The Portland daily press., 1889-04-12
SPIRIT TESTS.
Mr.. George Mcconnell Shows What
He Can DO In the Medium Line.
He Beats Or. sIade, the Professional
Medium, Out and Out.

Drlef card 10 the erect tnat george McC0n-
NELL of the firm of Aarons & Mcconnell,
artists, would repeat free the slate writing
feats Of DR.. Slade.
Magician Mcconnell was crowded with
visitors all day, and was at last forced to
make later appointments with his visitors.
$50 you've come to try your luck with the
spiritsP" be said to the writer.
That's about it."
''No spirits are here. good, bad or indif-
ferent think can give you all the tests
you want, although I've been sending people
away for the last few hours I've got to put
the finishing touches on picture"
The magician, for it wouldn't be fair to
call him a medium Is fine looking man.
His hands are remarkably flexible, and his
movements are. to use popular term, as
quick as fash"
"Please look at the table. Look it all over.
Satisfy yourself that there's nothing under,
in, or about it." said Mr.. Mcconnell.
'Now look at these states. Look them all
over See me wash them. Don't let me de-
ceiye you, for shall If can, for this is all
trick you know"
1.-The states appear to be all right"
Make sure, don't take my word for any
thing" 49,.
"Glad you think so. Now take your seat
about"
Seated at the table. at the request of Mr..
Mcconnell, battery" was formed, by
placing the hands on the table. Then the
magician said, "Are the spirits of our de-
parted friends here?'' A faint rap came
from behind the chair Of the magician.
"Please rap louder" he said.
This time the rap, clear, sharp and metallic
like came from under the floor of the room,
as it seemed.
"The spirits are drawing nearer" said the
magician with smile. Don't you feel the
wind?"
There was considerable of breeze about
the table, and no mistake.
"Please indicate your presence by rapping
on this table" was the next request. The
response was made on the instant.
'Please let the raps come on this side Of
the table" said the writer.
"The gentleman is an unbeliever. He
doubts the reality of the manifestation you
are giving him, |, said the magician in sub,
And it was done. No doubt about it, but
how?
ibid you watch my hands closely?" asked
the magician.
YES"
And yet that was done with my hands.
You couldn't see them move, but they did"
''Now for slate writing.
"All right Look at this slate again."
''That slate Is all right"
"Then hold it down on the table,"
There was no movement to be heard, but
from down in the vicinity of the floor came
two raps.
magician of the Spirits" and there came
| two more rapS.
SIS the slate all right9" Three raps that
time.
rs the pencil too long?" Three raps to
| that. A shorter bit of pencil was put n,and
in second there was what appeared to be a
| scratching on the slate.
Hold the slate as hard as you can," was
the request of the magician. Then the
| sound was over, and with apparent difficulty
he opened the states, and there was this
| message:
| In the future humanity will become more cult
| waited, more upifted, the storms Of social and po
litical life OF every department of human expert
ence and thought will cease, finer atmosphere
| a more harmonious condition Of life will exhibit
itself, since man will have grown with this planet
and will be able TO show his relationship TO the
/ divine. Yours respectfully,
| P.S-Don't take any stock in what people tell
you: Investigate for yourself then you WIN BE-
Ibid you see how the trick was done9''
asked asked the magician.
'And had DIR. Slade held the slatesIthe re.
suit would have been the same. Now write
a question on the slate at your side" The
| request was complied with, and the question
"Shall we live again?" was written. The
magician took the slate, and on the reverse
i appeared the answer, I'm the world oil
| spirits, where there is no DEATH"
Later on Mr.. Aarons did the same trick
but more slowly, and tbs secret was out.
| Then Magician Mcconnell proceeded to
duplicate some other feats performed by DR.
Slade. The plates were sent from the table
to one side of the room. The writer receiv-
ed sharp blow from another slate. The
slate was pushed in one side of the table
and made its appearance on the other side
Then the "spirits" got real mad and threat
ened to smash the slate. and probably would
have done 1t had 1t been at a paid sitting
but as Magician Mcconnell is giving his sit
tings, he doesn't approve of their destroying
property.
But some Of DIR. Slades spirits are yer,
strong" was mildly suggested. and the ma
gician replied, "StrongI Nothing but chill
dren compared with some of my spirits
Take the slate out from under the table !
you can"
"The slate's on the table-no 1t isn't"
Its against your knee"
So it was, and it was quite tug before |
could be taken from under the table.
Then a gentleman came in with MI
Aarons. Up to that tine the magician ant
the writer had been alone A new, and. il
the opinion of the spirits, improved bat
terry was formed. and the programme wa
gone through again with some rather start
ling additions. Mr.. Mcconnell called II
some of his very strongest "spirits," and tn
slate for some time resisted the united Ell
forts of two of us to remove it.
The writing trick was duplicated. "Natcl
me-" said the magician with smile, "bu
remember I'm very strong; perfect bal
terry myself, and have hosts of spirits abou
me-" We did watch him, and what wa
more, held the states, and yet he was to
quick for US. Two messages in differen
handwritings we're received. Rev. Johl
Keith was happy to be able to state that d
was in heaven, and urged all present-th
reverend spirit labored under the delusio