Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-08-28
II. WHITMORE.
Publisher and Proprietor,
NAUGHTY SPIRITS.
How They Went Back ON Edward
Livingstone.

Livingstone.
The following interesting article
in reference to the exposure of Ed
ward Livingstone, is taken from
the Cleveland (0hio) Herald of re-
cent date:
Edward Livingstone, "the most
wonderful materializing medium in
the world,' as his bills announced,
gave a seance at the Globe Theater
last evening. 1t was a genuine,
red-hot, wonderful old centennial
humbug, the spirits failing to come
to time in a manner sad to contem-
plate.
A large audience was present,
when the "medium," very good
looking and pleasant spoken little
gentleman, opened his entertain.
ment by announcing that he would
do all he had promised, providing
those inevitable conditions" were
all right. He requested that the
audience would choose some gentle
men to act as a committee of in.
spection, wtereupon A. 7. Var
Tassel, we'll known ex-Council.
man, was called for from all parts
of the house, and went upon the
stage.
The usual cabinet performance
was gone through very successfully
the medium being tied to a chail
inside the box, with his hands fixed
so that he could not get loose
Bells were rung, hands exhibited,
coat taken from his body and re
placed, a guitar thrummed, anC
apparently without any release o
the hands. The committee sale
that he could see no way by which
it was done, and declined to ofel
any theory upon the subject, al
though stating that he did not be
lieve in spirits.
Livingstone then had six ladies,
Van Tassel and another gentle
man, sit aronnd a table on the
stage, with their hands upon it
and the lights in the house turned
down. A few moments of anxious
waiting, and the table was raised &
few inches from the floor several
times and slammed down, so that
the noise it made could be heard
all over the house.
The lights were then turned "
again and Van Tassel called upon
to report.
"The table was raised once OF
twice from the floor" said he to the
audience, "and | then thought il
time to investigate. ! raised my
knee toward the center of Tie table
and struck another knee, which
think belonged to the mediam."
A storm of jeers and laughter
swept in from the audience, and
the explanation which the medium
tried to make could not be heard
for some time. 1t was a last
brought out, to the effect that
people could do as they thought
best about believing whether it was
a humbug or not. lie denied that
the table could be lifted by a mans
knee.
Van Tassel, who had gone down
into the auditorium on a request
which the medium had made after
the expose, arose and said that it
could be done. To prove his words
he again went upon the stage sat
down to the table, put his knees
under it, and raised it in exactly
the same manner as had been done
before.
Kisses and laughter filed the
house. The medium tried to get
in @ word, but could not for a long
time. At last, when the noise had
subsidized, he turned to the audience
and said: 81 find that the power
that ! had has departed from me,
and cannot give any more mani
festations tonight / intend to
give an exhibition here next Sun
day evening, and shall be glad to
see you again. Good night"
The medium" " retired, and the
curtain went down.
Van Tassel arose. 81 went on to
that stage to make q fair and
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