Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-04
RESET nv SPIRIT MEDIUMS.
Senat0r stanford aud His Mourning
Wife DuPed

ford returned from Europe last fall, after long
stay. they brought with them the body of their
only son, boy of sixteen, whose death occur
red at Rome few months before. The loss of
this child caused them to return home and
ended in a large measure their interest in life
The trip abroad was made for the benefit of Mr.
Stanford's health, and he was entirely restored
and planning to come home W hen the child sick
eDed and died. 1t was terrible blow to both
parents, who, with money enough to bring
together the best medical talent of Europe.
could not prolUng his life an hour or prevent
the disease from hurrying him to his grave 1t
IL hardy Correct to say that his body is In the
grave, for 1t has not been finally buried though
three funeral ceremonies have been performed
one In London, one in New York, and another
IN San Francisco. The body is in a vault await
ng the completion of the mauSOleum at the
Amily residence, PaIO Alto.
Mrs. stanford. as soon as she had rested from
the ocean voyage. began to visit Esprit medl-
ums and her interest in Sprituasm, so called.
grew with what II fed on. With lady friend
she would leave the Windsor hotel and drive to
the address OF the last medium she had heard
of. and no sooner would she get a cummunica-
ton from her lost boy than she would hasten
back for her husband. and he. too, must go and
See the manifestations. One day she went to
SHADES aud found him 80 remarkable that she
sent carriage for him to come to the hotel
Of her husband Both We're delighted if such O
word can be applied to people who were alb
BOrbed in their grief and had no comfort except
In nourshing it,
This was the beginning of a rich harvest for
Slade as for Others and none of the DrOfes-
siOnals who met the Stanfords in New York
nave yet ceased to mourn their departure Mrs
Stanford had numberless photographs of the
youth taken. and she gave them to those who
had taken an interest in him and delivered the
m no haH h.,r
very many. and the hungry crowd of mediums
finally taxed even the patience if not the purse
of the bToken-hearted LADY,
Soon IT became known among the spiritual
lists generally that the StanfOrds were believers
ana III their circle 1t was Il source of hearty con-
graduation. One medium i'm New York and
one I'D Brooklyn finally received the undivided
patronage of Mrs. Stanford aud both were In
her pay. One Of them, materiaizing medium.
at whose circles Indians whOOp and YELL steam
boat captains give forth unearthly sounds aud
famous warriors gather nightly to re-enact the
scenes of life, got living for weeks out of Mrs.
Stanford. She lived in the suburbs of BROOKLYN
and had carriage constantly at her command
TO drive back and forth to the Windsor hotel
Inc seanceS were held as soon she arrived
and noisy entertainments they were Musical
instruments were hammered horns blown the
hail of raps that fell on the table at which were
gathered the stters, surprised even veteran at
tendants at such gatherings and in the midst of
IL all there often came fresh manifestations said
TO be Occasioned by the arrival of the beloved
child.
Altogether Mr.. and Mrs. Stanford went
through spirituaiistic experience that would
have unsettled the reason of Stoics At the
ettlligs voices would address the poor mother
and assure her that her lost boy was safe in the
spirit world, and soon a hOarse metallic voice
would be heard saying. "MUtherl" This was
always too much for the sOrrOWing lady, and
abe would tearfullv entreat the unseen to come
a her In ho irlyv 6ar
ness something would touch her swiftly. and
she would be assured that 1t was the hand of
her boy. At other times communications were
written to her In q handwriting unfamiliar to
her. and these she was told were from her
SON. Mr. Stanford sometimes anxious
about his wife's absorption i'm the one
subject, but 1t was new to him and in
terested him greatly. 1t is hardly correct to
say that he was altogether the dupe of frauds
The mediums that he and his wife sought were
I'd some instances as much duped as they them
selves. and were as great sufferers by the inter-
course kept up with the invisible presences
about them, who love darkness rather than
nght. and Will not perform unless in darkness.
Mental deterioration is a wellknown result of
close attendance on such circles
The StanfOFdS met Parson Newman and
found That he wss an ardent believer in the phe-
nomena. and eventually he went to California
to preach the funeral Grafton over the long
unburied body of the boy 1t is said that he
was paid $4,000 to make this trip, and very
likely it was more
Mediums are welcome visitors at the home of
The Stanfords in California, and the husband and
VIE 1--we In the unhealthy atmosphere of
spirits the greater part of the time. 1t Is
feared that the strain has been too much. and
that SenatOr-elect Stanford Is not well enough
to go to Washington. If he does go the me-
dums of New York will rejoice and the popu-
htion OF Washington will be re-enforced by
several of the fraternity from New York and
BROOKLYN. who can well afford to give up gen.
erai business. and devote themselves and their
"guides to the StanfOrds
John Pheni1,s Famous Fight.
From PhGn kama
rumor had reached our ears that the editor
had arrived Public anxiety had been excited
TO the highest pitch to witness the result of the
meeting between Us. 1t had been stated pub
hcly that he would whip US the moment he ar
rived but, though we thought conflict prob
able, We had never been very sanguine as to its
terminating In this manner CoOlly we pazed
rom the window Of the office upon the New
Town road. We deserted cloud of dust in the
distance; high above it waved q whip-lash, and
We said the editor cOmeth, and his driving Ia
IKE that OF Jehu, the son of Nmshi for ha
driveth turiOusly. Calmly we seated ourselves
In the arm chair and continued our labors upon
our magnhcent Pictorial Anon step, heavy
STEP was heard on the stairs and the editor stood
before u.s. We rose, and with an unfaItering
voice, said: We'll, how do you?" He made
no reply. but commenced taking of his coat
We removed ours. also our cravat 80 The
sixth and last round is described by the press
men and cOmpositOrs as having been fearfully
scientific. We held the editor down over the
press by our nose (Which we had inserted be-
tween his teeth Tor that purpose) and while our
hair was employed In holding one of his hands
We held the other in our left, and with the
sheep s-foot brandshed above our head shouted
to him: Say, Waldo" 0he whig candidate
Never. he gasped. At this moment we dis
covered that we had been laboring under mis-
understanding. /" We write this while
sitting without any clothing except our left
stocking, and the rim of our hat encircng our
neck like @ ruff Of the EliZabethan era that ar
ticle Of dress having been knocked over our
head at an early stage Of the proceedings, and
the crown subsequently torn OK while the edi-
tor Is sopping his eye with cold water in the
next room, small boy standing beside the suf-
ferer with a basin, and CHANGING with interest
over the advertisements on the second page Of
the San Diego HeTdla. a fair copy Of which was
struck of upon the back of his shirt at the time
We held him over the press.
The Popular stage Ornaments.
New York Letter u San Francisco Argonaut