Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-11-05
The Rutland Riddle.

A fresh interest has been given to " Spiritual"
phenomena, if it is proper to use that phrase,
by the ''materializing" process, attempted with
varying success in England and this country,
but which is mainly identified with the Eddy
family at Rutland, Vermont 1t is a subject that
few persons, even unbeleyers, will not confess to
some interest in. Supposing it to be only trick
cry the interest is still great. The mystery Of
life is so impenetrable, often-aceordng to our
moods-so depressing, that even the least i'm
pressible and best balanced persons will fly now
and then to the widest of conjecture in the ef-
fort to break the maddening chain or whilst
acknowledging that the secret is uns9lvable this
side of death will strive to gain some relaxation,
and will trHe with the Sphynx knowing all the |
while that it is inscrutabe At such times we
feel that we are all ghosts, alike that we now
merely happen to wear these "lendngs" OF
flesh but that essentially we are as strange and
vague AZ the men who died Thousand years ago
What can the Rutland mediums, or any other
mediums, show us more improbable than our
own Selves
This state of feeling which we have all to sub
NIT to,--say, rather suffer from at odd times,
will explain great deal Of the interest taken
in the Rutland demonstrations by intelligent
persons who are not prepared to acknowledge
themselves spiritualists. We are bold enough
to believe that it influences, even if unconcious-
ly, the Investigations of Col. olcott and other
truthful and unprejudiced persons who have set
themselves to read the Rutland riddle. These
parties, Olcott especially ly-whose letter to the
New York Graphic on the subject have been
models Of dispassionate statement-declare any
dea of trickery on the part of the mediums must
be dismissed; that whatever the cause of these
apparitions, so called, they not produced by
the persons bound in the cabinet, and that &C
cess to the cabinet except through the audience
is out of the question. On the other hand there
are observers who hold the opposite view. One
of the most authoritative of these is DR.. George
NJ. Beard of New York, well known practitioner
and scientist This gentleman, after Witness
ing the performances at the Eddy Home
stead pronounces the whole thing legerde-
main. But he lacks the fairness and scmpu-
lous attention to detail which characterizes Col
Olcott, and furthermore was present at but one
seance, while Ocott has been a resident of the
place for weeks, and all attendant at all the
meetings
One thought will assuredly strike every reader
Of DR.. Boards statement If these doings are
inere JubBleIy why, Ill inc nrhI place, were tneN
not instantly exposed? and why, in the seconC
place. do not other jugglers attempt the sam,
thing in larger and more renumeratv,
ways? 1t may be said that the Davenpor
Brothers and others have populsrzed the cabi
net business, but that point 1t must not be for
gotten is but all incident of the Eddy perform
ance,-whichin in the main is the offering to view 0
certain appearances, evolved III manner no on
knows how, and called spirit FORMS If profea
sors of legerdemain learn TO do this trick sue
cessfully other show business may retire. III
best hold the unbelvevei now has is that som
ingenious arrangement Of mirrors may yet offe
the required explanation, but although Co
Olcott has not touched this point his description
of the exceedingly unpretending appointment
of the Eddy house render this suppositio
difficult. OF course there is some explanation
and yet there is many thing which is move
found out.