The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1878-04-26

i: lng.
t "No, am only relating the latesj
+ marvel of spiritualism."
: "What do you think oft ?' direct
: ing his question to me.
ats rather a new thing, even with
I the spiTitualists themselves. j have
e not made up my mind about it. In
I fact have not made inquiries into
+ the phenomena. But when you spoke
} so earnestly of having expected mes
sage from EleanOra it occurred TO me
that it would hardly come in a more
acceptable or convincing shape than
| this.n
Tomorrow we will make the eX-
pertinent If there is any such thing
possible l know that Eleanora will
come to me. If she does not come
shall know that she is still liv-
ing"
1t was decided that we should go at
o'clock the next day to the photo
grapher whom had selected. When
we entered the gallery we became con-
scious of a peculiar influence premeat-
ing our very souls. AS a person in the
dark, i'll total silence and seeing moth
ing, yet perceives the presence of an
other who approaches him, so each of
us perceived an intangible something
which thrilled us beyond speech. But
|
| neSs-like manner of the operator was
in curious contrast to the ints2se
| emotions of those who hung upoiBAs
( Ihgsenents. IN answer 10 DudiFy'S
| question he said that the day was cX-
cellent for his purpose. He arranged
his plates, screens and camera with a
| matter of fact air, as if he was not
about to attempt TO catch and fix the
fieeting shadow of an immortal soul
divested of its garment of earth. 1t
| struck me as being a strange mixture
of chemicals, this assistance Ofthe ethe
rial light, itself the nearest to spirit of
| tangible substances, this arrange
meflt of screens and furnishing of
glass, by such palpable apparatus to !
seize the image of 9he immortal soul |
and retain it for the gaze Of the |
mortal eyes. l presume no such re- |
fiections had place in the mind of |
Dudley. Soul, thought and sense |
were concentrated upon one object.
| Obedient as a child, he submitted |
| himself to the directions of the opera
tor When all was ready he seated
himself i'll the chair placed for the
purpose. Standing at one side of the
| room, before the door of smaller
apartment used at dressing room for
ladies, was a large screen. Caroline
had gone into this apartment for few
moments when We first arrived, but
she now stood by my side silently
waiting for the finale. | knew by her
| irregular breathing and slight paleness
that she was much agitated.
The screen was drawn forward a few
| feet towards the sitter; and another
| placed to throw out the back ground.
| BY the arrangement thus effected, the
subject was half enclosed in an impro-
gised apartment which shut out
great part of the room from observa-
| tiOn.
The operator then gave him few
directions:
'tF'ix your eyes and your mind both
on the camera. |. will not withdraw
the cup until l discern from your eX-
preston that your attention is suffi-
ciently concentrated. Only of one
thing he sure, whatever you may feel
or become conscious of, as you value
the result to be Obtafned, do not be-
tray any emotion. Remain NOTION
less and silent until | give you liberty
to move and speak. Above all, do
not turn to see that which you feel
approaching you; Many persons be-
come 50 agitated IN The moment of
trial as to render futile their own
wishes. / believe you have more
firmness.u
Dudley made a brief response, \ TO |
The effect that ne should fulfill his I,
part. He fixed his eyes upon the Ga-
mera with a steady gaze. Once or
twice his eyelids trembled, and his
hands clutched each other with the
effort at restraint which he made.
Presently the cap was taken of, and
after moment, which might have
been S6aFs to him-was replaced
Mindful of his psOI4ise, he did not
speak or turn his head until he
was requested to leave his chair. Du
ring the time of waiting for the photo
graph To lie brought cut on tQe glass
he moved restlessly about.
at is the best | have ever taken,"
said the operator, as he placed the
glass carefully in Dudley's outstretched
hand.
We crowded close to look over his
shoulder. The marvel had been
wrought! There was he with his
keen, eager look, and there, q little
one side and Just behind him, part of
her figure hidden 10y hin, Was Eieang-
ia, She seemed almost to float, so
tight was her poise as she bent over
-, ,,,. -'A@T. Her golden hair, for
which she had been lisHtIi-
wandered about her throat anu
ders as if the breezes of heaven We're |
at that instant stirring them. She APP
peared to be robed in some ethereal
texture, clasped by a girdIe at the Z
waist and flowing in full folds about {
her limbs. 1t was Eleanora, the fair
young wife, as we remembered her
She wore joyful expression, as if it |
was an intense pleasure to be near her [
husband; but it seemed to me that the |
sweet face had a slightly thinner, ma !
turer look, as if she, too, had suffered
from having been torn so suddenly I
from her earthly home. I
The photographer was uneasy lest I
Dudley in his ecstacy should press the
plate TO his lips and mar the impress I
lou. He took it gently from him, re-
|
"This is altogether the best spirit
l have ever taken. 1t is t
Mrs. Dudley likeness is q
as vivid and perfect as your own" l
"And she was here" cried Dudley,
''as really and truly as L am or as you /
are! Oh, what happiness is this, 10 |
feel that our loved ones are separated I
from us by so slight barrier. i tell
you heard the rustic OF her garments j
as sdistinctly as if in life she were COM 7
ing again 70 bless me with hcrytouch 9
and smile. l detected the very odor /
of violets, the perfume she always q
used. Yes, as true as God voucIfsafed f
ME histoken, L felt her breath on my e
cheek.u i
At this moment his glance became a
fixed upon the opposite side of the il
room. He gazed a moment in 81 t
lence, then resumed in rapt tone,
like one who speaks in a vision. II c
do see her. she is there now. / be- a
hold her plainly. EleanOra! She O
hesitates! Do not 60 {
stay with men t
We looked and beheld with our own I
ewes the truth of what he asserted. As v
as ever we beheld friend a
in the broad light of day, there stood
Mrs. Dudley, wavering between flying 1
and approaching. Her hair streamed L
down as In the picture, her light gar J
ments waved about her. He held out |
his arms and took a step towards her, G
paIIsing lest the vision should vanish f
at too near an approach. c
"Eieanorau'
The passion in his voice seemed $
mighty enough to withhold spirit {
from It's heavenly destiuies. He took y
another step and she too waVerino j