The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-05-24
" Been There"

terest in spirits just at PRESENT." said
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 communication
"Well, no." said the seedy party.
"But | can give you good deal Of in.
formation ON the subject You see, I've
worked the medium racket myself. l
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
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 sitting. What you want
is cheek, and plenty Of it. Don't cave
in because 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 l came
here for. Yes, you have to employ an
assistant, and very often the whole busi-
ness depends upon his judgment. Why,
l have an assistant who could run the
snap just as well as could, and he was
death on stirring up the uneasy ones
after the light was turned down. One
time he touched piece Of ice TO the
back of an old gals neck, and put her
in fit. We had to skip that town in
short order 1 tell you. That was his
great trouble. He never could take in
the true inwardness of 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 60 great way with
'em. If you strike city bring in your
heavy guns. Lead off with dozen or
80 communications from the old world,
work up q little rapping business, and
then when you've got 'em nervous
enough just suddenly spring the cabinet
act on 'em but there is one thing a we'll
trained medium will never forget"
"And what is that p asked the editor.
"He will always keep himself between
the gas fixtures or lamp and his circle.
EXACTLY" said the editor.
"Yes," said the seedy party, slapping
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. Whiffl Up
went the gas, and that settled the whole
business. You're always sure to rip
down curtain in getting out of sight,
and there are all your properties exposed
to everybody, but I've got out of one Oh
two scrapes Of that sort III my time, and
don't you forget it.
GLOW did you manage it?" asked the
editor.
"Oh, 1 just threw the whole thing OF
the spirits, and played the innocent in
iured act"
"But would the people believe you p
asked the editor.
"Believe me-" said the seedy party
"my dear boy, if you want to know jus
how much the people will believe, g.
, into the spirit business. They nevel
stand on ceremony. They just swallow
t everything whole, and the bigger th'
mouthful the easier it seems to 60 dow
with 'em. You just take hack at thu
spirit business for month or so, and j
you don't agree that I'm right, I'll stant
the drinks for the whole office. Tall
about the side show and dime museum
, business. Well, those fellows knoN
something about guys, but we can dis
t count 'em every time. They may site
q stray leg on COW now and then, an
call South Carolina darky n Zulu, br
, for your simon pure humbug-"
"Then you go so far as to call you
, business u humbug ?" said the editor.
"My dear boy, I've been there" sal
the seedy party, as he lit the stump {
a cigar, and sauntered out with the al
of man who had relieved his COL
science. .-Brookiyn Eagle.