The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-08-19
A TALENTED sPIRITUALIsT.
He Processes To he n Spirit Photog-
rapher.

He Processes To he Spirit Photog-
rapher.
There is n decided sensation in Wash
ington Just now over alleged spiritual
manifestations, writes correspondent
of the Atlanta Constitution. Strange to
say the liveliest interest i'm the subject
is manifested among a class who would
be thought the most indifferent on such
questiOn-namely, the newspaper cor
respondents AS rule, they are per-
haps the most skeptical men, the quick
est in the detection of humbug, the
readest to smash any idol TO which
they are asked TO bend the knee. In
this instance, however, some OF them
are to be found leading the van OF in
vestigation, others of their number have
crossed the threshold of inquiry and
now stand in the inner court OF actual
belief.
Not long ago two brothers named
Keller arrived in Washington from
New York. They took rooms in differ
ent parts of the city, and began a series
of so-called spiritual seances. At first
they attracted little attention, for there
are perhaps dozen alleged mediums
permanently located in Washington
and making living by seances, in
which a moderate admission fee Is
charged. 1t soon transpired, however,
that the Keelers went step or two be-
yond their competitors in this line.
They began TO be talked about, and
some half dozen correspondents called
on them. Some of these gentlemen
were urged by no other motive than
curiosity, while others were bent on an
exposure of the performances. which
they had prejudged to be mere tricks of
the kind usually palmed of on credu-
lous and superstituous mankind.
What was done and shown at these
exhibitions need not now be detailed
fully. 1t is enough to say the Keeler's
have succeeded in mystifying all the
correspondents who have been to see
them. If they are humbugs, they have
skill in the preparation of their frauds
which has eluded the closest scrutiny of
the newspaper men, has amused some
of them; provoked some at their failure
TO 'see through the trick" and actu-
ally convinced some that there is an
unusual and underlined power back of
these perpleXing manifestations.
One of these brothers processes to be
undertaking medium" He gives
two kinds of entertainments. One of
these is given in dark room, and the
other in a room brightly lighted. AT
both styles OF exhibition the 'medium"
sits behind n curtain which is stretched
to the height of five or six feet across
corner of the room. shutting off a TRAN
gular space from the view of the specta-
tors Everyone present has the privi-
lege of examining the walls to see that
they are solid and of carefully ascer-
tanning that the entire spiritual machi-
merry consists of man, Il cambria cur
tain. and nothing more. BY some sort
of management of these simple condi-
tons Keller has succeeded in putting
the boys to thinking
The other brother is attracting still
more attention at his rooms, which are
several blocks distant from the ''ma-
terializing" room. The profession of
Kecler, Sr., is that of spirit photogra-
phcr.n Back of his reception-room is
smaller room, IN which there is bed,
bureau, few chairs, big white
screen. and an ordinary photograp hing-
apparatus standing by window. The
person who desires To try the expert
ment is seated IN Il chair in the middle
of the room, and is photographed
against the white screen. When the
proof of his picture is shown him he
sees n correct likeness of himself, and
usually one or more pale faces near his
own. Sometimes full-length figure in
semi-transparent white drapery is
standing by his side or just behind him.
in the full figure the face is generally
averted, or covered with the drapery,
but when the face only is shtSyn, the
features are very distinct.
Now, Mr. Keeler asserts that these
pale faces are those of dead relatives or
friends OF the person who sits in the
chair. lie has taken Il number of pict-
ures for people in Washington who de-
clare that in these faces they see excel
lent Gkenesses OF some dead person.