River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-02-19
Ghostly Lovers Welded.

A telegram from San Francisco, De-
cember ID, says: Many curious cabinet
tricks of spiritualists have been exposed
from time to time, but probably the
most remarkable seance on record is
that in which ghostly marriage and a
phantom wedding feast took place under
the direction of Elsie Reynolds. She
was determined to excel all the other
mediums in the world, and do something
in the spiritual line that had never been
attempted before. Elsie Reynolds is a
materializing medium. Several years
ago she converted to the spiritualist
ideas Mrs. Eunice S. Sleeper, an aged
and wealthy widow. Mrs. Sleeper's
only daughter died in 1877. She has a
handsome residence on Fremont street,
this city and of late has become, und ar the
tuition of Elsie Reynolds. perfect mon
omaniac on spiritualism. Mrs. Sleeper
took the spiritualistic Elsie to her heart
and home, and fitted up a suite of apart
ments especially for seances and ghostly
visitors. Mrs. Sleeper during these
seances, used to derive great consola-
ton IN communicating with her deceas-
ed husband and daughter, whose spirits
were summoned and occasionally materi-
allied. The climax was capped the 9TH
er evening by the spiritual marriage OF
the deceased Miss Sleeper to the de-
funct Price Otto, of Germany, "a relative
of Premier Bismack The wedding was
held in the room of the medium describ-
ed above, and was witnessed by mixed
company of mortals and spirits. When
the lights had been lowered, the curtains
of the cabinet were drawn and the ma
terialized bride and groom appeared.
a diamond" crown adorned the head of
the bride and her form was completely
enveloped by a long white veil. The
groom was dressed in garments of the an
cient pattern, comprising knee breaches,
stockings and slippers, and his head was
encircled by glittering jewels in con-
formity to his rank.
The officiating priest was clad in black
and wore on his head a white turban.
His face was gastly and his eyes gleam-
ed with an unnatural luster On the
conclusion of the ceremony he gave the
couple his blessing and faded away.
The bride was attended by two brides
maids, and asked her mother when they
appeared, "do we not look like the three
graces, Agalia, Euphrosyne and
Thalia?". The queen mother of the
groom and Empress Josephine of France
were among the distinguished spirit
guests, while DIR. Adams, 2. H. Jack
Mr.. and Mrs. William Hay, Mrs. Leon
ard and many others were present IN
the flesh. A bridal supper succeeded
the wedding. Mrs. Sleeper was seated
by the bride at the head of the table,
bearing light refreshments, such as
cake, fruit, etc, with the queen mother
to her right and Mr.. Sleeper to her
left. The remaining guests also seated
themselves around the table, a spirit
alternating with person in flesh.
After wine had been served the bride
and groom complained that they were
becoming weak, and passing around
the table raised the wine glasses
and touched to their lips. They
then, followed by all the spirits, trooped
into the cabinet, the curtain of which
fell and concealed them from view. The
lights were next turned on, and the
glasses and decanter on the table con-
tributed about all that remained in
evidence of the spiritual supper and
wedding, the material guests alone be-
ing left to tell the tale.
Mrs. Sleeper was interviewed recent
ly and said: my daughter was about
six years old when she died in 1876. She
appears to me almost every night in a
materialized shape. I've talked with
her, and walked with her, and
she has lain with me in my
bed. Her voice has changed some
what, and she has grown larger
and stronger since her death. A few
weeks ago she appeared, told me of her
contemplated marriage to Prince Otto,
who is also an inhabitant of the spirit
world, asked and obtained my consent. F"