The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-02
Miss Hurst's Strange Gift.

"We are fighting spiritualism." said
Professor Atkinson, who assists Miss
Lula Hurst, the electrical girl in her cX-
hibitions. Miss Hurst had lust been
giving an exhibition or a private view
in the parlors OF the Metropolitan hotel.
Three or tom gentlemen. including the
stalwart Congressman Reese. Of Cenr-
gla, were painting after their efforts 10
hold a char. which seemed TO receive
from the llghtest touch Of Miss Hurst's
hand, an energy against which il was
useless for a man to oppose his strength.
Miss Hurst was tanning hers eli. but did
not appear much fatigued. We can
duplicate all that is done by the spirit
ualists and claim that We refute entirely
their theory continued Professor At
kinson.
You don't reiute their theory. YOU
only prove it, said a b~ystander. who
was evidently a spiritualist.
How about spirit rappings ?" asked
another person in the crowd.
We can produce rappincs." said
Professor Atkinson. If | stand at one
side OF the room and ask what time il
is, the time will be raped out on the
table. providing | know myself what the
time is. If | ask my are 1t viii be rap
ped out to the year and the month. If
| did not know my own age il would not
be given. My own will and knowledge
enters into this thing. NAV saw. VIII
you communicate with US, spirits If
so give two raps if not, give three
raps.' Then there will come two raps
on the table
Don't that prove what the spiritual
lists claim - asked the believer in spir-
itualism.
No" said Professor Atkinson, ''for
it makes nc difference whether | address
the spirits. the sun. the NOON. or any
body, animate or inanimate, imaginary
or real, the answer viii come an the
same. You might as well say the sun
did it. when | address the sun and yet a
response"
What is your theory, them"
1t is 4 power which is in Miss Hurst.
and the nature of which has not vet
been determined. Her case has been
considered by some of the best minds
in Georgia, but they have not explained
it. Down in Georgia some people
thought she got her power from her
hair. She has a habit when embarrass-
ed or perpleXed of passing her hand
through her hair, just as some people
scratch their heads when at a loss for
something"
is it a power within her control 2"
asked the Star reporter.
Yes said Professor Atkinson, lit
depends entirely upon her will. and she
can stop the manifestations when she
.hnACnS In Io,. lo5l,- lE, =, ,D+ +.0,I
led by any unexpected manifestations,
except in the cases of umbrellas. She
cannot carry an umbrella or a parasol.
1t would be torn from her hand. Now,
| explain that on the ground that she
has got the notion in her head that she
cannot carry an umbrella, and the no.
ton is so strong that it takes possession
of her WILL"
WHAT MISS HURST SAYS.
Miss Hurst, when asked by the Star
reporter if these exhibitions exhausted
her in any degree, smiled and giving a
little laugh, said:
"Oh, no. sir not at all. | can keep
it up for hours. | dOn'tus any strength
at all, and | only think to myself that
| don't want the chair to 90 to the floor,
and then the gentleman can't press it
there. Does it give me a headache :?
Not a bit. i am conscious of no mental
eXertion. excepting that | must feel as
sured all the time that the objects will
do as | wish them to. If | lose conf
dence then | can do nothing. but when
| feel well and am sure of myself | have
no difficulty in doing some very strange
things. | don't understand i; myself at
all. and there i no peculiar sensation
connected with it. We didn't have
much fun tonight there were too many
here, and | vas afraid to make the UNI
brella fly around as it does sometimes.
for it might have hurt some one" Miss
Hurst evidently enjoys the mystitication
she creates, as during the seance she
was frequently laughing at the struggles
OF the gentlemen striving to overcome
the wonderful power she possesses.
Miss Hurst's family are Baptists. and
very conscientious in their religious OBJ
servances. When a gentleman went
to their home in Georgia to see the girl
and arrange for exhibitions" said Mr..
John L. Ford to the Star reporter, ''he
arrived there on sunday, and the family
would not permit her to give him any
exhibition of her powers. He had to
wait until the next day