Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-12-24
The spirit Land.
An Evening with Prof. Starr.
"Blaek spirits, and srhitc,
Blue spirits, and gray,
Miagle, miagle, mingte."
TMACpETH

On Thursday evening Prof. starr
and lady, in Aleshire Hall, gave ano
exhibition of spiritualism, that II
modern spiritualism- After the FRO
fessor had performed number o.
feats tricks, or manifestations (takt
your choice) he proceeded to explain
the manner of performing the same
showing to the audience the folly Of
faith in spiritual rappings, vista
tions, etc. We were present and can
bear witness that all left fully salts
fed with his expose. At his request
we omit the exposition, and give only
the performances.
The Professor opened with short
address upon the delusions of man
kind. Committees were then elected
from the assembly to assist him.
The principal assistants were DIR.
Mills and Prof CHASE. Ten gen.
tlemen were then selected from the
crowd, who went forward and stood
in a row on the stage with empty
glasses in their hands. The Prof.
into these glasses poured water out
of a pitcher, which, in some cases, in
stantly turned into wine, and in 9th
ers remained water. The whole was
returned to the pitcher and came out
water in every case when poured in
the glasses. This is called turning
water into wine.
The next scene was with the cabinet
This was large box six feet long,
six feet high, and three wide, made
of poplar boards, and having folding
doors in front. Inside were hung on
the walls bells of different tones, a
banjo, tin horn, etc. Messrs. MILLS
and CHASE examined the cabinet
closely, as well as some cords with
which the Prof. was to be tied to
chair within the cabinet. The doors
of the cabinet were closed, with the
Prof. securely tied within by the
Committee, and in three or four sec
onds the bells, horn, tambourine and
banjo sounded, and bells and horn
thrown out of the covered opening
upon the stage. This was repeated
three times, and hands could be seen
at the opening in a few seconds after
closing the doors. The Prof. was
then tied by the spirits while inside
the cabinet in a few seconds. He
also took off his coat while tied, and
put on Mr.. CHASE's coat while in the
same condition, the knots in the rope
being sealed with sealing wax by the
Committee. While thus fixed he
was put in q sack, and the doors
again shut, with the privilege ofopen-
ing them any second. While great
rafting of bells was going on the
doors were jerked open, but the Prof.
was found calmly seated within,
bound with the cords. The spirits
also united him in about the same
length of time they tied him.
One of the committee next enter
ed the cabinet with the operator, and
while holding the hands of the ope-
rator, felt manifestations. While
handcuffed and chained to a chair
and to the wall of the cabinet, wri-
ting appeared upon slate which he
held upon his lap, and water in a
glass upon tambourine upon his lap
disappeared, while in the mouth of
the operator was card to show that
he did not drink it. The watch trick
was next performed, id est, stopping
a watch at pleasure by mesmerizing
the assistant. Separate papers were
handed to three men who wrote upon
them different questions to be an
swered by Mrs. STARR while in
trance. These questions came near
being "stumpers." Here are the
questions asked and the answers re-
ceived: DR.. MILLS wrote, 'How old
are you" Prof. CHASE wrote,
"When is the world coming to an
end% Prof. WILSON wrote, HWho
sits beside me?' The papers upon
which these questions were written
were each folded up and put in the
vest pocket of the writer. When
Mrs. S. was in the trance she an
swered lst, Twenty six years old last
October" I'd, "You are a black
spirit, and the spirit controlling the
medium will have nothing to do with
you" Sd, mo, not exactly"
The curtain was then lowered to
prepare for spirit faces, and while
lights were lowered and the Prof and
lady were tied inside the cabinet,
ghostly faces appeared at the opening
in the cabinet. These were not all
the manifestations, etc, made during
the evening, but we have not time to
dwell longer among these spooks;
suffice to say the performing was per-
feet in its deception.
The next came the expose. The
Prof. took up each trick and showed
at the front of the stage how it was
performed, and exclamations of chow
simple" were repeatedly made. We