Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-05-04
SHADES MANIFESTATIONS.
The Story of an Attempted Exhibition that
Would not Stand Investigation.
From the New York Tribune

The articles In the Tribune re-
Gently concerning DR.. Slade and
his "spirituaiism" recall an expe.
rience Of my own, which, as the
subject-seems just now ar0using
renewed interest, may prove worth
the telling. Some years ago, in
company with two good friends,
who were believers in Slade and
his protested "mediumship," l
visited his house for the purpose of
seeing an exhibition of his wonder
full power. was placed opposite
the medium, with my friends on
either side OF the table. He was
told that L was a skeptic, but was
assured at the same time that |
was open TO conviction; in fact anX-
ious to be convinced. First the
slate performance was done, l
am sure I knew not how. One
thing 1 noted, that the written
communications were meyer be.
yond the apparent "5lade plahe"
OF intelligence, and evidently in
the Slade style of expression.
Soon, however, he requested the
three of us to unite our hands with
out him and "see what would come
of it.n What come of it, so far as
my observation went, was this.
Slade having thus freed his own
hands, reached out to a chair stand
ing near, and took therefrom
tsblespread, which had been care.
lessly thrown there In the begin.
ming OF our seance, and drawing 1t
into his own lap, made some re-
mark about hoping the spirits
would move the chair. Wonder
ing little why the spread should
be likely to prove a hindrance to
the mighty power said to be exert.
ed by such beings, kept thence.
forth a quiet watch after that
square OF cloth, although lost
to my sight for the time.
Presently was hit on
the KIN ee sharply. Then something
flashed up from below, which |
6lade aid was a hand. Soon, see-
ing, as I believe he did, that he
was being watched, he declared
that none of us was "medium,u
and so nothing of importance
could be done by US while his
hands were free from our cor tact.
So the complete circle was re. FORM
ed, Slade. having rolled up thei
spread tightly and thrown IL into
another chair standing little
back Of him. mentally recorded
y vow to see what that spread con-
tained, If I could. The seance
soon ended, and while my friends
we're looking at some pictures at
The other end of the room, I edged
around toward the chair which
held the. spread, quite Indifferent
~, as / endeavored to make it
seem. But Slade was too
much interested in my move.
ment even to respond to
\ call from the other visitors to ex-
plain something to them. He fol.
Owed me. I made a feint of ap.
the window near which
he chair stood. He also did the
anne. placing himself between me
Ind the chair. Then looked him
In the face and said:
sDr. 6iade, do not wish to seem
'ude, but I am sure you will not
)bject to letting me, Just to satisfy
! doubt, shake out that cloth which
. In the chair behind you." There.
lpon-my friends having come up
q the meantime-he suddenly sat
Town upon the poor suspected arti.
lie, holding on tJ both arms of the
hair, and, turning all colors, closed
lie eyes and said, in o sepulchral
'oice: "Go! all you, quietly.
FOL" Instead Of doing which l
waited, and standing In front OF
he man said, sharply, "Dr. SIadeW
10 instantly opened his eyes, and
,dded, "Will you permit me to see |
THAT you have concealed in that
pread or not?" Then, quite wide
wake, he thundered, "No; 90 at
nee;" snd we did, I, for one, quite
that we had been dealing I
nth . clumsy imposter as n he had
zen forced, as he should have
zen, to permit our Investigation,
nd which he surely would not
ave refused had he been Innocent
nd the cloth empty. need hard
7 add that rejoiced when I heard
,st Engllsh law had laid it, grip |
D = person Who could for money
lmpeg With the most sacred Of The