The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-08-11


suasive spirit of Katie King, which so deep
ly influenced Mr.. Wallace and other men of
science and note in England, was unable to
cope with the unsparing rigors of our eli
mate, and turned out to be very simple
deception. The more recent wonders of the
same kind also have been wholly deprived
of their miraculous character. There are,
however, instances of singular responses
made by the mediums" to certain questions
evidences of knowledge of things pecu-
liarly intimate and personal, which are Gu
rious and surprising, and for the explanation
OF which the key seems not to have been
found. These, however, may fairly be class
ed with all well-attested phenomena of the
night side of nature. And as many other
apparently inexplicable phenomena occur
ring at the same time and under the same
| circumstances are attributed by the opera
tors to spiritual agencies, but prove to be the
result of exceedingly material forces, it is
illogical to assume that the rest cannot have
similar explanation. Many, fortunately
require none. The poetry of the departed
Shakespeare and the wisdom of the translated
Bacon or Franklin are plainly due to lunar
influences not in heaven, but upon earth
Consolation administered hy spry table legs
and assurances of immortality proceeding
from tambourines happily do not cry for ex-
PLANTATION. They explain themselves. Sig
nor Blitz could give such spirits the odds and
win the game
One of the recent avatars was that of a
woman, who, being tied fast, was in some
manner waited upon by mysterious agencies
which did what no living person could do
who did not use arms, hands, feet or body.
As usual, the things were done behind
serene. The "spirits" are not content with
their own invisibiity. The laws of the
spiritual world, it seems, require that the
medium through whom they manifest them
selves should be invisible also. If guitar
is played, ii must be in box or cabinet, or
in the dark, or behind screen. Why the
spirits If heavenly light fear the light of
earth, or the spirits. of just men made per-
feet are unwilling to confront the gaze of
very unjust and imperfect men doth not ap-
pear The medium can only assure us that
1t Is part of the mystery. Doubtless there
are many honest people who went to the ex-
hlbitions of the medium, paying money at
the door, and who came away firmly con-
vinced that they had witnessed supernatural
phenomena. For how could woman with
her hands tied behind her back thrum a
guitar put pail upon her head, drive a
nail into board, blow fageolet, or tie a
knot in band around her neck?
These were precisely the questions which
Mr.. w. Irving Bishop undertook to answer.
That such things could be done by spirits he
did not propose to question. lie would only
show that they could be done by men and
women also. If he could do this, the "su.
pernatural" would vanish, and the "me
dium would be compelled to prove that the,
were not done by her clever self behind tn,
screen. If, again, she could not prove this
she must be considered as an exposed hum
bug, and "spirtualism" would have severely
suffered, as when poor Katie King yielded
to the pittiiess confession of Mrs. Somebod,
in Philadelphia. MIR. Irving Bishop die
what he promised. In company with {
committee of mell-known citizens of New
York OF high character. he appeared upor
the platform at Chickering Hall. He wa,
placed in a chair, and his hands were tiec
closely to ring in post behind him, and
his neck was tied to another. as if he wer,
about to undergo the punishment of the gar
rote. His feet were also tied together by i
ropo, the end of which was held by spec
taior. A tambourine was then laid upo,
his lap, with several bells, and. like til,
"medium," he was then hidden by a curtair
drawn before him. Instantly the tambour
! inc resonnded, the bells rang, aud both tam