The sun., 1881-12-04
,ur UONDERFUL CORoE.

V"'i, opI mart o, the night at The house of
".od triond Scott Jordan. President OF the
- sbur,,h and Iycoming Railroad. Jordan
.a,ia,, IN one OF tho charming suburban
H.I,b,rho3Jsa - tcw miles out OF Philadelphia.
,tis character d serves word.
ia /. mn intensely supcrstitious. intensely
',...l mana type OF Il class much more
n.o,,us than pcosle vii. readily believe.
MIA dozen railroads. conceived. bu!t. equip
.J and run to the profit OF their legitimate
lara bear witness to his honesty and sound
s"sinoss sense II further evidence OF his
Sn,dly Judgment is wanted. 1t may be found in
..,. full OF marketable securities. In his
.,rsr OF managing men and handling compli-
.,,.s enterprises Scot. Jordan comes nearer to
-, idea OF Thomas Brassoy than docs any
.,h.r capltal.st-contractor l know. His name
an Board Of Direction is guarantee OF con-
.a,ratye, prudent. yet never timid manage
sa,, wish he would undertake the comp
...l,srship OF my modest finances. to the last
Sou.r I possess. He is companionable old
.on,loman. and likes to be considered US man
:, taste. He is in the full sense man Of the
arid while concerned with the affairs OF this
.orla vet he spends nearly half his life in an
.,bsr-a strange world where banjos play and
h.,. ring without human hands. where ghostly
ann. ara stretched forth from behind the
curtain, OF the unknown. and dim forms be-
onvinr 10 every age OF h.story meet face to face.
1ordan's house is the happy hunting ground
a, nj, the professional charlatans in the spirit
,,isinc line. They iasten 10 him like leeches-
,be rappcrs. the test mediums. the healing me-
d,ums. the physical manifestation people and
tbs rope tyers. the clairvoyants. the controlled
AZ avery sort. male and female. young and old.
nrosperous and shabby.
Jordan has told me that these gentry cost him
tvslye or fifteen thousand dollars year. When
thev come to his door he welcomes them rs aids
ip his tireless investigation OF truth. They live
like princes in his establishment: every morn
inp brings its honorarium for the performance
Of the night before. Jordan royalty entertains
his E,yptians and Greeks until he detects them
in some piece OF imposture cruder than usual.
Then he talks to them like Rrieved parent
ships them of with free pass over one Of his
railroads. and is al! ready to so through the
same process with the next conner.
You will understand now. gentlemen. that
had looked forward with considerable interest
70 my visit to Jordan's house.
Although the family was entertaining several
professionals / found that was the only socia
guest. ! make this distinction. but Jordan,
never does. You can hardly help liking the old
fellow the better for the magnificent old-school
courtesy with which ho treats the ssediest hum.
bug OF the lot
IT Is they who condescend." he 10 accus-
toned 10 Say. somewhat pompously. when
thev honor me with their company: for do they
rot bring with them the kings and grsat poets
and artists and the wisest and best VI every
century"
And II Jordan's testimony 10 accorded the
same weight in this matter as 1t would have in
any railroad suit In any court in Pennsylvania,
the wsest and best OF every century. from
Boerates down to George Washington. have. In
fact. visited his private cabinet
At the dinner table had the pleasure Of
meeting Mr.. John Roberts and his brother Will
liam. the celebrated cabinet mediums: fellows
with villainous faces. was also presented in
due form to Mr.. Helder. = gentleman Of oon-
Sumptive appearance. who 10 said to possess
remarkable developing powers: fat lady
whose name have forgotten. but who prac-
tses medicine under inspiration OF the eminent
Dr.. Bush; Mrs. Blackwell. the materializinR
medium. and her daughter. introduced as
Mrs. Work. q Young lady with black eyes. said to
Be flower and modelling medium OF rare
promise. At no time did see any Mr.. Work.
looked at me with not unkind eyes during din
rer. The behavior OF the other professionals
indicated suspicious reserve. They furtively
watched me- as II trying to guess the depth o.
mY penetration. I contrived to drop a few re-
marks that seemed to encourage them. Jordan
Was iovia and wholly unconscious OF all this
by-piay.
10 nv friends library. after dinner. there was
shar he
down. A small extension room. separated BY .
11rtieTe from the library. served as q cabinet
William Roberts suffered me to tie him with .
clo,hss line. He produced some OF the COM
noner manifestations. and then declared tina.
the conditions were unfavorable. AT Jordan's
urgent request. Mrs. Black we'll went into tho
cabinet, Hands and vague white faces were
shown between the curtains. The lights were
turned still lower. Mrs. Work touched the
piano. singing in very musical voice. Scots
via hae" and Coming through the Rye"
Tho persistent repetition OF these airs finally
elected iull-eneth figure in cloud Of white.
anu the apparition was pronounced to be Mary.
Queen otScots. Mary withdrew and reappeared
teyera! times. At last. as II gaining courage.
She yentured forth from the cabinet. advanced
srard or more into the room. and courtesied.
Jordan called my attention in awhisper to the
slpernal beauty Of her face and apparel.
IN rsversnt voice he inquired IL she would
permlt stranger 10 approach. A slight in
etnation OF Mary's head granted the boon. l
stood face 10 face with the Queen: she allowed
ny hand TO rest lightly for q second upon one
Of The foas o. null that draped her form. Her
!Aes was SO near nine that even in the dim
Heht could SEQ hor eyes shining through the
eye holes other absurd papier- mache mask.
The impulse to seizs Mary and expose the
Idiculous imposture WAS almost irresistible.
must have raised my hands unconscously.
ior the Queen took fright and disappeared be-
Mind the pOrtiere. Mrs. Work hastily left the
piano and turned ~ the gas. In the glance
1a' she gave me read pitsous appeal.
Jordans facs was besning with satisfaction.
80 beautiful" he murmured. and SO gra-
eous"
les beautiful" repeated. still looking at
Tue nower and modelling medium; beautiful
sau uncommonly gIacious!"
inanksl" she whispered. You are gen.
Gous"
hsii ashamed Of myself as the voluntary ac-
''mpilce OF vulgar tricksters. listened with
Ho"ing impatience TO Jordan's ecstatic ac-
''uht oil other materializstions not less marvel
pus and convincing than this OF Mary. Queen
W scots. The mediums had returned TO the
Oiu'harT Occupations Of evening leisure. The