Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-11


fsstatlons given for The pufpoes of OBJ
Now. while do not hold that Il ID noe
possible for q typewriter to " operated
By spirit-hands. propose 70 show how
one may be operated BY electricity. In
the nrst place an arrangement OF elep-
trical wires with powerful batteries could
be made TO connect with . table contain
ing q typewriter. that would enable an
unseen operator to writo letters from tho
spirit-worid as often a. ne chose oy
simply manipulating . dupiicate key.
board or alphabet board acting IKE .
telegraphic instrument. Each letter on
the duplicate board could be placed ss
far from the machine. which is IN view
OF the audience. az might be deemed ad'
vIsable. The typewriter itself coaid %
30 arranged that the lifting OF u up from
the table would disconnect the eiectIio
circuit. II might be passer around for
the inspection OF the audience ana tnen
placed back on tho table, the ono
handling II taking care TO replace u IN
such way as TO make the electric con.
nection by setting Il down exactly In the
right spot. Now II could bs caused y
write by having the unseen operator
write a message on his concealed Key
board, which would be written on tho
typewriter, as every letter OF that in'
strumcnt would respond to tho touch
connecting 1t with Its duplicate In con-
cealment. In .als manner pianoss ana
organs have been successfully played ana
have made very great successes.
The alluring announcement that plano
would be placed in the centre OF the staSo
and committee chosen from the audience
and allowed 10 sit around II, when. under
certain favorable conditions. tho instru.
ment would be played by unseen hands,
Is usually sufficiently startling TO attract
an audience. The unseen hands are thosa
OF a musician who. IN an adjoining rooms
plays the desired air on a noiscless Key.
board. the touch OF each key making an
electric connection and producing the de-
sired note or the piano. Mechanical or
automatic self-playing pianos nave de-
stroyed the attractiveness OF this old ons
favorite trick. and Il has fallen into dis
use on account Of the Gonderfui progress
made in electrical discoveries. IL Is but
few years since the suspending or
drum TO a cord In tho centre OF tho stage
In a theatre and causing tho drum tn
rap out spirit messages was considered
the most remarkable. The goblin drum
or the spirit drum was once strong iino
on the travelling magician's programme,
but the use OF this instrument now wouiu
not cause anything bu, laughter. for tho
same reason that the spirit plano no Ions
ger mystihes. "a the goblin drum was
manipulated In exactly the same manner
as the plano. only on a simpler plan.
In giving entertainments called mfnd
reading there Is no doubt that there arc
people possessed OF certain afiinities that
enables them to accomplish without
trlckery or any aid other than tho sift
they have OF being 30 thoroughly IN
sympathy as to enable thom 10 SEQ or feel
exactly the same sights or Impulses at
the same time. I once met two cousins,
malc and female. The man was tall,
wiry New Englander, In splendid health.
the possessor OF a remarkable amount OK
animal magnetism-more than In any
other person I ever came In contaee
with-while his cousin was girl OF 10.
whose very existence seemed 10 hang
on her cousins permission. She thought
as he thought, saw as no saw. and they
were able To perform some OF the most
marvellous things possible to Imagine. In
one OF their exhibitions they thoroughly
convinced a number of people. including
myself. that 1t was possible 10 blindfold
the girl without deprlving her OF tho
power OF seeing whatever her cousin
saw. lie might be taken to n remote
corner Of the room, and question whiss
pered in his ear. which his cousin would
answer WITHOUT MS lldhiHS u sigh VI SUI
ture He was fairly good musician,
and could compel his cousin TO sing songs
handed him. although she had never
heard the music and was unable to read
music herself
If the public were more inclined to in-
vestlgatc and less inclined TO scout tha
possibility OF what they do not under-
stand. there would undoubtedly be moro
wonderful Manifestations given than ever
have been seen. but as long az audiences
can be attracted by so-oalled spiritual
manifestations. just so long VIII thosa
spiritual manifestations be produced by
trickery. when there IA no doubt That
the same result might he reached under
the proper conditions by the proper paoplt
without mechanical appliances or fraud.
II Is apparently glorious American priyi-
lege, more frequently INDUCED la than
any other privilege. to disbellevc what 10
not understood. and for that reason In
vestigation is not carried TO the same ex-
tent in this country that IL Ia In almost
every part OF Europe. The credulous ones
are too apt To believe in what they 500
without attempting 10 investigate. while
the incredulous ones are apt to believe In
nothing they do not understand. or ara
too indolent to investigate.
a. HERMANN.