The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-27
DIR. SIade Abroad.

DIR. Slade Abroad.
OF the many distinguished Americans
who have OF late crossed the water Tor
business or pleasure, there is perhaps not
one, with the single exception of that emf
nent statesman, WILLIAM MARCY TWEED,
whom we could more readily spare than
Doctor HENRY SLADE. Tie had long since
exhausted his usefulness here, aud like
wise the creduity of the people Of this
country. shortly after the arrival at the
court Of ST. James, of our distinguished
fellow citizen, Judge EDWARDS PIERRE
PoNT, the great sprituaist took wing
and set up his household gods in Lon
don town, where Dear Lady MARY"
once breathed and lived, walked and
talked. 1t would no doubt have been
comfort to the American Minister could
he have had that great and good man, Dr.
FLINT, and his teapot, within easy reach.
But FLINT, from circumstances entirely
beyond his control, was compelled to &C
cept the temporary hospitality of the
authorities of this city, and could not
leave the country.
SLADE at first fourshed amazingly i'm
the English metropolis. He advertised
largely, people flocked TO his apartments
and the sovereigns came rolling in. At
the comparatively moderate rate of one
sovereign, the seance fee, he would sum-
mon the deceased Mrs. SLADE-" ALLIE"
and through the medium of mysterious
writings on his famous slate, put any
English lady or gentleman in direct COM
munication with the spirit of the dear de-
parted. Unfortunately, however. for
SLADE, Professor +. RAY LANCASTER
doubted the trustworthiness Of these al
legged spirit messages, did not believe that
the writing was effected by spiritual
agency. aud iusinuated that LIE
when in the flesh, was too intimately ac-
quauted with the Doctors wicked wilos
to be willing ut his summons To cross the
Atlantic ocean some ten or ffteen times a
day for the purpose of writing nonsense
on n slate held under common kitchen
table. No spirit having the slightest con-
sciousness Of its own dignity would for
moment lend itself to such absurd mani
fesiations.
Prof. LANCASTER watched SLApE closely
during one of these spiritual stances at
which ALLIE" was supposed to have
Dttl utNttltu Nun III lut
very act of playing the part Of private
secretary TO the dear departed; denounced
and exposed him. The result was that.
Henry SLADE aud JEFFREY SIMMONS were
summoned before the London Bow street
Police Court on n charge of being rogues
aud vagabonds and also on charge Of
conspiracy 10 obtain money hy false pre-
fences. one Of the witnesses on the trial,
Mr.. joins y. MAskELYNE. who described
himself rs Il jeweller. matchmaker, and
n conjurer, explained how the slate writ
ing WAS done and practically demonstrated
TO the Court, with slate ana pencil. the
modus oporaudi of the deception.
We regret TO say that the American Am
bassador abandoned the great spilitualst
in his hour of need. one might have
thought that the remembrance Of his la
borious genealogical researches in the
spirit land, in which DR.. FLINT and Dear
Lady MARY rendered such efficient aid,
would have prompted Judge PIERREPoNT,
il not TO assist. AT least 10 sympathiZe with
DIR. SLADE in his deep affection Appa-
rently such was not the case DR.. SHADES
efforts to establish the religion OF Spiutu-
alsm among the Blitishers seem likely TO
prove aboTtive.
We here in America owe much to Prof.
LANCASTER for the bold aud vigorous ac-
ton lac has taken in thoroughly exposing
the receptions which SLADE aud his fell
lows have 50 long and so successfully prac-
tised on a credulOus public. As IA general
thing the victims OF these rogues ale
found in the humber walks OF life-though
the charming simplicity Of our representa-
tive at the Court of st. James certainly
forms notable exception TO the rule-and
more especially among those dwelling in
the rural districts.
The greater the publicity given to the
proceedings against SLADE in the London
Bow street Police Court, the greater the
service rendered to that numerous class of
deluded beings on whom such mpostors
as SLADE and FLINT live and prey.
There exists in every community GER
tain percentage Of knaves and fools. one
could not exist without the other. No
amount of discipline can make an honest
man out of knave; and no amount of
preaching can lnstil wisdom into II block
head. SHADES spiritual business is based
Oh thorough knowledge Of these facts.
In enumeration of these axioms we mean
no offence, nor do we intend any disre-
spect TO the distinguished gentleman who
now represents, or attempts to represent,
this country at the British Court.
Why Repeat Such an Experiment
year ago Tammany Hall nominated
DELANo G. CALVIN for Surrogate OF New
York aul The Iulqueulput Democrats