Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-17

the Dead TO Life-The O rdeaI of fire
and BURNING COals-HOudin's Mar
yelous DeeeptiOns-
[EreH he Nev Fork World
SO eminent scientist "a P rof. Alfred K. Wal
lace mas written several elaborate articles in an
English periodical in support OF the claim that
the PHYSICAL phenomenon called spiritualistic
Is prOduced by spirits which once inhabited hu-
man bodies. Many marvellous things are re-
ported almost daily OF this spirit manifestation.
A few years ago nothing more startling than
raps and table-tipping was produced, but now
we are asked to believe, not only that mediums
Ike Home eloDgate their bodies from 10 IL
feet, carry red hot CO ais In their hands without
injury, AMI float yisibly in the air, but that the
"spirits' can "mateTtaiZe" themselves so as to
become the SOLID flesh and bone that they were
In this life. Nay, more: Col. Olcott, a clear
headed practical lawyer, and a gentleman of
uDimpeaehable yeracity, who il al Chittenden,
Vt, invest eating The alleged phenomena pro-
duesd by the Eddy Mediums, telegraphs TO New
York in triumph Il at he has succeeded in catch
ing one Of the spirits-a female one, and weigh
ing her en- Fair ban ks' scales.
PROFESSIONAL MAGICIANs.
Now. all this from Messrs. Wallace, Crooks,
ard Varls Y, from Col Olcott, from Philadelphia,
from hOTavia, y. Y, and other places haunted
By mateTialized spirits, and from persons who
have sat with ade. Foster, and Mansfield, is
very wonderful, hut is it conclusive proof that
the clsims of Spritualism are right. What Ii 1t
can be shown that phenomena quite as extraor-
binary have betn produced by professional jug
glerS, men who have made no pretense that
they were assisted by occult powers, and who
have even explained the mechanism of their
tricks? If this can be done, the inference must
nece ssaTily follow either that the SDiritualistc
mediums are cunning impOstOrs, or that the
professional necromaDcers are liars when they
declare that their phenomena are mere trick
cry and hat they are really assisted by super
mundane agents. All history il full OF the
deceptlOns praciiced either by these prCfes-
sis nal char aCters of theirs who pretend to super
natural powers, and were subsequently exposed
as cbaTlatans. JuggleTy was allied t. the
ancient religions OF the Greeks, Romans, Egyp-
tians, and Chaldeeans. Hellss had its oracle,
with its cunning priesthood; Rome its sugurs
and OWNERS, and Chaldee its worldrenOwned
msgiciaDs. In the dark ages OF Europe there
were enchsnters, sorcerers, and astTologers,
and, little later, witches, who bad to have
their conjury burned and drowned out of them.
The Thaumaturgists and Rosicrucians pre-
teLceC to magical powers. There is not an age
in tie worlds recorded past, hardly a wear
on tie scene, either as Court appendage, a
religious leader, or an actor PEI fol- ming for the
amusement Of the populace. Let the Davcn-
port Brothers or DIR. Slade do more than is
related here, and then they will have right to
ask us TO consider if the phenomena they shoH
are the ork Of spirits"
In the Olives of the Necromancers,r by VIM
Goodwin London, 1894, there is an account OF a
coDjuror at the Court of Wenceslaus, King of
Bohemia, and afterwards Emperor of Germany.
On one occasion this per- on, Ziito by name, ex-
hibitec bis extraordinary skill 10 the court. He
showed himself first in his proper shape, and
81. SUCCESSFULLY.
with cOuntenances and stature totally different
from bis own. AT one time he was splendidly
attned in robes OF purple and silk, and then, IN
me tWIpkling Of an eye, in coarse linen and a
eloWniSh coat Of frieZe,
A MAGICAL TREP.
In the same volume sketch IS given of DR..
Lamb, noted necromancer in the time OF
Charles the First. The celebrated Richard
Baxter is authority for the statement that
Lamb, meeting two of his acquaintance in the
street, and they having expressed a desire to
witnt ss some or his skill, invited them home
with him. He then conducted them into an
inner room, when presently, to their no small
suTprk e, they saw tree spring up in the mid
die o. the apartment. They had scarcely ceased
wondering at this phenomenon, when in a mo-
ment there appeared three dminutiye men,
with little axes in their hands iOr the purpCs of
cutting down this tree. The tree was felied,
and the doctor dismissed his guests who were
fully satisfied with the sOlidity OF his precen
tio1s. an account OF this feat will be found IN
Ba1ters works.
RESTORING THB DEAD TO LIFE.
Ore of the most remarkable exhibitions of
clever gglCry is mentioned III Saverte' PHI
losOphy OF Magic London, 1916, vol. /, page
1861 IL vasseen at Nancy, in France, in 1S29.
n d an from the audience was induced to lie
down on the stage, and the magician deliber-
ately chopped Cff his head. de displayed the
severed head to the audience so that they could
recognize The features; he permitted them to
touch II, 10 open the mouth, which shut again
Of IFS own accord, and to examine the bleeding
section Of tie neck at the extremity OF tbs
curtain, and almost Immediately the suppose
dead man appeared in perfect health. Safysrts
says that the beheadng trick was performed by
me NJ ahCmetans, and that Lillian is authority
FOR the statement that Esculapius apparently
reunited the heart of a woman to her CORPSE
and restored her TO life and health.
THE MEDIUM HOME RIvALED.
According to Mr.. Goodwin, in his 'HietOry OF
the NeeromanceTs,' 1t was a common practice
at the time he wrote (ffty years ago) for lug
glers in the market places of the English towns
IN Vrauk boz hac 4 III.
manc, alternately ascending and descending
THE ORDEAL OF FIRE.
Much stress has been laid by the advocates of
SplTitualism upon the ability Of the medium
Home TO handle live Goals with out injury or
showing scar. He has b, en- seen to put red
hot Goals on his head, and the hair was nos
slDged. The "nfe ordesl' is a very old and
familiar one to Decromancers. One of the most
ancient feats Of magic was the art OF breathing
flame. During the Instruction Of the slaves in
Sicily In the second century before Christ,
SYRIAN named EunuS acquired by his knowledge
the rank OF their leader. In order to establish
his influence over their minds, he pretended 10
possess miraculous power. When he wished to
inspire his followers with courag he breathed
flames or sparks among them from his mouth.
AT the same time he was rousing them by his ell
oquence. st. jerome informs us that the X .b-
bi Burchochebas, who headed the Jews in their
last revolt against the Emperor Adrian made
them believe that he was the Messiah by vOm-
iuDg flames from his mouth. And at a later
period, the Emperor Constantine was thrownin-
TO state Of alarm when VslentinIsn in
formed him that he had seen one of the
body guards breathing out fire and flames,
Sir David Brewster, who quotes these instances
In bis interesting "Letters on Natural Magic"
was not able 10 explain the exact methods by
which these effects were produced; but he said
Florus informs US that Eunus filled a perfo-
rated nut she'll with sulphur and fire, and hay-
ing concealed il in his mouth, he breathed gem
thy through it while he was speaking. This act
is performed more simply by the modern Jug
gleT. Having rolled together some fax or hemp
SO as TO form ball the size Of walnut, he sets
it on fire and allows ii to burn until it Is nearly
consumed. He then rolls round it while burn
ing some additional fax, and by these means
the IRE may be retained for considerable time
At the commencement OF his exhibition he in
PRODUCES the bali into his mouth, and while he
breathes through 1t the fire is revived and
number OF burning sparks are projected from
his mouth. The sparks are too feeble to do any
harm, provided he inhales the air through his
nostrilS. The kindred art of
or red-hOt iron belongs to the same antiquity.
The priestess Of Diana at Castabula, in Capa-
docia, were accustomed, according TO Strabo,
TO walk over burning Goals; and, at the annual
festival which was held in the temple of Apollo
at Mount Socrate, in Etruri, the Hirpi marched
over burning Goals, and on this account they
were exempted from military service, and re-
ceiyed other privileges from the Roman senate.
This power Of resisting fire was ascribed even