Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-20

IL having been announced through the
journals Of the city and by means Of
handbills scattered broadcast that on
Sunday night Mr.. Edward Livingston,
medium, would give most wonderful
manifestations at the theater, he being
the most remarkable Undertaking. test
medium in the world" and that the
dead would appear and talk to the au.
dience;" that spirit hands, faces and
forms could be seen and recognized, etc,
there was quite a stir in wonder. seeking
circles throughout the city, and in conse-
quence a very large audience, composed
OF ladies and gentlemen, appeared at
tue theatrical temple last night. Our
materialized reporter purchased half a
dozen lead pencils, borrowed q lorgnette
and wendell his way to the theater. He
went to observe, nothing to extenuate
nor aught to set down in malice. He
observed q materialized spirit in the
box'ofice taking in m~aterialized dollars
from gentlemen; he observed two ma
terialized doorkeepers taking tickets at
the inner door, he observed m~aterialized
ushers showing gentlemen aud ladies' to
reserved seats, aud he observed the par.
quette, dress circle. family circle and
gallery crowded with a materialize1 au-
dience.
II MYSTERY COMMENCES.
AT s o'clock the materialized curtain
depicting a scene on the coast of Brit
tainy went up, and on the stage wal seen
a cabinet c~urtained all around in black.
In a few minutes the medium.seer or
spirit appeared from behind the wings in
company With his exhibitor, both in ma.
terialized form. Mr.. Livingston, the
medium, is a small-sized man, Of a nel-
Vous temperament, apparently, if one
can Judge By his appearance aud quick
style Of walking. His partner, or ex-
hibitor, is of larger mould, and evidently
understands the busiaess. The latter
made a few Introductory remarks, intro
ducing Mr.. Livingston, and stated the
everlasting conditions, viz. perfect order
and silence, etc. The medium went into
the cabinet, the curtain wal drawn over
the opening and the lights were turned
down, which latter gave a sombre,
CHASTITY and dramatic coloring to the
stage. In a few minutes the curtain was
drawn aside, and the medium was dis.
covered seated in a chair with arms and
legs tied to it in the usual
manner. A witness from the audi
ence was called for, and. Judge
Ray, Of the Probate Court, was
selected. be examined the tying and
pronounced it apparently c and
fast. The curtain was drawn over the
opening Of the cabinet once more, and
removed in a few minutes, when the
medium was found c%oatless but tied as
before. Other experiments followed
putting on a coat, ringing bells, thrum.
ming a guitar, showing fingers and hands
in rapid motion above the curtain. etc
but when the curtain was withdrawn the
medium vas discovered tied as before.
How was this done? The exhibitor said
it was by spirit power, but the skeptics
said not. 1t is very clear that a man
can tie himself to a chair securely; if so,
he a also unite himself by a reverse op.
GRAFTON. Of our his legs we're tied first,
then the rope was passed under aud
around the chair and into the slip knots
which had been made in the rope at
first; his hands we're thrust behind the
chair and drawn tAut by both hands and
legs. Had he been tied by one Of the
audience he could not have Embossed
himself 90 rapidly by slipping the slip.
knots, and after the manifestations then
put his hands back into the slip-knots so
quickly, The Davenports did ell this,
and it has been done and exposed on the
open stage in this city.
MANIFESTATIONS NO. TWO.
The medium took his seat again, aud
Chief of Police Athy vas called upon to
produce several pairs Of ratchet hand.
cuffs. The Chief stepped on the stage and
hand-cuffed the medium securely. They
could not be slipped easily, although
such has been done by thieves who had
large wrists and small hands, but Mr..
Livingston did not slip them. The cur
tain was drawn over the cabinet once
again and removed in a few minutes
One hand.cuff was OF. Another trial
was made, and the medium was found
with the hapd.cutf on one wrist and
around one ankle. This vas q clever
performance and a puzzler to Chief Athy,
as we'll as the audience. The exhibitor
said the spirits did it, but Colonel Dun.
can McRae atood up in the parquette and
said that only one thing remained to
prove hat the mystery was either super
natural or q trick, and that was to closely
search the medium for keys to the hand.
cuffs, which he could have concealed
about his person. This declaration ra-