Morning journal and courier., 1888-12-10
spIRIruALIsm ExPosEp.

NIrs. Margaret F0x.Kane and Profess
 sor Ransom Explain she Many Tricks
 of So-CalIed Mediams-The Spiritual
 Rappings.
 An interesting expose of spiritualism was given at the New Haven Opera House last evening. Mrs. Margaret Fox-Kane and Prof. Ransom went through the many tricks and devices practiced by mediums and after wards explained the several ways of per- forming the tricks. The first exhibition was, however, not explained. Prof. Ransom took pack of cards and had several of the au- dience draw one and then return it to the pack. He then put the cards in metal con- trivance in the top of bottle. He laid an ordinary piece of fiat glass upon camp stool, placed an artificial human hand upon the glass and then asked the hand what cards were drawn. He mentioned one card after another, the hand mysteriously trapped twice for assent and remained motionless when it should answer negatively. As the right card was thus mentioned it rose slowly from the back in plain sight of all. The well known trick of pouring water of different colors out of the same pitcher was explained by the use of chemicles.
 Another interesting exhibition was the mysterious lifting of chairs and tables. This was explained in various ways. The one used by Prof. Ransom required the driving of a pin into the top of the table or chair. A small notch in the performers ring exactly filled this and thus the the table was easily raised by the palm of the hand.
 His expose of the writing on slates was in- teresting. He tied two slates together and had them held by one of the audience, while upon small slips of paper. These were shaken up in hat and one drawn out The name of James A. Garfield was upon it and when the slates were united the same name was upon one of them. This trick was per formed by having but two separate hand fulls of paper with names. The professors slips were all inscribed with James A. Gar field and he dettly put them in place of those written upon by the audience.
 Professor Ransom then called for commit tee from the audience to tie him in cabinet. A crowd of students immediately rushed up- everybody and were one of the most interest," ing features of the entertainment They tied him firmly, shut him in, but still he was able Immediately to ring bells, play tambou- rines and the like. He took one of the boys in the cabinet with him and still the ringing continued He finally unloosed himself when he had fully exhibited all phases of this well known spiritualistic trick.
 He then introduced Mrs. Margaret Fox Kane, one of the founders of spiritualism. Before beginning her expose she read de- tailed account of her relations to spiritualism in the past and expressed the happiness that she felt at repairing and retrieving some of the injuries done by the belief ''My sister Kate and myself were innocent little children when we first began to practice the system of raps under pretence of spirit kn0ckfngs l am disgusted with the frauds peTpetrated by others who have taken up the system, and whatever we can do to repair the injury done my sister and myself will do. We have been threatened with the most cruel things by those who make living by the imposition. Az one of the principal agents in the founding of spiritualism denounce it as one of the vilest frauds. So-called mediums have been exposed and denounced, but the impositions of the rappists alone had not been until be- gan to expose them myself. 1 declare that no spirit power whatever is conceived in the productions of these sounds. I never in all my life received message from the spirit land. No one in the world ever did"
 Mrs. Kane then gave an exhibition of rapping. She showed that it was done by @ motion of the toes precisely similar to the snapping of the joints in the fingers when pulled. Dr. Linquist, who sat near the stage, questioned her closely and appeared somewhat incredulous. He was invited to examine her as @ committee. As he walked up the short platform leading to the stage. 6 chorus of approval burst from the crowd of college boys in the front rows. He ad- mitted after Investigating that the sounds were produced as stated by Mrs. Kane. After few further rappings, the expose concluded.