Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-10

before II occurred, ana OF thc '"e"9 VI
tho nre-hells five minutes before 'h'y
rung. She could write poem OF Ten ''rS''
f., ~ ,riru,os. she could read letters which
nero scaled AMI books which were not
oro,cd and could absorb all the reading
r,,,tcr of a newspaper by merely placing
hor hand upon Il and not i''"'"S
AZ all. -, ..o....,
That Miss Fanchcr reaIy PD'S''s''
these miraculous powers is vouched ior
-, tho testimony OF ladies. clersymen'
uer,rv men. physicians. and astronomer
a., ,i.sr, and ether gcntlcmcn-testimony
,,tcr , believer In ghosts must CONSIDER
~ Ln oheolutclv irrefragiblc. Hut Whli'
40 ar. a vast number of persons VINO
~ or more readily impressed ny the
i,,rosslblc than hy the actual 'l''' az
-, Ie,st a few who have learned rom ~
,'.-,.,co t,recard skeptlcism IN certain
Jtrarttons as something 90 NH'"'' nm
tbcv will think that these W'i'S9r9 ii,'
be rather too tolerant III NV
80 ,ha kind and amount Of evidence r.
VI =, .st,hlish the reality of such dis
,lavs as they testify co. slh', ,"'E "'
nat claes OF observers which mas sat
81 its.lr that spiritual beings can
t.,,,.r,-s tIcir forms upon chemicaiiy-pie-
uor.d p,latine, that p0itly Oh ldu'eS 90"
| noat out Of a window upon 'ht an M
auothcr window several ploChS AVA
md that angels can matefidlIIc 'hrli'
selves I'm a parlor and there eVoh" c'I,
al horn,ories from earthly instruments
.,d ,erform ethereal dances arrayed III
r,,,i, d,,nery ~ doubt these VII
,.eess are All good men and women ana
s,.,,, Of them are in certain Respects
learned. But unfortunately neither gooi-
moss nor learning Is sure pio,eCtloH
,r,inst credulitv. and II Is not az All far
ia find an emincntly Christian Walk anu
conversation. or great knoWlcdge OF III
vinitv. or Of astronomy. or OF literature
mr. Of law. or Of medicine, even, accom-
panied with ho'dp'e '''H VI ''''''''0''
sense. -
Uncertainties were afforded to Miss
ranchor for furnishing evidence more
convincing. to doubtcrs at Last than
mere assertions. and the crude expert
ments set forth as proof hy these we'll
meaning but not very expert witnesses.
check for more than thousand dollars
was offered 10 her II she would describe
| II by her Clairvoyant powers. but she an
not accept the offer il was proposed
that Professors Wyman (of Harvard and
Agassiz should investigate her case: but
when arrangements WCr" completed she
WAS represented 10 be too III 10 be In
vestigated. and she did not recover SUI
| rcientlv till both OF the professors had
| died The Medico-Lesal Society Of New
| YORK appointed a committee OF eminent
| medical men % inquire into her case
| but by the advice Of the author Of this
| book, Judge Daley himself. she refused
| u submit 10 the inquiry. surely, thcs'
seem 70 be reasonable tests. and had MISS
| Fancher successfully stood them II wonld
L III d Nf a 0
| as 10 her asserted powers. She. how
| ever. did not stand them. ror has any
| alleged olairVOyaut ever been anle 10
| etand them: vet. unless she or some one
| else can infallibly demonstrate that what
| scientific men regard as among the sui"St
! Of their acquisitions from experience ana
| study. is absurily at fault sensible peo-
| pie will not accept and should not he
| asked to accept as a fact that which H.
| to say the very best II II, a most lnc"in-
| prohensibie ard incredible paradox.
| Judicious medical men Of experience
| or who are well read. in the disorders
Of the nervous system will not hesitate 20
place Miss Fancher and her marNe!S 10
that long list Of cataleptc ana hyster'
| women. and their exploits. which. upon
thorough Investigation 10y competent IN
quirers. are proved 10 be cases where
the subject is d"ceivor-oiicu. no douhi,
inuocertly so-performinS 20 an audience
prepared by its moral AMI intellectual
characteristics 10 BE- deceived
| In the foregoing remarks there is mo
intention to speak harshly ~ Miss
Fancher on the contrary, sh" deserves
| and receives our utmost sympathy ana
! f0rhearancc. for she is woman grey
ousiy afflicted. Bat she has offered her
case for public criticism. and ~" think
that judicious and candid critic. on