The New York herald., 1874-12-28
SPIRITUALISM.
AN Ex-MEDIUMs REvEIATIoNs-MoRE LIGHT

ON WAYS THAT ARE DARK-"PROFEssOR
SHADES vINDICATIoN.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In your issue OF the 22d inst. read that interest
ing and truthful article, Mediums Exposed" by
Gan Inquirer" and must say ne has accom-.
plished that which have many times attempted,
but could never prevail upon myself to send 1t to
you Tor publication, from the fact that found my
self unable to produce readable article or one
that could in my estimation withstand public
criticism Not that | had any doubts as to the
truth, or that did not possess positive, undenia-
Bile proofs to substan tiate my statements, but it
may be attributed solely 20 the iaut Of defective
education.
The article is very ably written but it is desti.
ttte OF many explanatory things, trning, perhaps,
in themselves but really necessary, In my own
opinion, 10 satisfy the public mud. AS, for in
stance, Of his seance with Foster, he says -"He
then tore of from long strips OF paper small
pieces, on which we were to write our questions"
And again :-"If he can get at the question to see
it he can answer it; and If he fails IN the first ne
invariably fails in the last"
That Is perfectly correct and true and easily
understood; but supposing, instead OF asking
questions you ask him to give you for o 'test"
the name OF some friend relative long since de-
ceased. He at once begins to tear or the small,
pieces Of paper from the long strips before him, at
the same time requesting you to write the name
OF the person with whom you wish to commune
cate, together with dozen or more other names
which may be fictitious on separate pieces and
fold them so that it will be impossible for him to
read them. Alter having written all the names
you desire, and having folded them carefully and
tightly and left them upon the table in promis-
cuous heap, the question arises, How does he,
without mistake, select the right One and that,
hain ho ovau a tn Vol
tention in order to give him an opportunity to
quickly and adroitly open ltR
That part OF the business is accomplished in sew
eral very simple ways. one OF which Is thus:-The
paper has been stated is first cut into strips OF
about fifteen inches long and three to four inches
in width arranged and laid directly IL front OF the
.medlum,r who, alter all IS ready commences to
tear Off the small pieces and presents to you in
a careless, uncOncei ned manner the one par.
ucular name on the first piece torn on which,
OF course, has both ends and one SIDE straight as
1t has been cut, and one side or edge irregular
where 1t mas been torn. This keen, straight edge
Is plainly seen among the many often even before
lie raises them from the table. A lively conversa-
tion s kept up all the while, but he is ever on the
alert watching for an opportunity to open ana
read the name; that is accomplished with little
manipulation III an instant, when he Is ready
with his ''astonisaing revelation or some COM
munication Il ON the spirit worldn selected rom
his stock on hand OF "pIetty speeches.
Another and perhaps better way is, he may
have among his long strips OF paper one or two
inch narrower in width, and from one OF these he
tears on piece, which lie passes over to you With
the request to write the name OF the person with
whom you desire to communicate as before, and
Immediately tears OF number rom the other
and wider STRIPS for the other and accompanying
names. After they are lOded ana iaid upon
the table the short one Is easily detected
even with slightly ooap practsed cts ocoeyrs eye.
not0llety he requires cheek, tact and very re-
Ientive memory, there must be u continual
conversation kept up, perhaps drifting INTO other
When there comes something beautiful or start.
ing, as the case may seem 10 reanire. les aIere
that ol sacriiege. | have known people VINO were
suffering from some sight Nlectlon consult me.
would reveal to the frightened and ast0nshed-
Sally, perhaps-tnat cancer was then growing
III her stomach, and advise her to- without delay,
take some one OF his silly decoctions, ior whicn an
enormous price would be paid, because 1t was
before he "passed away.u was the most eminent
cancer doctor III the world.
Perhaps 1t would be well 10 state mere IN PROOF
that l am POSITIVE OF what am saying; that ito
use somewhat vulgar phrase) ~ have been
there, and know how 1t is myself" having been
"medium'' Tor over twenty years; but allow me
to say, before proceeding further, tnat never yet
accepted even one cent Tor any manifestations
may have gwen, nor have ever appeared before
tine general pubic, but only among my friends
and acquainances, as at an evening party, where
with "Come. come, you are medium you know,
please favor us with some manifestations; my
KIND and would be so delighted OF course 1t would
be utterly useless to refuse even II told them It
was all humbug. practsed 1t In this manner
only for my own amusement and OF perhaps a
few friends who were Tin the ring" and maybe
acted as conlederates. At length acquired quite
o not0riety as q medium, and my spirituallstic
friends have often persistenty urged me to go
into the business but never possessed the requi-
site "cheek,O or rather heart, for always con-
sidered 1t robbery OF the most dastardly kind.
Doubtless there are few who have had better
opportunities to investigate the truths OF the
matter than myself for being one Of the kind, and
quite prominent one at that, mad free access TO
all. have visited nearly all the prominent me-
diums Tor years past have given and in return re.
ceived many ''tests, - but never yet dld receive
aught that ancied i0r moment came from
''beyond the graye,v or that could not easily
account for. '.lt takes rogue to catch rogue,n
you know
Mediums are compelled to resort to many differ
ent artifices TO gain the end desired, so tnat II
they fail IN one way TO attain the Information that
they are expected 10 npart, other and similar re-
sources are resorfed to; nor are they confined to
lew, Tor they become adopts at Juggery OF this
sort, acquired rom long and earnest study and
practice IN their s'ofr hours.r