The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-10-17

very Mt and popular member OF the
House OK Delegates from Norfolk city last
term, was in the. city yesterday. He was
raised in Richmond, md has many relatives
and friends here. .., -. f..,... ...ar,,
Joseph L. Young, Esq, another Rich
monder, now business manager OF the Nor
folk Landmark, was in the city yesterday.
The Centenary excursion train, which
left for Washington and points north Mon
day night was composed Of: ten well-bIled
coaches. The other excursion train had
six coaches. 49,. ~,
PROFESSOR COOKE AND Hrs INTERESTING
ENTHUSIASTICALLY might have been ex-
pected from the beautiful weather the sue
cess OF Professor Cookies first entertain
ment at the Theatre Monday night, and the
fact that the tests were to be exposed, drew
very large audience to the Theatre last
night, and 1t is probable that few, il any,
went away dissatisfied. We noticed in the
dress-crcle many OF the leading ladies OF
Richmond society, while in every part OF
the house appeared the familiar faces Of we'll
known citizens, many Of them distinguished
in every profession and calling. Peters's
! fine orchestra was in attendance, and the
music was Of course of the usual excellent
quality. It was in all respects q "dreSs
night" at the Theatre. When the curtain
was rung up, Professor Cooke appeared and
entered into brief explanation Of the tricks
resorted to by the so-called spiritual me-
diums to deceive the public and impose
upon the credulous, reaching espe-
I cially the more simple-minded through their
tenderest affections the ties which bind.
them : to departed friends. He de-
clared that everything pertaining to the
spiritual phenomena was physical, and
could be performed by mechanical means
and appliances. He had promised on this
evening to make fu.l exposure, and should
have to disappoint nine tenths Of his audi
ence-[visible senSationl-simply by keep
ing his word [laushterl, as he knew the
greater portion had come. fixed in the belief
that he intended no such thing. This au-.
nouncementg gave much relief, and reSssured
the incredulous. Having concluded his
preliminary explanation, Professor Cooke
then called upon the audience to furnish .
committee to assist him upon the stage and
supervise his performances as precaution-
ary measure for the protection OF the specta-
tors against deception, although in advance
he gave assurance that it was all purely de-
ceptive.
After some objection on the part OF one
or two gentlemen to serve on the committee
the following were selected: Charles f.
Taylor, J. Bell Bigger, De Witt G. Roy, r.
B. Berkeley, Jud. B. Wood, and A. P. Ben
nett. Their " first appearance on any
stage was hailed with loud and long-con-
tnued applause" and for beginners they
acted we'll their part OF the difficult per-
formance. Indeed, we may say its success
was in measure due to their GOODNESS and
intrepidty, keenness OF sight, and strength
OF muscle.
The first test was, rs on the previous
evening, that of turning wine into water,
and restoring it again at will to the original
fluid. The case with which be colored and
discolored the liquid was very like magic,
and vet it could only have been done by
chemical action and reaction, for even the
favor failed to indicate the presence OF any.
thing like spirits in the so-called wine.
This test he failed to explain. He next re-
peated the card-test and explained it. The
exploration showed this to be simple,
,, very simple trick, effected by the aid OF
confederate, which may be performed by
!, any two persons with any pack OF playing
cards. After this he went through with
the cabinet performances Of tying and un
tyius with ropes, and then released and
retied himself in the presence OF the au
dience In exposing the tying-test ht
showed how the Davenports and others hat
: so long succeeded in hoodwinking the pub
q lie into the belief that this simple "tyinS
8 lrpv business was the work OF "spirits.'
e In untying himself he first released his righ
: hand by pulling it through the rope, ant
this he did with scarcely an apparent effort
e although the cord was tied so tight aroun'
7 the wrist as to bury itself into the flesh
> His hand released, be very readily extrl
-. Gated himself from the other ropes, an
e stood free before the audience, much t
their surprise. He reversed the operation
of freeing himself, and soon was tted-u
:. again as tightly as before with the sam
Il knots. This was entirely satisfactory, an
e the exposure was greeted with applause.
(; After an i1termission OF few minutes
e the curtain was again raised and some fur
2 ther tests were given with the ropes and eS
e posed, some OF which were very astonishing
Il Professor Cooke then explained that he wa
prevented from explaining the clairVoyan
l. test this evening by the illness OF Miss CraW
5 ford. 1t would be necessary, IN oraer Z
l. exnlaiu this, to give another eXhlbiflor
s nine If the press Of the city woul
u pledge themselves not to explain throug
e their columns the method by which 1t wa
L done. Unless this pledge were given b
It would under no consideration expose Il
, and without that there would be no nece'
q sity for another. performance. The men
+ hers of the press present, belonging to th
q Enou,;-er, Dispatch, State, and Wing, has
ing piyer The necessary assurance, the Pro
i lessor expressed his Willingness to Civ
i another seunce. AID make Q complete eX
0 posure-in fact, make J clean breast "
Il. This announcement Was received wit
satisfaction by the audience. - ~ =.
:. The entertainment closed with the "Spirl
j.. Bride" This, he explained, was an fmpc
= sition practiced by the spiritualists, wherein
. they pretended to be able to materiaiize tn
. spirits OF departed friends, and bring then
- back in the body to .1reYfsit the glimpse
, of the morp.'' This was done by his sister
: Miss Cooke, entering into the cabinet an
!. being tied fast by cord around the neck
; In the cabinet she released herself from tn
! cord, changed her dress to white brida
= costume, and, robed in white, came ou
= and walked around the stage; while sh
: : was, of course, supposed to be still securel
: tied In the cabinet. This ended the Sednce
L and the audience departed apparently al
l delighted with the evenings entertainment
= The exhibition tonight will be positiyel
u the last, and everything not yet explaine
$ will be made plain and the real believers il
= spiritual manifestations will find it aver
q q difficult matter to explain away the eSpla
: nation. 3d. a.s,r
S Harper's Monthly for November an
= Hdrper'S Weekly for this week receive
: from j. T. Ellyson, bookseller, 1112 Mai
street. . .G3
{. a [Communicated.]
|. Professor Cooke
:. having decided to give one more entertain
| ~ fEof yutl thiS pv4nfn