The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-05-08
srIRl1UALIsM.


Pr"f. Cookies Entertainment Rnd
Exposure Last saturday Evening.
Owing to the late hour ut which Prof.
Cooke concluded his entertainment at the
Aiheneum last Saturday night. we were
unable to give our readers anything like
fair report of the wonderful things done
by the professor.
Cairo has a fair share Of spirituallsts,
and in times past they have been wit
nesses to exhibitions by the Davenports.
Mrs. Ferris, and host of other
who claim to perform their
many tricks" by the aid of
the spirits - real genuine o;her-world
spirits. But we doubt very much if
there was a spirituaist present at the
exhibition Saturday night. who, when
Prof. Cooke had concluded his perform
ance, was not willing to admit that his
belief in the faith was not, to say the
least, considerably shaken. But let US
speak Of the tricks exposed by Prot.
Cooke.
The audience was composed to large
extent OF the leading business aud
professional men Of the city. On coming
on the stage Prof. Cooke, after a few
preliminary remarks, called for com
mittce Of six gentlemen, to be selected
by the audience, whom he desired to oc-
cupy the stage with him during the per-
torrance. Mr.. c. X. Woodward was
chosen chairman OF the committee, and
he then selected DIR. Wardner, w. II.
Morris, Col. McKeaig, i. II. Myers and
Jas. johnson. These gentlemen all took
their seats on the stage where they re.
manned until the co.e of the entertain
ment.
The wine AMI water trick that is
Prot. Cooke gave the com.
mittee wine and water alternately from
the same pitcher was the first perform
ance. But of this we do not wish to
speak. The wine and water matter is a
very simple trick wien one knows how
to do it. The other portions OF the en-
tertanment is what We wish to refer to
more particularly.
Prof. Cooke produced five pieces of
rope. and with these he requested the
members of the committee 10 tie him 10
chair in plain view of the entire audi
ence. Messrs. Woodward, Wardner,
Morris and Myers proceeded to tie
the professor 10 the chair. They
first tied his wrists, drawing the
first halt Of the rope so tightly that the
rope was fairly Embedded in the flesh,
causing the hand to turn purple. The
knot was made double IN the same way.
The ends of the rope were then securely
fastened to the legs OF the chair. An
other rope was placed around the pro
lessons neck and tied tightly to the top
of the back OF the chair. His elbows
were tied 10 the side uprights of the
chair. When all the ropes had been
tied about him, several members of the
committee examined the knots
a second time 10 see
that they wee all right, and
having satisfied themselves, took their
seats short distance away. In this con-
dition Prof. Cooke was carried into
the cabinet. The cabinet, large box
shaped affair, about three by five feet in.
side, and six feet high, occupied pc.
sition in full view OF the audience. II
was raised about one foot from the floor
aud was supported by four square legs
about two inches through. This cabinet
was carefully examined by several mem
berS OF the committee before Prof. Cooke
was placed in IT.. Once inside the
cabinet the doors were closed,
and almost instantly bells We're
ringing. rings rafting, and the
professors hands, free from ropes,
were seen at the opening. a moment
later the doors were opened, and the
professor, again tightly tied to the chair,
was carried out of the cabinet, and placed
on the stage in iuli view of the audience.
Prof. Cooke then showed how easy it
was TO release himself from the ropes.
He slipped every rope from about him,
and walked away from the chair. lie
| then again took his seat and in full view
of the audience replaced the ropes about
him so tightly that 1t was impossible tor
any one %! the committee To see that
! they had been tampcrcd With. Prof
Cooke removed the ropes from about
| his wrists a number OF
times, SO that every one
in the house could see him do it. lie
was tied in different ways, and would
every time release himself with perfect
ease. Indeed, Prof. Cooke performe,
all Il rope tricks known among spirit me-
diums, and explained and illustrated
them TO the satisfaction of hi,
audience, not excepting the spiritualis,:
present. Other portions of the cntain
ment were equally interesting, and al
went to prove the utter absurdity of tn,
teachings OF the spirit mediums.
When the DaycnpOrts were in Cairo
the spiritualists claimed that they wer,
aided in their performances by "spirits,
and those who even dared to question
this assertion were laughed at. They
the spiritnalists-asked everybody, "D,
you want anything more convincing
Can't you believe what you see will