The New York herald., 1876-03-13
MRS. HARDY'S SEANCE.
A SPIRIT HAND MATERIALIzED AND EXHIBITED
AT REPUBLICAN HALL.

SPIRIT HAND MATERIALIZED AND EXHIBITED
AT REPUBLICAN HALL.
Mrs. Hardy OF Boston, held a ssance last evening
at Republican Hall, West Thirty third street. pres
OF large and refined audience. II had been
nounced that through the mediumship of this lady
'spirit hand" would be 'materialized," and the
mould taken in parafine exhibited All this done,
and apparently done without trick device About
eight O'CLOCK Mrs Hardy, together with her husband,
and Mr. Newton, Of this city, stepped upon the plat
form. Singing by choir and poem by Nr Hardy
opened the ssance. Mr. Newton explained the manner
In which the spirit hand would materialized A
committee would be appointed from the audience who
would have full charge OF the details OF the sitting.
Parafine would be melted in hot water the pail
placed under the table the PLATFORM the
table would be covered with CLOTH and the medium,
cnveoped in sack, would sit behind It, No one eso
to be allowed upon the platform. These conditions,
he said, would be Observed and il any present
dissatisfied with them he could leave and get his money
back. disturbance would not be tolerated and that
the managers were earnest the latter resolve,
apparent from the presence OF n policeman.
Mr.. Hardy then read history OF his wiies medium
ship, detailing particularly her first and subsequent
attempts at materiazing spirit hands Her sednces
had been in the light, and she had yielded TO all the
captious demands of her critics, such being placed
in sack and doing away with darkness at their re-
unions No genuine medium could promise success,
bui Mrs Hardy had materalzed about forty hands Of
all shapes and Sizes Of which had been
recognized belonging those that had passed from
the earth and she had failed He had theory
TO advance how this done but did not doubt II
the work of spirits. The committee then selected,
and was composed of three gentlemen and two ladcs-
Oliver Johnson, Erastus W. Smith, John w. Griscom,
Mrs. Austin and Miss Burns
The committee retired to an adjoining room OBJ
tanned the pail and hot water weighed the paradnc
and then throwing It into the water, reappcared and
placed the pail in full view of the audience They
then examined the platform To see that there
trap DOORS even removing the carpet that covered IT,
The platform is but about four inches hlgh six feet
long and about as wide. The ladies inspected
the sack which was made Of something that
rcsembled fine musquito netting, and found II
without break or rip Mrs Hardy got into II and Mrs.
Austin fastened 1t tightly about her neck Beside the
pail basin of cold water. Around the table
placed the cloth. All retired from the platform but
MIR. Griscom who wanted to remain. Objections were
raised and 1t decided that he could not keep hls
scat there unless he was envcoped was the medium.
Mr.. Griscom asscuted TO this proposition, aud
endeavored to borrow some lady's waterproof, but
none could lend him the article He then took his seat
with the remaining members Of the committee saying
that he neither Spirtualist nor Materialist,"
aud he 'wantcd TO see for himself"
Mr.. Hardy then said ave want accompliccs; let
everything be air.n Some OF the lights turned
of but there burners sufficient TO make everything
visible and distinct throughout the hall Mrs Hardy
took her seat behind the table and besides having her
hands in full sight OF the audience, apparently did
nothing strange The choir sang three four pretty
hymns, and in about twenty Ave minutes there werc
audible rappings under the table, when II
nounced that the spirit had communicated that work
had commenced, and what was desired would be pro-
duced. More singing and another walt. when there
were other rappngs, ana the spirit sent the mes
sage that in "seven minutes shall be through" In
just that time Mrs Hardy got up, the burners shut
of were rclightcd and with everybody anxious, the
committee began their work. Mr.. Griscom immed
atoy looked under the cloth and clappng his hands
SAID, II thought so; there's nothing there "
Another member followed his example and
told a different story, for the pail
was found the mould OF human hand made
from the paraline and yet warm. The hand was,
apparently, somewhat deormed. but yet it was hand,
the fingers, thumb and nails all being natural Mr..
johnson satisfied, of the committee, that
there had been trick device resortcd 10, and,
though he could not explain it, deemed the ateriaza
tion "A success. Mr.. Griscom still unbeiever,
and thcorzed TO extent, charging that the hand
had heen placed there after the medium left her seat
but he failed to explain how IL was warm The lady
members believed what they saw and had no theories
TO advance The audience fingered long while, In
spccting the spirit hand and finally departed wonder
n nj what thew had seen.