committee
| men upon the part of the audience, not
without considerable objection to the
latter. who had avOwed his suspicion Of
any spiritual influence in the perform
ances. All being ready, Mrs. Miller en-.
tered her cabinet Ia small framework
covered by blankets) and was tied by
| the committee. Silence being main
tanned for a short period, the medium
called for light, when the blanket was
I raised, and she was found still tied with
an iron ring upon her arm. After this
chairs were suspended upon her arms,
/ and she borrowed vests from the audi
ence and put them Oh, always showing
herself tied when the light was called
for. A plan Of operations having been
decided upon, when the seance was near
| ly closed and an ACCORDION was
being played within the cabinet,
Howard suddenly threw up the
blanket, the lights were turned
on. and Mrs. Miller was standing up
10ith her hands OlltStTetched, and her
arms bare TO the shoulders, playing the
,1ao0rdeOn. so that all GOhO lOished could
zee Il, Upon thisexpOsure she screamed,
turned quickly FOUND, and slipped her
/ hands back into the rope. That is the
whole of it. If there be such people as
s,,irifstql MEDIUMS Mrs. Miller Is cd
| dentlv not one Of them. She is simply
a tolerable sleigbt-Of-haBd performer.
Rv constant practice and manipulation,
~ ~ hecoIne dexterous ia removing
the rome from her hands and putting it
hack again without disturbing the / not
in any way. The undersigned testify
that they were present at the performs
ance nentioned above, and that Mrs.
Niiler's hands were pet tied when she
"'@' y IRA s. FARRAND,
T. 81. HOWARD,
| ~ n, MDRIE,
| IOEA PIECE,
ABE HAFP,
:. n. MILRcI.