The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-19
SCIENCE AND spIRIrUlLIsM.
Tho Tests Of the ~. Petersburg University
A He'll Rung Iuside n Locked box.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sir: Your
readers ana the general public are aware that
the Imperial University OF st. Petersburg, the
chief governmental educational institution OF
Russia, had decided upon thorough scientific
investigation Of the phenomena OF modern
8 irituaiism. and that the most eminent profess
sors OF the nation had been assigned to the duty.
1t Is also known that Madame II. =. Dlavatsky,
an erudite Russian lady resident In this coun-
try, and I, have been honored with n commits
sion to test and forward sucn mediums as we
might consider best fitted to exemplify the ma
turc and potency Of the occult force designated
IA mediumstic power,
have the satisfaction to announce that the
work Is already I'm progress, and that sniisfac-
tory results have been attained with the FIRST
medium tested. A letter has lust been received
by Madame Blavatsky from NJ. Aksakof, Coun-
oillor Of State In the Imperial: Chancelery'
In which these facts are stated. NJ. Aksakoi
and Prof. 'Boutlerof Of tho University visited
England In September. and selected from among
English mediums two boys named Petty, OF
whom one is IL and the other Il years old. He
describes the experiment rs follows:
We placed the elder one well secured, behind = cur
.ln, stretched across the corner OF the room Bcior,
him stood iaps. nnd on ihis We nNed wooden coz,
cked with KEY. In the walls Of the cage the amer
Of lead pencil. Inside The cage hand boil placed
md the door then locked, the Key removed, ant
the room darkencd The hell soon rung loudly
aud repeatedly. II was a sp ndd test
with respect 20 the personnel Of the commit
tee aud its plans VI. Aksakof says:
am extremely wei satisfied with our sc'o"tlnc com
mitce Nothing could be de sired la this respect
without exception they re 80 amlaUc and 40 ready t'
comply with any Reasonable conditions dem landed. tia
~ would DC a great misfortune II ~rirltu lists were moi
20 proh' hy the opportunity now offered for thorough
inycstig1tton They have adopted u rcAllu
lion oho'd forty official sclnres beginning auOut MAY
T. next. md continuing to September I, omitting IN
regular summer vacation. INcy allow w. MY Of toe
forty sttngs he failures from cause or smother
hut N after the course closes they shall not have tuun
ANYTHING WORTHY ~ srcnfihc notice, they Will cousdc
quirN Into the subject.
lie adds fact Of interest 70 those who hav,
taken exception u what have advanced con
corning the probable agency Of the ecnientar,
sprits' of the ROsirrucians IN producing th'
ply steal phenomena II our circl =
Perhaps" say, he ct VIII be inter sting Tor t.
know thai Prince a. D0gnr' uky, the greet auth rit
ric-in ri-m, has writttn SIC IA Dee Inns ascerair
That the spirit. which play the most pr0mncT part q
esuncrs cleut nta tesgi uIrs. etc. Ills clairyoy
ans have seen Ga M nni ie.crl Je % IN thus
Prof. Boutlcrofs account Of personal investi
cations in suiriturlstic phenomena was 10 appeu
m tho next number Of the Russian Ne lngr o
Moscow, IN official journal ana PROT y. Wa
/ same iOu MI lengthy notice Of Nr. Cruske'
| experiments md review Of NY own work
People from the other world.
one eminent CORES pOndent trUthfullV adds
! IN concluding We are crossing real cpOcl
here" Nouis respectfully.
HLNRY :. OLCOTT.
NEW York, Dec. L.. $50