The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-05-04
Been There.D

"I believe you are taking quite an IN
terest In spirits Just at PRESENT." said q
rather seedy-looking old party, sliding
into the city editors room.
"Yes, we are devoting some space to
that sort Of thing" said the city editor.
Scot o communication 2"
"Well, mo-" said the seedy party.
"But | a give You a good deal OF In
formation on the subject. You see, I've
worked the medium racket myself. I
used to be one of the best materializers
going, and I've seen the time L could set
q whole set of parlor furniture dancing
o Highland fling by simply slapping my
fingers. These modern fellows are no
good, and don't you forget it. They
bungle the whole business, and give
everything away before they have hardly
commenced a sitting. What you want
is cheek, and plenty of it. Don't a
in because a crank happens to ask you
troublesome questions. just get up an
Internal rapping under his chair and
scare him into silence, or get your assist
ant to"
Assistant ?" asked the editor. "Then
you confess"
Confess of course I confess" said
the seedy party, "thats what I came
here for. Yes, you have to employ an
assistant, and very often the whole bust
ness depends upon his Judgment. Why,
I have an assistant who could run the
snap just as well as I could, and he was
death on stirring up the uneasy ones
after the Light was turned down. One
time he touched a piece OF ice to the
back of an old gals neck, and put her
in a fit. We had to skip that town in
short order I tell you. That was his
great trouble. He never could take in
the true inwardness of q circle. My
motto is, first be sure of your circle, and
then stave ahead. If they are farmers
and that kind of thing why let 'em down
easy. A little will go a great way with
'em. If you strike a city bring in your
heavy guns. Lead off with q dozen or
80 communications from the old world,
work up a little rapping business, and
then when you've got 'em nervous
enough just suddenly spring the cabinet
act on en- ; but there is one thing o we'll
trained medium will never forget"
"And what is that ?" asked the editor.
"He will always keep himself between
the gas fixtures or lamp and his circle
"Exactly," said the editor.
eyes," said the seedy party, slappine
the desk with his hand, "more good,
likely mediums have bust up in that way
than any other. They put too much
confidence in the circle. WhifI Or
went the gas, and that settled the whole
business. You're always sure to rI
down a curtain in getting out of sight
and there are all your properties exposed
to everybody, but I've got out of one o
two scrapes Of that sort in my time, AND
, don't you forget it"
> Glow did you manage it," asked tn
' editor.
t "Oh, I just threw the whole thing Oh
8 the spirits, and played the innocent in
jured act"
!. "But would the people believe you?
asked the editor.
B believe me-" said the seedy party
"my dear boy, if you want to know jus
how much the people will believe, 6
into the spirit business. They neve
stand on ceremony. They just swallo'
everything whole, and the bigger th
mouthful the easier it seems to go dow
J with 'em. You just take a hack at th
9 spirit business for a month or so, and
you don't agree that I'm right, I'll stan
= the drinks for the whole Office. Tai
z about the side show and dime museul
= business. Well, those fellows kno
!. something about guys, but We can di
= count 'em every time. They may stit
a stray leg OF a cow now and then, al
! call q South Carolina darby a Zulu, b
= for your simon pure humbug-"
i "Then you go SO far as to call yol
|. business a humbug ?" said the editor.
:. "My dear boy, I've been there" sa
= the seedy party, as he lit h stump
. a cigar, and sauntered out with the 8
: of a man who had relieved his co
! science.-Brooklyn Eagle.