New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-19
SDffitualis,u,

| Miss Mary j. Holmes, London correspond
ent Of the Memphis Appeal, writes as fol-
lows:
Spiritualism seems to be going through
| critical test now by the scientist of London.
The medium through whom the experiments
are mostly being made is a young lady of
about eighteen years of age-Miss Florence
Cooke. She is not public medium, but the
manifestations that take place in her pres
ence are Of such startling character that
1t has been quite impossible to contine the
exhibitions of them to her family and
friends only Many persons of distinction
and celebrity have witnessed the same at
her house. In seeing the phenomena, the
first condition is tying Miss Cooke firmly in
a cabinet and sealing the knots. There Is
then curtain dropped over the door be.
tween her and those present, which,
of course, places her in the dark,
while those in the room are in
the light. In short space of time there
draped in white, with white veil falling
over the head, but not covering the face.
The feet are naked. She walks around the
room, speaking to all; says her name ia
Katie King; allows persons to feel of her
dress and shake hands with her. which are
as tangible to the touch as any other ma
terial thing on earth. The size and form of
ILL.,,
Cooke, which fact raised many skeptical
doubts in the minds Of those who witnessed
the manifestations, thinking it might be
Miss Cooke who had freed herself from her
cords and dressed for the play. However.
in every instance after Katie had returned
to the cabinet, they had raised the curtain
and found Miss Cooke in state of trance
or Inconsistencies, securely tied and sealed
as when they left her. Here was a case
for Professors Crookes and Marley to test
the physical force question Miss Cooke |
very readily yielded herself for them to ex-
pertinent on the phenomena. will give
their experiences as Professor Crookes !
gave them to me: He took Miss Cooke first |
to his own house, that he might be sure of
all the surroundings. He then improvised a |
dark cabinet with a curtain door They |
placed the medium inside and securely tied !
her. Professor .Narley then placed gold |
plate on the inside of each wrist, to which |
was attached insulated wires leading out |
into the room to very sensitive electro
meter. They tried every motion of her
hands and arms, and the placing of her
electricity produced by the different posi-
tons, Professor Crookes observing ali the
tlme while Professor Varey had his
eyes on the electrOmeter. After thorough
~ learning the effect produced by each
movement others, they placed the curtain
before her, leaving her IN the dark. Soon |
the figure calling herself Katie made her
appearance, the electrometer not showing
the least movement. She said: "What do
you want me to do with all these wiresp'
They told her nothing-Only to come into
the room and make such motions with her
hands and arms as her medium had done. |
Katie at once threw her hands around in a
lively manner, which did not effect the cur.
rents of electricity in the slightest degree.
Then Katie asked Professor Crookes to
bring lighted candle and hold it to her
ACE, and see if she looked like Miss Cooke.
He tried it, and found she had fair com.
'lexion and light hair, while Miss Cooke is
lutte dark, with dark hair. Professor
Crookes says that, as far as human tests
re concerned. nothing could be more con-
lusive than that here was genuine
phenomenon outside of the conscious aid
7 the medium. On the disappearance
+ Katie into the cabinet, they at once
aised the curtain and found Miss Cooke in
he same condition as when thew had shut
er IN, only in an unconscious state or .