Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-01-27
learns how your time has been employ

81 have shown you,' he said, that the
life was one which required natural gifts
OF the highest kind, and great study
More than that, it required the greatest
temperance and self-control, the mastery
OF all the emotions and passions, aud the
most rigid self denial. No monk could
lead a life of greater modification
All for purposes of deception"
And do think, Bethiah, that ! might
have expected a little sympathy"
sympathy Oh Paul How long did
you continue in this occupation ?'
Until about eight months ago. Then
my Instructor, who is growing old, decided
to retire, and advised me to leave New
York for while, so as to reappear with
greater appearance of mystery-it is the
sense of mystery which helps us. As to
this pretence, as you call it, of spiritual as.
sistance, that is nothing. Anybody could
pretend so much. But it is not everybody
who could command the sense of mysteri-
GUS presence and influence"
He talks" said Bethlah addressing
her teapot "as5 if he .gloried in mis- decep-
tions. Go on, please
1--WE left New York and came to Europe.
we have been travelling about, seeing the
principal capitals. My Master is now
partly pdralysed, and will never again do
anything and"
stay moment, Paul" said Bethiah,
interrnpting. You say it is eight months
since you left New York"
YES"
Eight months ago Are you telling me
the truth, now p
II always tell you the truth Surely Be
thiah, you do not think that l would de-
ceive you ~
You told those people that you came
from Abyssinia; that you knew nothing
about your birthplace or your people.
on pretended to speak any language on
occasion. You preterded-oh Paul, how
can you ask me for sympathy with this
monstrous pile of falsehoods ?"
at was only the machinery. We must
have machinery. 1t Is only the same thing
when an English clergyman puts on a
surplice and hood. He isn't, really un.
like other men; but he wants a little ma
chinery"
"What did You do it for, Paul ?" BETH
an repeated. Tell me, if you can, what
you have got by it p
"By coming here, you mean ? 1t is no
use telling you in your present mood. You
would not understand me-"
"Iell me, however, ! want to under
stand. Did you come here for the purpose
OF getting money out of the English ~
"No. l wanted to distinguish myself"
ITO distinguish yourself? Distinction
In such way as this ?"
"Why not? ! know myself to be the
cleverest and most skillful mesmerst in
America. know the who'd of the spirit
ualist business from the lowest to the high
est, from the common medium with his
taps, TO the occult philosopher with his
Mahatmas. | thought l would come to
London, where my exploits would be wit
messed by the whole world-London is
somehow the real centre of the world.
Then | would aim at the highest thing
ever attempted. | would soar, by myself,
without any aid, far above the petty IA
miliar tricks of the mediums. In the his
tory of spiritualism | would have a chapter
10 myself. | learned that there was an
Englishman here, rich and credulous,
who wanted to be considered the CHIEF of
the Splrltuallsts, and was always anxious
and ready to cultivate the acquaintance
of every new and promising arrival. All
American Spiritualists knew the name of
Brudenel. Then | thought | would intro
duce myself to him with great prelimi
nary flourish. and when had contrived to
win his full confidence with that of as
many of his friends as possible, | would
execute a coup, the possibility of which
could not be explained by any other sup
position than the direct interference OF SUI
pernatural agency. | knew ! could do this
because [ had learned the developments
of the magnetic force which | am sure
have never been attempted before. | had
in my mind the general plan. | trusted to
chance for che details. 1t was to be the
achievement of a feat which Spiritualists
have often been invited to do, but which
they have always refused to dO-of course,
because they are unable to do it, This feat
before room full Of people. | would an.
nOunce beforehand what | was going to
do. Other mediums would be jealous, but
they should not be able to deny the fact, |
and they should not be able to repeat it.
The believers would rejoice greatly and
be strengthened in their faith. Then every
body would want me to repeat the per
formance-and then
And then sand Bethiah.
Nothing more. Because | intended at
this point to vanish altogether. J should |
leave message to the effect that | had re
turned TO Abyssinia, and should go back |
quietly to America and under my own |
uaule Carry on my prime business again. |
That, Bethiah, was the object with which F,
| came here.
well, Iiph, one cannot praise your OBJ
ject, and yet 1t was not altogether ignoble |
You did not mean to make pretences by
which to get money for yourself. Go on |
with your story You found this unfortun.
ate and credulous person. You went to |
HIM with your story about Abyssinia and |
the rest of it,"
eyes. found him far more credulous |
than could have conceived possible. All |
the Abyssinian machinery proved quite |
useless. As for my story of Prince Meme |
lex, it wasn't wanted, though the girls |
liked il. now understand that | should |
have done BETTER see it now-to have |
maintained perfect simplicity, | ought |
chlnery only encountered me"
and have you played off your great
miracle ~
81 have succeeded far beyond my eXpec- |
tauons. ! have been enabled not only to |
perform the greatest miracle OF modern |
appearance of this days paper |
from ludia-but | have actually saved |
Their fortunes for these people, and now
the whole world is ringing with my prais !
es.'
ais it? see the papers every day, but !
have seen no account of your miracles
you don't 90 into society, Rethiah. " !
said Paul. irrtably. Il tell You that in !
the best circles they are talking about !
nothing else
"Well, Paul, il that is so. your pro-
gramme is complete so far. And it only |
remains to crown the deception with your |
disappearance"
YES. Yes. Unfortunately cannot car
ny out that part Of the programme
~ If \ pl Nrnr al, "A 81,