New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-10
Exposing THE SPIRITS.
STUART CUMBERLAND's FEATs.


1gE ENGLISH THOUGHT-READER EXPLAINING
SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS IN CHICKERING HALL.
Stuart Cumberland, who has recently at
tanned some celebrity in England as an exposer OF spirit
ausm and as a thought reader" made his first public
appearance in this country at Chickerng Han
last evening where he entertained and interested
large audience, composed Of relied and cultured
persons for two hours and half Mr. Cumberland Is
tail man. Of fine proportions He has thin, lighcoored
hair high forehead pair Of sharp gray eyes and
frank pleasant smile He speaks in clear. high voice,
with decided English accent, and wears his evening
dress with graceful ease.
He prefaced his entertainment last evening with few
words about sprtuaism He said that he wished 1t dis
tncty unde stood that he appeared not as an opponent
OF tins sprtuasts He had the profoundes faith in the
existence OF spirit world and the deepest veneraOn
for all things that belonged to the realms OF the super
natural But he did not believe that spirits wore IN
The habit OF revealing their presence in the atmosphere
OF the earth by upsetng tables rappng their knuckes
on hard boards writing slates like schoolboys, and
doing other absurd things in which no immatera body
with any respect for its dignity and immateria1sm
would indulge. Mr.. Cumberland then requested that
ak persons IN audience should volunteer to act as
committee, to that everything on the stage was
done openly and above board The committee was soon
found and consisted Of AlgernOn s. sullivan, the Rev.
Drs Hepworth Philip Schah and Buckley. Albert Weber
and l. A H. Johnson. When These persons were seated
on the stage Mr. Cumberland began his frst expert
ment
The spiritualiss claimed said, that with the aid Of
The spirits medium could read the lanes OF dear
departed friends" written on pieces OF paper and folded
mn ms MI Cumberland proposed 10 do "ithOut any
splrlts aid Sehan, at his request went forward and
wrote some to 9s4es up On Pee eG'S MT F Gam
berand standing beside him. requested him to mold one
al he ae OF paper upon his forehead. Dr. Sohah did
90 while Mr. Cumberland took MS other hand THIS
hand paced on the lecturers iorehea9. d. Sehan
was requested 10 think nenty OF one Oh the names
the papers. lie did So ,.
Does 1t begIl with P 7" asked the lecturer
"Do YOU mean to say that you did not write a name
o.. lid; but Pm not thinking of that name"
But you wrote one beginning with p and con dnuing
This was declared to be Of the still Dr..
scha objected mat was not the one OF winch nc wa
don't pretend tell you Of which were
thinking" sand elr Cumberland. can tel yOn, how
He tneTeGpSa gave the other three Names Adams
@SoS" said Mr.. Cumberland. "the spirtuahsts will
tell YOU that The spirits can 10 thaJ but they can't,
IdId ones wrote the name Of irish whlskey dear
departed spirit for medium, and her friendly spri in
in in England aud led in Holland"
Mr.. Cunberla next explained the manifestation
o. spirit ppan~s Iuese ne sbi1, oepenued on Two
things; 49, the displacement o. certain muscles and
Ierynents IN foot aid land an second b ease win
winch person may be nlsled To the direction OF
sound when he cannOt see whence II comes. The Ice
the fooi prouuVvu b,s hsnd AlheTt Wner tber
folded. Mr.. Cumberland took Two colns ana clicked
them iSgeh1 TcouesDg V S t., points po,nt a'OI d
from direction the sound came VIA tAe Greatest
Ia directions OF which was several points Of the
The next spirit manifestation exposed was that OF
characterization" IN which the lecturer performed
the trick OF passing ring from the top u mans
head around arm, while the man supposed that he
va nOlag both OF the lecturers hands Ia us Mr.
Cnmberlaud then allowed the discounted spirits to re-
t for time and gather renfOrcements, wDle lie made
an attp t at thong reading Iu ths experiment. Dr.
HegWOrth was requested 10 think intently Of come
one person the audience. while The lecturer,
brndiolded and holding one OF the Doctors
hands endeayored 70 md the person Mr. Cumberland
explained that 1t WAS impossible 10 perform tbs e1-
peTiAieut without success less the person VIII INN
taOught honestly aud earnestly OF ony Que t1nS tne
theory being mat some nuscuis ac1Oh would DetIay
the thought 10 the lecturer. MI Cumberland thea
started unon promenade about tie hall, leading Or.
HepwOrth by the hand The lecturer started OF at an
easy gait increased his speed until he appeared
The reverend gentleman. Round ab5at The hal they
went, mp and down The alsies but somehow OF other
- cannot get a single idea" said he FROM DR.. Hep
"Well." SAID the Rev. Dr. Ormiston who was sitting
n tie OF the house, you're The hrst nau III New
Dr. 5ep1orth then gave the name Of the person OF
whom le had tAou%at 70 PIo5ssSor Lard whom NE
be the rgRt person. and Tho lecturer Was lOudy s-
p.audeG. na.ie was then chosen ~ Albert heDer aud
Communicated tbe rest or the committee. Fr. Cum
berlaud took Mr. WeDers hand a. q lei him ABOUT tue
hal. In lew minutes he placed Mr.. Weoor's hand
tue head OF the rignt person, stephen
MasseIL
Mr. Cgmberland's concluding feat was the perform
ance OF Oi the tricks done b. sprtuaists IN the
eaOiuct Dr. Blake White went upon the stage and led
tie lecturers hands behind him viii surgical Oandages
Ills ankles were bound also. and he seated Ia me
cabinet WITH bic hands tied 10 rEg IN ;hc back OF u
and bis neck Ia . moose also fastened 10 the wall.
tamDOullns ana TN flutes were placed IA Ia, lap
and the curtains drawn. In mO"oIl musical
rather unuuslcal - notes came from me
flutes and taubOurine; and IN another moment
they buded nigh into the ar, over tue top Vi The
eSOiDol MF Cumberland also crank glass Oi wafer
saeued ia the cabinet. Mr.. johnson, Of the com
ittee entered the cabinet win MI CuInDer and
Ihe curtains drawn, and III moment TIE mute was
heard playing again. Then the lecturers voice was
heard:
Don't he frightened, Mr. johnson; 1t viii not hurt
you"
Ire audience began fear that something dreadful
Was Happening the man who had YcntuIe0 mo tuc
enchanted region not inhabited by spirits. Every one
Was IGuch relieved, however WHOM the
eurtains were Drawn and IL found
that Mr.. johnson had only been recciy-
hg few Christmas presents A Toy Lamp was tlcd 10
One Of bis button Boles fOxs tail tucked under
one side VI 9astcOet His specLacles were found on
r. Suaberlands nose The lecturer was taen released
" Or. White. examined ali tue knots and said Ilat
LEY We're the which le had tied