New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-28
ONLY A SHADOW or THE EDDYS.
A VERY POOR SHOW OF GHOSTS.

A VERY POOR SHOW OF CHOSE.
EXPERIENCES OF A PARTY OF NEWSPAPER MEN IN
sFAICa OF LIGHT FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD.
All Spiritualists do not believe in " materiali-
z,uou" rbc sect II unOrg1nz, ID body can be called
.ec is divided on this point, sQme holding that the
production Of spirit forms by the Edys and few other
a. ateriaIizng mediums" is genuine, and some de-
pouucIng Mi such performances as fraudulent Many
who arc grounded in their faith IN rappng table
tpplng impressions, slate writing aud other forms OF
. manifestation" refuse to believe that spirits
manufacture for themselves visible and tangible bodies
clad iu ordinary clothing and after talking and shaking
hands with their friends withdraw behind screen and
dissolve into the air. The observation-disclosures are
numerous however, and usually have wonderful stories
10 rel ate as their belief They have
tonsug theories account for the way the spirit gets up
body and ranent Some say that the material is drawn
from the mediums body, which Is considerably lighter
durpc the existence Of the ghosy apparitiOn. Others
fancy that the necessary amount OF substance for In
corooratng the evanesc,nt spirit form Is extracted from
The atnosphere by some subtle alchemy Known only 10
the other world.
"Msteriaziug" mediums rare. The first who
made public display Of their art were the Davenport
Brothers-two PALE feebleooking young men who
traversed country about twenty ago. Singing
guitars and bells around darkened rooms
aud showing hands from cabinet In
| which they were all appearances firmly bound
! hand and foot OF late what is called " Uniformed
|
for tins sort OF thing the Eddy Brothers, whose
phostly exhibitions at their Vermont farmhouse
described III book Ivy Colonel 0cott, and Of whose
| cent perfoi manees IN this city accounts have
| appeared in HE TRIBUNE. The Eddys have
| departed after q successful winter campaign in
| New-York and the only "maer1allzer" now known to
be in the metropolis is VIM. s. Roberts The sprtuasts
| speak however OF q wonderful woman from California
| who was lately here and whose ghosts rvaled the
Eddys number and distnctness and came out In the
full light from little wooden cabinet. Under better
test conditions than the Eddys allow Robertss ghosts
are vague aud unsatisfactory and compare with William
Eddy's familiar spirits about penny candle compares
| with Broadway electric lamp lie inhabts q brOwn-
stone front In uptown street. Three newspaper
agreed 10 attend his night last week. 0le OF
them brought with him friend. there four wide
| awake sceptical observers OF the performance.
THE TRIBUNE reporter was the first to arrive He was
shown into welfurnished parlor good portrait Of
| a fine old gentleman In the robes of bishop
looked down from the wall above the man
tel. The medium was muscular young man
with ,us eves and ace that had suffered from
pox He looked vigant and alert ana had none OF hat
bis Vor Sharply he
| said: ~ know your business; you are q newspaper
r1h e V sh Ga i can s %at
THIS did not 5ns ,p pep4 p6e Ds
LADY of the Eddys. and thought that personal descrp
tIon might easily have preceded MIN. Can you te e
n,yar men who came ia at that moment The
medium did not attempt this He took up an iron rpe
and said Do you think could put this on your arm
yhfle vour ha clasped in mine ]" NO, 1 uon't
believe YOU can" answered the reporter after he nsd
looked in vain for secret opening III the rins' Inc
medium did not attempt the feat . -
People dropped In until company OF sixteen was o..
sembed They were all Respectable. intege
wit6 the paror by sldingdoors Just back o. these
doors sfood pretty little walled green tent OF about
the size of those used croquet lawns The newspaper
men searched the bedroom and examined the eh sr b
mi dnm formed his circle" by arranging the chairs IN
the shape OF horseshoe with the ends near inc ten
The men made haste 10 occupy the emo seat
but they were reienessy assigned TO tho most remote
part Of the by Roberts, who SAID tnat pc
6y mpression In seeking his visitors. Inc cue eeata
we're Occupied By two stout women, one OF whom Nas
recoxnized as the OF the house In Eights'e