The Portland daily press., 1877-10-01

The FIRE TEsT.-Army and Navy Hall was
about half filled last evening by an audience
drawn together by the announcement that Mrs.
M. E. Suydam, the Fire Queen, would give
fire test" AS this trick is rather stale bit
of juggling which has been performed for the
past 200 years, Sunday evening would seem to
be rather strange time for its production in
Portland, but then it was done in the name of
spiritualism. DR.. Chas. E. Watkins, the slate
writer, also promised some startling tests, while
Mr. @. p, Longley was advertised to sing. The
latter did as he had promised, but If Mrs Suy-
dam cannot improve on her fire test she should
engage Cling Look who will be remembered
by the patrons of Wally Wards show for an
instructor Mr.. Watkins didn't attempt slate
writing but became semi-en tranced and gazing
about over the audience tod them what he saw
the clouds. He brought message from
one young man, but for the sake Of his friends
withheld tt Q name. The mans message COP
tanned the following: ITO be sure went with
the boys while on earth, sut / tried to do what
I thought was right" He afterwards gave the
name of man named Hart, and when asked
to give some description of the man said he
would if he could. He soon remarked, "They
will all come but that 'feller.'' Some of the
persons who received messages from deceased
friends were surprised to learn that since
reaching the spirit land they spoke frightfnl
English
After Mr.. Watkins had got through exhib-
iting himself, he went into the ante.room and
a lady was called from the audience to fill up
the time with remarks When Mr.. Watkins
returned he happened to catch sight of another
cloud drifting across the centre of the hall and
striking the attitude Of tragedian he COM
menced reciting what he saw in voice terrible
to hear. When he had snbsided and had re-
quested all who recognized the names called to
rise, he introduced Mis-. Suydam to the fayors
of the audience.
Two physicians, who request that their names
be not given, were selected as committee to
see that it was done by none other than spirit
influence. The lady exhibited two chubby
arms and challenged an examination. The
arms and hands we're examined after which
they were washed in liquid resembling water,
bat which was not examined She then put
her hands in the flame Of a kerosene lamp and
afterwards made an attempt to eat burning
cotton. Any one who is interested to know
how these cheap tricks are performed should
read Sir David Brewster's Letters on Natural
Magic, addressed to Sir Walter Scott, from
which we make the following extract:
One of the most ancient feats of magic was
the art of breathing fame-an art which even
now excites the astonIshment of the vulgar.
During the instruction of the slaves in Sicily
in the second century before Christ, Syrian
named Eunus, acquired by his knowledge the
rank of their leader. In order to establish his
influence over their minds he pretended to pos
sass miraculous power. When he wished to in
sDire his followers with courage he breathed
flames or sparks among them from his mouth
at the same time that he wa rousing them By
his eloquence. st. Jerome informs rs that the
Rabbi Barchachehas, who headed the Jews in
their last REVOLT against Hadrian, made them
believe that be was the Messiah by vomiting
flames from his mouth; and at later period
the Emperor Constantus was thrown into
state of alarm when Vatentinias informed him
that he had seen one of the body guards breath
ing out fire and flames, We are not acquainted
with the exact methods by which these effects
were produced; but Flarus Informs us that
Eunus filled perforated nutshell with sulphur
and fire, and having concealed it in his mouth
he breathed gently through it while he was
speaking. This art is performed more simply
by the modern juggler. ~
The kindred art of walking on burning Goals
or red hot iron belongs to the same antiquity.
The priestesses of Diana at Castabala in Cap
padocia were accustomed according to Strabo,
to walk over burning Goals; and at the annual
festival which was held in the temple of Apol-
10 on Mount Soracte in Etruria, the Hirpi
marched over burning Goals, and on this &C
count they were exempted from military SER
vice, and received other privileges from the
Roman Senate. This power of resisting fire
was ascribed even by Varro to the use of some
liniment with which they anointed the soles of
their feet.
Of the same character was the art of hold
ing red.hot iron in the hands or between the
teeth, and plugging the hands into boiling
water or melted lead. About the close of the
18th century, an Englishman of the name of
Richardson rendered himself famous by chew
ing burning Goals, pouring melted lead upon
his tongue and swallow ug melted glass.