Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-02


Sly SPirits-The Battle Of the Gui-
tars-A Brave boy, &c
A STAR reporter having received card OF
admittance to a spiritual seance-one of those
hand-tO-hand encounters with disembodied
spirits In limbo in which the believer In spirtu-
alsIn loves TO show his prowess-found himself
the other evening in the parlOrs of Mrs. Levy's
house, No. 457 Missouri avenue. 1t was with
some trepidation that he entered the place. The
average reporter can be counted on to behave
with the utmost cOmposure at Struggling"
match to haunt the scenes of foul murders, in
weird hours; of the night, with matter-of-fact
Indifference; to note the downfall of empires
with undisturbed compIaeency; to beard the
dynamite fend in his den without tremor,
and even, perhaps. to cut a throat or two when
journalistic emergency requires it, with no
more emotion than a feeling of regret, that the
profession imposes some dsagreeable duties
upon him who would climb to the top. But
repOrtOTial training has never contemplated
possible communion with pale ghosts of the
vast Invisible world and the reportorial
hair developed tendency to stand up on end,
and the repOTtOrial knees to knock together as
they reluctantly discharged their part in help
Inc to get the reporter to a chair in the parlOr.
These tendencies, however. were easily con-
frOllcd after the reporter had assured himself
that the twelve or fourteen figures in the room
Were real every day flesh and blood dressed in
Store clothes of earthly texture. A collection
of chairs arranged i'm rows filed one-haIf of the
front parlOr, and were placed as to face the
double doors opening into the back parlOr The
guests were seated with the reporter in the
front parlOr. Two or three gentlemen and
ladie5. on familiar terms with the landlady
were allowed to lounge about the chair of that
parsonage. who sat IN state in the back parlor
exchange hpr
absorbing question whether it was to be ''cab-
met that night or net.
A BRAVE BOY.
youth of some twelve summers whose
rounded form swelling out his little jacket and
pants to such degree of tightness as to tor
ture the modest behOlder with the fancy that
the seams and buttons were about to give way
marked him as a boy of the substantial sublunary
sort, disported himselfi in the back paror Finally
seeking repose upon stool. he devoted the
powers of his youthful mind to the perusal of
story paper, garnished with picture of Red
Handed Rob engaged in Strengthening tribe of
Apaches- The expected ghOstlv visitation
brought no terrors to the youth accustomed to
the study and emulation of such noble and
fearless spirits as that of Red-Handed Rob. The
brave boy was Indifferent to his fate While the
reporter was diverting his mind from the hor-
rid thoughts that insisted upon Obtruding them
selves, 10y such observations, the chairs in the
parior were being filled up and at last about
thirty people were seated there, the gentler sex
preponderating in the audience. From the con-
yersation which was carried onin subdued tones
around him. 1t was apparent that large
majority OF those present were firm believers i'm
epiritualism. They had no doubt that ghosts
would soon appear and the prospect made them
Cheerful.
AN OBSTINATE skEPTIC.
NO maam," said an elderly gentleman In
20, III
his voice in a moment of unusual earnestness.
'yoC eonidn't convince him. He is one of those
hard-headed, screw-necked sort of men that
wouldn't be convinced" And having thus sat
isfaetoriIy disposed of him the gentleman
Telapsed into silence.
He told me" said the elderly lady, ''that if
would get a certain thing for him that his
brother said to him long before he died. he
would be convinced. told him, of course that
wouldn't try. And the lady waved her fan
and smiled disdainfully at the idea of troubling
spirit so much for the purpose merely of con-
Serting the mysterious ''him"
III was finally whispered around that it
NoGidnt be cabinet that night but corner"
These terms We're explained to the reporter by a
sfaFp-eyed woman. as meaning that the medi-
Oms, instead of going into a cabinet, would be
Seated III a corner of the room.
THE MEDIUMS.
Further discussion was cut short by the ap-
peafance OF two young men, each loaded down
with a miscellaneous heap Of goods, including
guitars. tambOurines, dinner bells, and several
yards of black cloth. These two Young men
We're the mediums Keller brothers-who
were TO appear in "a grand combination OF me-
Giumi>tic force" They smiled a calm worldly
speculative smile. as they looked over the audi
enee and counted mp the prospective half dol
lars Preparations were at once begun for the
evening performance. One of the Messrs
keeler draped the wall in q corner of the parIor
facing the audience, with a strip Of black cloth.
as If TO proptiate the departed with semblance
OF mourning for them Then cord was stretched
across from wall to wall about five feet from
the floor. so as to cut off the corner, and q cur
tain o1 black cloth was stretched upon the cord.
chair and table and the yarious
Instruments for the production of music
ana Uscord were placed in the corner
behind this curtain. This done three chairs
were placed against the outside of the curtain
ana lady and gentleman from the audience
We're invited up to sit with the medium The
gentleman took his coat off and sat holding the
Tisht hand OF the lady. Her left arm was barred
TO the elbow, and the medium who sat upon
that side of her took hold of the barred norton
OF her arm with both hands She was instructed
In case of his taking his hands away during the
manifestations that were TO follow to at once
make 1t KNOWN Another black curtain or
apron was then produced aud hooked in front of
me three so that nothing but ti,eir heads were
visible, and the scene presented was somewhat
similar to that supposed to be visible i'm the
secret Chamber cf Blue Beard castle
THE MANIFESTATIONS
The gas turned down to a point Of dimness.
heightened the Illusion that these heads
existed without bodies. The somber, shadowy
black curtain and screen in the corner and the
expectant silence OF the audience all contributed
TO sort OF all-alone ina graveyard feeling that
errpt over the reporter. He looked for some
horrible shape To rise out of the sable drapery
but the apparitiOn declined To show itself. con-
tentinS Itself with beating tattoo on the table
Then young lady in the back paror PLAYED
the 'S'veet By-and-Bye" on the piano, and the
Invisible ghost displayed its talents by beating
an accompaniment After that it PLAYED some
pranks with the lady and gentleman sitting with
the medium, both of whom declared that they
1cit distinct taps on the shoulders and back
ihe medium was punched quite violently and
had TO dooge TO escape the blows. Having tired
OF these p!easantries. the spirit began to rum
mage about among the articles placed within
the curtain for It's amusement. u was soon rails
ing hYeiy CHATTER with the bells and tambon-
fihe, ana Kept time OF those Instruments with
an ar prayed On Ine piano. During a pause In
the ierIorInan e the spirit telegrapbed its wants
by scratching and tapping on the table and Mrs
Levy. VINO sat by the curtain as person on IA
n f54E 81 sf4HFrEf