Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-24
rur KArIR Rrna BusrNRss.

Explanations are now ID order to
bridge over the Katie King exposure and
imposture. This little affair happened
at an opportune time to save many peo-
pie from tying on to a miserable fraud
and clinging to it the rest Of their days.
Many thoughtless yet ordinarily sensible
people, not having the time or the capac-
ity to investigate the phenomena OF So
called spiritualism, have accepted them
as evidence that the spirits of the dead
return TO earth aud produce physical
manifestations. 1t is even claimed that
the spirits can be materialized by the
aid of powerful mediums. and this has
what run many good people crazy. The
human mind is given to superstition.
We find this so in all ages and among
every race and tribe. Men have an awe
for the mysterious which they cannot
understand, and often give themselves
up to imaginary influences until their
minds become unbalanced. The mind
is more easily worked upon in the dark
when expectation is wrought up to a
high pitch than in the light. Hence, the
dark seanees in which trained NEGRO.
mancers mislead their often willing au-
ditors. The influence of darkness on
the senses is very powerful. DR.. Kane
observed its influence on his men while
in the darkness Of the Arctic regions
They seemed to weaken day by day in
their moral and physical courage. A
blindfolded man cannot walk straight
across a lot to a stake unless after long
practice. Persons lost in Mammoth
Cave a few hours lose their senses tenn
porarily, and try to run from their friends
seeking them with light So 10 dark
seance, the senses may be confused
and the mind not only deceived but in.
jured and filed with impressions that
cannot be bauished in the light. II is
about time for those who have seen as
cending and descending angels so often
to be able to shoe them TO others WIG
have not been subjected to what are
known as spiritual influences. We are
aware that many good, honest people
sincerely believe all these things. Like
brother Watson, for instance, who has
so much for this cause. We
do not question his oandor when he states
that he has taken the mAterialized hand
Of persons long since dead. But II Rob
ert Dale Owen and Or. Child, of Phila-
delphia. could be deceived by The |
Holmesss and their hired girl is it not
possible that Ars. Holmes while here
three years ago under the name
of Farris may have deceived Mr..
Watson and various others who seek
truth in dark seances2 Would not
Robert Houdon. the famous magician, or
some maR who aakes oeeqleF deception
= study, be more likely to detect slight
Of hand performance than men of let
lers whose minds have been wholly abb
sorbed with other subjects2 We will
secep. Mr.. Watson's polite invitation to
gisit a medium al his house, and expect
that things will be done WHICH we can
not at once account for. The travelling
nsgicians and prestidigitators do as
much. We have seen apparently sus-
pended child horizontally in mid air,
With only one arm touching post. 1t is
3 trick which they do not explain. If
stronger practical proof thaa hitherto is
not offered now spirituafsm will soon
,aYe to pass away as one OF the silliest
things that eyer claimed the attention Of
sensible people.