The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-10-10
LATEST THING OUT.
Superior to "Planchet," and
No End Of Fun.
SOME SPIRIT MANIFESTATIONS.
The "Daneing Derby"-A Persmbu
Iating Hat Which is Also
Addicted 60 Jigs.

/ Addicted so Jigs.
A new wrinkle in spirttualism was IN
troduced at the meeting of private CIT
Gle of South Side spiritualists the othei
night. This particular circle holds meet
ings regularly once a week during the
winter, and at irregular intervals during
the summer. At these meetings, which
are mostly held in a certain private re-
sidence on Calumet Avenue, the clrcle
practices the materializIng OF spirit
forms; and when the conditions are
unfavorabIe for naturalization, as
they frequently are, Remembers amuse
themselves with mesmerism, mind-read-
ing. table-rapping, plaDchet-writIng'
Pa!mistry, music scesnces in the DARK
or one or other of the many freaks in
cidentaI to spiritualistic faith.
There had been no meeting held for
over five weeks until Thursday evening
last, the leader of the circle being away
ID the White Mountains. She had in
vented the new machine while she was
away.
81 have named it the Dancing
Derby" she began as soon as the door
was locked and the windows padded;
cit is quite simple and easy TO work,
and is no end or fun. Any one with a
little mediumistiC power can manage it,
and it hardly ever fails. 1t is based on
the common principle of spirit manifes-
tatiOns, mediums touch, and is much
superior to the planchet or the table as
means of communication. Now !
want hat; one without lining pre-
ferred."
Then Ms. Brown-that isn't her
name, but it will do-produced a
wooden alphabet similar to those used
in infant kindergarten classes, each
wooden letter being about tRo inches
square. Then she produced four little
sticks, each about four inches long and
as thick as a common lea1penCil, and
then four long. thin nails ike Corker-
pins, with brass heads. The hat being
procured, she fastened the little sticks
to the brim, two in front and two be-
hind, the long pins stuck through the
brim of the hat and running halfway
through, the sticks being sufficient to |
keep the latter firmly in place. The |
hat, when finished, rested squarely on |
four legs, just like four-legged stool. |
A rose was stuck under the hat-band in |
front to indicate the front from the |
rear. Then the twenty-six wooden let
ters were arranged in q circle on the !
table, and the Dancing Derby" set on !
its feet in the midst.
Four of the nine people in the circle
were gifted with that lneXpllcable power
of touch known as mediumiStic, but
none of them ever used the power for
money-making purposes or in q profes-
sional capacity. The general opinion of
the circle is not favorable to professional |
mediums, and might be summed up by |
saying that the work of the latter is |
about three parts spiritualism to ninety |
seven parts fraud.
Mrs. Brown, who was one of the four |
referred to, began by placing the tips Of |
her fingers on the crown of the hat, the |
other three mediums doing the same. |
In less than a minute the nat began to |
s9uirm and stagG er, and in another |
minute it rose on its two fOre-legS like a |
kicking steer, and raced in a drunken !
gallop clear around the table.
Are you ready for some converse |
tion2'' said Mrs. Brown, addressing the |
hat. Mr.. Derby gave a double buck, as |
though trying to turn a somersault. This |
was accepted as an indication that he !
was quite ready" charged" Mrs. |
Brown called it. Then the mediums |
took their hands off-all except Mrs. |
Brown, who kept her forefnger lightly |
resting on the brim as a wire of commu- |
nication. In addition to the alphabet, |
already referred to, two slips of paper |
had been placed on the table, on one of |
which was written YES" and on the |!
other mo"
lis there a spirit here?" asked Mrs
Brown. The hat gave light Jump and |
aLighted with its right fore foot on the
word Eyes"
What is your Dame2"
Mr.. Derby hesitated moment and
then slowly moved around to the letter
IN, which he tapped with his of leg as
before. Then he moved to the letter ~"
and tapped it; then quickly to the letter
IN" and gave it two taps, and was NOV
ing back toward the II, :" When Mrs.
Brown said:
Oh, 1 know. That's Minnie Jack
son."
The hat stopped. turned pirouet on
its hind legs, and lit withits fore foot on
the word "Ye as before.
Minnie, how are you, my dearf
said Mrs. Brown; and How do you do,
Miss Jackson2 2" said Mr.. Black, another
Of the mediums; and Minnie, love,
we're delighted to see you'll" exclaimed
a third-though never CLINT of Minnie
was to be seen except IN the antics of the
hat.
Minnie has a rather romantic his
tory, said Mrs. Brown for the benefit
of the new visitor of the circle. she
was to have been married to her own
true love, but the night before the we'd
cling be was accidentally choked by
turnip which stuck in his throat. Min
ME would have fretted herself to death,
but that she took pity on another
young man who was dying for her, and
married him the following Easter"
And had fourteen children, and her
mother was burned for a witch by
James vi. of Scotland" added Mr..
Mack. - $50 A
No, no-that's Mary Royal you are
thinking Of said Mrs. Brown; "We
must have talk with her by and-by;
l. - ~