Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-11-10
Spiritualism in America.

IL must be admitted that the golden day
OF spiritualism in America is on the wane.
The time is not very far back when lecturers
on spiritualism and mediums" with their
knockings, messages and materializations
were very successful in deluding tho people.
Men of great intelligence were forced to be.
lievc there was something in it. They could
not account for the phenomena on natural
and scientific grounds and so were forced to
resort to the supernatural. Among the
most noted Of this class in later days was
Prof. Robt. Dale Owen, who was so imposed
upon by the Katy King naturalization.
The performances of the Eddy family in
Vermont is another instance by which men of
science we're fooled aud blinded. But when
the house was torn down and tho deception
discovered, then they quickly discarded their
belief in spiritualism. But during the past
season, there have been many exposures Of
various "mediums" and the articles by
which they deceive the credulous believer
in spiritualism. The visions of "Indian
girls" and other dramatic forms have melted
into the substantial forms OF the mediums
upon the approach Of Investigations. In
one case, where flowers were thrown among
an audience, in darkened room, the medi-
um was closely watched and nothing discov-
cred but they forgot woman sitting in the
circle, whom nobody knew, but who after.
ward proved to be the generous distributor
OF flowers.
Among the most ingenious receptions
practiced are esprit photogra phs" in which
the picture Of the believer is taken with the
dim forms of various wellknown "spirits"
seen in the background, peering over the
shoulder, out into the eyes Of the astonlshed
beholder. The method by which these pho
tographs is the thus described in in an ar
ticle in Chambers Journal
A case brought to our notice from Paris
will illustrate the way in which this class
of photographers impose on the public. The
police, hearing that certain photographer
OF that city was pocketing large profits by
taking these photographs for creduous peo-
pie, dispatched an emissary to discover the
fraud On making known his wish to be
photographed with his guardian spirit, he
was requested to leave the studio for short
time for the purpose of the spirit being in
voked. During his absence plate, prepar-
ed in the ordinary way, was exposed to light
for few seconds opposite screen whereon
a vague, ghostly image was figured. The
mans photograph superposed-gave, it is
needless to say, the required effect. Tho
photographer, on hint from the police,
ceased to take spirit photographs.
But the cleverest plan of all is that which
utilities the newly discovered optical princi'
pie known as huorescence. Paint on q white
screen with sulphate Of quinine (which is
colorless) something shadowy to represent
the ethereal being" Expose this to bright
sunlight for short time and then place
your unsuspocting believer in guardian an
gels" before this screen; photograph him in
the ordinary way, and at the same time you
obtain a picture Of your painting, about
which he is ignorant. Finish your photo
graph in the ordinary way. The qulnine
drawing will come out hazy aud indistinct as
part of the picture; and then your believer
in spirits, who has longed to have his Eat
tendant spirit" manifested to him, receives
it trembliugly with gratitude Alas for the
credulity Of mankind
By such means as these are the faithful
deceived and their money given. For it ii
] of course to make money that all these medi
ums, photographers and other dealers in spir
ituaIism, pure and indebted, play their lit
tie games upon the worlds stage. They arr
every day being found ont and covering
with disgrace and ridicule those who arr
true believers in spiritualism. There ar
many, no doubt, who are earnest and tru,
believers 10 that faith but they are rapidly
becoming less by the exposures OF the meth
DDS which lead them to believe in it.