Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-11-12
The Rutland RiAAIe.

A fresh interest has been given to Spiritual"
phsnomsna, II 1t 10 proper to use that phrase,
by the ''materializing" process, attempted with
varying success in England and this country,
but which is mainly identified with the Eddy
family at Rutland, Vermont. 1T is subject that
few persons even unbelievers, will not confess to
some interest in. Surprising it to be only trick
cry the interest ia still great The mystery Of
life is 10 impenetrable, notwithstanding to our
moods-so depressing, that even the least i'm
pressible and best balanced persons will fly now
and then to the widest OF conjecture in the eff
fort to break the maddening chain or whilst
acknowledging that the secret is unsolvabe this
side OF death will strive to gain some relaxation,
and will trife with the SphynX knowing all the
while that it is inscrutable. At such times we
| feel that we are all ghosts, alike that we now
merely happen to wear these "lendings" OF
flesh, but that essentially we are as strange and
vague a. the men who died thousand years ago.
What can the Rutland mediums, or any other
mediums, show us more improbable than our
own selves.
This state of feeling which we have all to sub
init o,-say, rather suffer from at odd times,
will explain great deal OF the interest taken
in the Rutland demonstrations by intelligent
persons who are not prepared to acknowledge
themselves spiritualists. We are bold enough
to believe that it influences, even il Unconscious
ly, the Investigations Of Col. Olcott and other
truthful and unprecedented persons who have sci
themselves to read the Rutland riddle. These
parties, Olcott especislly-whose letter to the
New York Graphic on the subject have been
models Of dispassionate Observation-Disclosures any
dea Of trickery on the part of the mediums must
be dismissed; that whatever the cause Of these
apparitons, so called, they are not produced by
the persons bound in the cabinet, and that &C.
, cess to the cabinet except through tho audience
is out of the question. On the other hand there
Y are observers who hold the opposite view. On'
!. of the most authoritative Of these is DR.. George
n M. Beard Of New York, well known practitioner
n and scientist. This gentleman, after witness
ing the performances at the Eddy Home
stead, pronounces tho whole thing legerde
main. But lie lacks the fairness and scrupu
0 lous attention to detail which characterizcs Col
8 Olcott and furthermore was present at but ont
:, seance while Olcott has been resident Of thu
: place fol weeks, and an attendant at all thu
Q meetings.
+ One thought will assuredy strike every reade
8 Of DR.. Boards statement. II these dongs ar,
: mere jugglely why in the first place, were the,
: not instantly exposed? and why, in the secon,
e place, do not other jugglers attempt the sam
thing in larger and more renumerativ
3 ways? 1t may be said that the Davenpor
I Brothers and others have popularized the cabi
, net business, but that point it must not be for
gotten is but an incident of the Eddy perform
= ance,-whichin the main is the offering to view @
certain appearances, evolved in manner no on
a knows how and called spirit forms. II profef
+ sors Of legerdemain learn 10 do this trick sue
s cessfully other show business may retire. III
= best hold the unbevever now has is that som
!. ingenious arrangement Of mirrors may yet ofe
C the required explanation, but although Co
. olcott Ia, not touched this point his descriptio
Il of the exceedingly unpretendng appointment
G of the Eddy house render this suppositio
s. difficult. or course there is some explanation
.e and yet there is many thing which is neve
!. found out.