The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-05
SPIRIT MATERlALlZATION.
A Scene Which Pleased the Men and Dis
pleased Some of the Women.

Speclal 10 the lndlanapoIls journal
NEW YORK, Dec. 4-Spiritualism has elabo-
rated itself greatly within few years in this
city. and become decidedly interesting in some
of its features. The latest style of materializa-
tion promises to be popular and disastrous. A
medium gives seances at No. 1246 Broadway, In
the neighborhood of the hotels and theaters. /
went to see the performance which was quite
different from the old style of spook show.
About fifteen of met in the parlor, and
listened to short discourse on reincarnation,
delivered by pretty blonde who didn't look at
all ghostly. She said that, while in trance
condition, her own spirit left her body and float
ed about at large, and its fieshy tabernacle was
open to presumption by any disembodied spirit
that might happen to be in the vicinity. In
short, she was possessed by the stranger spirit.
and therefore became for the time
reincarnation in thought, feel
ing, emotion, speech and action,
of the dead. Then she went into q curtaired
cabinet, somebody played softly on a violin, and
we all waited in the darkened room for some
thing to happen. The old-style Undertaking.
medium produces shadowy figures that glide
around and shake hands, but they are cold, and
clammy, and unpleasant Skeptics say that the
operators put chemical preparation their
hands to produce cold, moist touch. There is
no fun in shaking hands with folks in that con-
diton, and one would as soon be kissed by a
ghost of dead fish. Our new medium worked
of silence and darkness blush light was seen
in the cabinet, the curtains parted, and out
stepped white-robed form that was greeted
with EXPLANATIONS of suppressed admiration. 1t
was just the neatest-looking CHEST imaginable.
1t was clad in white drapery, worn so as to ex.
pose both arms. Long golden hair fell over the
shoulders and breast, and down the back.
bare white foot peeped out from under the gar
ment as the form slowly approached the specta
tors. It was not terrifying apparitOn, for not
a man in the room shrank from it. All of us
seemed to be filled with scientific enthusiasm,
and anxious to investigate the phenomenon of
reincarnation.
The reembodied spirit purported to be the
first wife of a od.looking gentleman in one of
the front seats, whose second wife was with him,
and it entered into conversation with him. he
said that he recognized the late lamented spouse
distinctly, who thereupon put her arms about his
neck and gave him a long, lingering kiss that
seemed to aeitate him some 1t also affected
the lady by his side. She shifted Indignantly,
and said she didn't believe a word of such
sense Then the figure slowly retired back
ward, waving affectionate farewells to !hubby.
Again it appeared, and three gentlemen recog-
niZed il simultaneously as long lost cousin, sis
ter and dear friend. There was some animated
discussion as to which it really was, but the
ghost settled 1t by announcing herself to be the
cousin, and bestowing some consnly endear-
mepts upon one of the disputants. She took his
face between her hands, spoke to him of old
times gazed lovingly into his eyes, and kissed
him good bye. Then she retired. and the seance
was at an end, to the disappointment of the two
other claimants
When the gas was turned up the medium
came out of the cabinet looking innocently be-
wildered and inquired if any reincarnated spir-
it's of friends had appeared while he was asleep
The first gentlenans wife tartly guessed the
medium knew well enough what had been going
on but the blonde opened her large, blue eyes
in innocent surprise. and said she hoped nothing
unpleasant had occurred The gentleman has
tily assured her that nothing in the least disa-
greeable had happened but that the seance bad
been singularly interesting. The medium calmly
told the company that she was utterly oblvous
to all that went on while she was in the trance,
and manifested much interest in description Of
the two reincarnations The two disappointed
gentlemen were encouraged to come again; they
might see their friends next time if the condi-
tons were favorable. No doubt they will at
tend the next seance, because ghosts that kiss
with warm lips are not met every day. The
new medium is making great success of the
reincarnation scheme, but there will be fuss in
that establishment some fine evening And such
is the newest swindle of upper Broadway.
OMAR JAMES