Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-06-30
Foster. the Medium.

Some years ago, when Foster was
giving sittings on Girard street at IS a
sit, he was visited by o friend OF mine,
q man of intellect and common sense,
and vet when he came away he was in
a completely daZed condition of mind,
moi knowing what to think about what
he had witnessed. Let me relate one
thing that amazed him. He was ush-
cred into a small reception and
told to write his name on q piece of
paper and with his own hands seal it in
an envelope. He sat down before the
only table in the room and wrote his
name-we will assume it to be John
Smith-as directed, taking care to SO
conceal the writing that it could not be
seen from above or from any other di-
rection. He placed it in an envelope,
sealed it and held it in one hand. The
attendant then withdrew. In a few
moments Foster entered and eyed his
visitor with o piercing glance, as though
reading his innermost thoughts. Sud
denly extending his right hand, he
CALCULATED, "How are you, Mr.. John
Smith,"
The visitor started back in surprise,
as he was certain Foster had never
seen him before. "How do you know
my name?" he wondering'y inquired.
In deep tones Foster replied: 1T is
written in my blood" With that he
barred his left arm to the elbow, and
Selling the still sealed envelope from
Mr.. Smiths hand, crump'ed it vigor-
ously over the under and tender part of
his arm. Over that member spreai o
glow through which bright crimson
lines appeared, and in q few moments,
emblazoned on the arm in fiery letters
of blood. was the name of John
Smith," The amazed visitor, at Fos-
ter's invitation, tried to wash the letters
out with water, but the more he rubbed
the brighter they became, until he was
convinced-which was the fact--that
the letters we're beneath the skin and
were caused by the mans v blood.
Wonderful you say, and that is what I
said when I first heard OF it. But I
didn't believe it was supernatural, for
the very simple reason that il, discm.
bodied spirits are roaming around us
they have certainly something better to
do than to be writing names on mems
arms in order to enable a lazy scoundrel
to put o f~ive-dollar note in his swell M
purse. Now that / know how the trick
was done / am surprised only at its
simplicity.
In the first place, Foster has to ascer-
tain his visitors name. This he did by
o simple device. When Mr.. Smith sat
at the only table in the room he was
unaware that beneath the writing pad
was what is called copying paper" an
oiled and blackened sheet. which, when
placed beneath the paper M is writ
ing upon, conveys the impression to
another piece of paper beneath it. The
same kind Of paper is used in making
duplicate copies in tpye writing. A
hard pencil was placed where Mr..
Smith would pick it up, and in order
to write his name no unconsciously bore
down upon the copying paper. The 81.
tcndant expertly Withdrew the copy
and carried it to his employer. Now to
prepare for the blood act.
Bare your arm to the elbow. In the
right hand hold = thin piece Of steel,
bnt with q slightly rounded edge that
will not cut. As you probably do not
possess such an instrument. take : por-
ton Of . very stiff visiting or business
card. and bearing its edges rather hard
upon the under portion Of your arm.
follow the outlines OF n letters you
choose. The result will Be . dis
cernible white lines that soon pass
away. Five minutes later, With your
hand on q crumpled psce 81 psper.
rnb that portion ~ yonr arm = TEce-