The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-07-27
d VEXED QUESTION.

The shallOwer mind is usually the
more positive it is upon every subject.
The deepest thinkers adopt the Scotch
verdict: "Not proven" as to many of
the great problems OF life,
We all of US turn greedily to any evid-
ence of immortality-;a nd hence the
passion for spiritualism. Ifit can be de-
monstrated that intelligent creatures ex-
ist outside our mundane sphere it is
great point gained; whether they be an
gels, devils or the spirits of our dead
friends. But still the thought will come
to US which troubled Hamlet, after he
encountered his fathers ghost:-
"The spirit, that have seen,
May be a devil; and the devil hath power
TO assume a pleasing shape; yea, and, per-
haps.
Out of my weakness and my melancholy
Abuses ms to damn me. I'll have grounds
More relative than this"
One OF the latest phases OF spiritualism
is the formation of the masks of hands
and faces in paraffine. We read an &C
count OF some casts of hands, produced
the other day in meeting in New York,
which were declared spurious because
the wrists were larger than in nature,
and large enough to permit the hand
that formed them to be withdrawn. We
have also seen statement that Mrs.
Hardy, noted medium, was detected
with number OF casts OF hands on her
person; and was also seen making them.
And yet we find in recent number Of
the Boston Commonwealth, one Of the
leading papers OF intelligent New Eng
land, the follow;ng:-
Oh, lucky thought, when CANDLE dipping.
in connection with these materializtons, was
suggested to Professor Denton! Ii may have
been an angels whisper, and 10! paraffne hove
in sight He said. Spirits can you dip those
when cooled, dissolve and leave the mould?'
And they answered hack in the raps, Eyes, we
can, or We will try" How fortunate that we.
with no knowledge Of this spirit. colloquy, or
concert Of action, should have happened to have
called on Mrs. Hardy, who has familiar spirit
q p.d the ancient prophet you'd s.y, and find the
his pail Of parxffine, and We Awere greeted By
this female dealer with the desd'Vy thus,
Shadows, We are glad you havei happened
in; Sc what We are DONG" The melted para
fine was under the table and nothing else;
around it were only four Of rs, including the
medium and the Professor, Il was early in the
afternoon and perfectly light; the space under
the table protected from sight and light by Z
cloth tackled around the edge Of the table. The
spirits were very lively, and poked their an
gers up and oct between the tackled cloth and
table; and, II not fast enough, the medium in
inserted her own hand underneath and got
from thence little pasanine moulds. We lot
on this occasion some thirty, olall sizes. T6ey
wess Afterwards filled with plaster and harden
ed, and were casts d 6ngee-ends Of al sizes.
and shapes, from the taby's 10 the giants and
they had the cutical marks and fneer nails Of
human digits. This occasion was wholly q.
pegimental- There was the simplicity and the
raseness d : new thing. and which proved sue
cenful, and then and there the nps, in reply
and practice W an give he moulds Of whole
hand" What could be bettsr peos(. said we.
Of intelligence and truth than doing tint, q I
number seven q eight hand must dissolve to
give mould without rupturing 6ve-inch
wriA or opsningl Shortly after thas they did
-; and now, I'll over the world, ase spirits
showing this phenomeDon-noe only hsnds.
but twohands claspsd, ssd faee and let, and
some Of the hoss and many a Tie hands have
been unmista1Ahly recognised.
II i hard to get It the truth, when
honest faith b % mixed up with frauds
and tricks.