Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-08-09
New Developments.

ualism, but 1t has come in such ques-
tionable shape that people have been
inclined to measure the science by the
moral, social and intellectual status of
its advocates and dcvotees. Especial
ly is it true that with comparatively
few exceptions, the most active ex-
FOUNDERS of spiritualism are men and
women of medium intellectual powers
and Indifferent education. A few such
men as Judge EDMoNDS did much to
| clothe the doctrine in respectable at
tire, but they were surrounded by an
army of male and female charlatans,
who were spiritualists for living
who, though ignorant themselves
found others still more ignorant, on
whom they lived-and these made the
educated anu intellectual laborers in
spiritualism appear in bad company
as the advocates of false cause. Peo-
pie have wondered why scientists and
philosophers have never Investigated
and have steadily refused to investi-
gate spiritualistic phenomena. The
reason for the refusal Is found in the
fact that the mediums" through
which these manifestations have pre-
sented themselves have been as class
unworthy of reconsideration or credence.
Spiritualism has been the stock in
trade of impostors, mountebanks and
| itinerant showmen. In the hands of
such people, no science could become
respectable; supported by such apos-
ties the Christian religion would have
sunk to the level of heathen legend.
They were impostors, and were always
proven such by every intelligent au-
dience before whom they attempted to
exhibit spiritual manifestations. It
is no wonder, then, that scientists
men of brains and education-refused
to investigate the phenomena. 1t is no
wonder that so long as the "presence"
could only be obtained through me-
| diums of questionable honesty and
| doubtful character, that the learned
world declined to look at the matter
at all. OF late, say within the last
| twelve months, higher class of peo-
pie have paid some attention to spirit
ual phenomena. The Fortnightly Re
uieD is authority for saying that WILL
LIAM CRoOKEs, F. r. S. and editor of
the Quarterly Journal Of Science; AL
FRED r. WALLACE, F. r. S.; w. H.
HARRISON, F. r. S. and President of
the British chronological Society, and
Others high in the scientific and liter
ary world, have devoted considera-
BILE time to the serious consideration
of spirit phenomena. They report
| wonderful things. These wise men
are confident they have not been de-
ceived, and they tell of interviews
with the spirit of girl who died one
hundred. years ago. Her name was
KATIE, and she, appeared in visible
form and talked with them; she gave
them locks of her hair, pieces of her
dress, and her autograph. They saw
her, felt her, heard her, and they
say she appeared and disappeared
without the door of the room being
opened. The following is an account
of one evenings investigation:
The audience sit in semi-circles facing the
| cabinet, the inner circle being composed Of
| the most faithful Spirilualists. On one end
Mrs. Holmes, her husband sometimes tax
| ing chair at the other end, sometimes en-
terlng the cabinet and going into "mes-
1 10.
| was present both mediums remained in tull
view OF the audience during the entire per-
but sat tanning and and anaha arahee
| and joked like ordinary mortals. One
window was closed and darkened. and the
and the room dimly illuminated by a coal
| OIL lamp with red shade, which threw upon
the scene that roseale tingeso much affected
| in the spectacular drama. The company be-
| Ing seated, without joining hands, the spirits
were invoked through the agency of a small
| music-box; and when this did not seem TO
fetch 'em" the audience sang sone familiar
| melody.
Alter short overture conducted In this way
| Katie appears at the little window ito the
cabinetJ above mentioned. she usually be-
gins by thrusting out white and shapely
framed in a mass of black rfngiets and set OF
| by Jannty Spanish veil, which lies lightly
on her head: There is profound silence un-
| tll she says IN ghostly silence, "Good even
| ing" The salutation is courteously returned,
| and then ensues a brisk alogue of the small
ese klno OF small talR, interrupted by fre-
| quent dlsappearances and reappearances on
the part OF the young lady. The tenor of
this important communication from the land
| OF the hereafter is about as follows:
"Good evening, Katie"
Good evening"" -a1Faa
Are you alone this evening 90
"No. Father Is here, ana General Rawlins.
but they can't matcrialize tonight"
"Katie, Mr.. owen Robert Dale Owen is
| here: DON'T you want to speak TO him ?" II
why, OF course, stupid. Good evening,
Mr. owen bows, and says, "will you have
"Qt course l will y says Katie, and reaches
her hand for 1t, II is given her, and she dis
| appears with IL, but presently returns and
gives 10 to some one to hofd for her
Katie, can you come out for US tonight ?"
~ Try; but 1t is very warm and very hard
l. Katie accordingly disappears, and the sing
Ing is resumed. Presently the door of the
| cabinet opens slowly. sat directly oppDsite
| the opening, but could see nothing until iU
was well aJar; then white figure seemed to
grow out OF the darkness within, and Katie
stepped forward gracefully, took two or thi ee
steps into the room, and retired, closing the
door after her by lifting her hand to the latch.
she was dressed In a somewhat theatrical COS.
tune OF pure white, which flowed to her feet
and seemed TO be of a fine kind OF muslin
1 The sleeves were loose and flowing, and as
she waved her hands in the sfereotyped style
OF the stage syl phi the sleeves fel away 10 the
shoulder, displaying pair or perfect arms
which might we'll arouse the envy of any
earthly belle. Her figure was full and round
and her face was beautiful in outline and ex.
| presslon, WIN q complexion go clear and
| transparent that 1t either seemed to, or actu.
ally did, shine with amid radiance. In her
| hand she held fresh bouquet, aud a digger
| ran given her al some tefner seance was stuck