Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-04

conducted a spiritualistic seance laso
night, at the home of young Madam
Fox, who is a local celebrity as clair
voyant, and makes a business OF deal
ing with the past, present and future
at so much per deal. A Register re-
porter was present by invitation. The
madam was waiting for him at the
appointed time, and he was ushereo IN
10 a room in which about dozen men
and women were seated. Mr.. Jones
stepped forward, and whispered INTO
the reportorial ear that is was 10 De
trumpet seance. The trumpet was then
exhibited. 1t was tin horn about three
feet long. and four inches in diameter
in the faring end. He was permlI'eu
TO handle it, but enjoined not 10 piow
in it.
The blinds were then lowered, ana
the lights extinguished. Several times
the lights reappeared and moved about
The reporters hands were at this Tune
in the grasp Of two females, ana he
could not get close enough TO learn
how this thing was manipulated. AS
soon as the lights went out circle was
formed around a table. and every per-
son was instructed TO keep his feet
firmly on the floor The disregard OF
this Injunction would call forth pro-
fest from the spirits The reporter was
q trifie skeptical The ladies on each
side of him held his hands to his knees,
but twice during the seance he htted
! them. and at the same time took Ma
feet from the floor This had no ap-
preciable effect upon the spirits. They
went on talking in their stage whispers
| Just the same.
When all was ready the trumpet was
placed on the table. Mr.. Jones sat be-
| tween two women. and was presumably
| IN trance. Bumpety-bump! the
trumpet was moving on the table. 1t
was pitch dark. Suddenly it fioated
about in the air and came into contact
with the reporters head. This was re-
heated several times, and the reporter
was almost tempted TO break loose
from the grasp of his female compan-
ions and snatch the horn. He saw Wis
ions Of the fall campaign, and knew he
could cut a wide swath" with the in
strument in the Democratic jubilee
after the November election. But he
was enjoying the seance and feared the
result.
Mr.. Jones wanted a musical instru-
ment for his guardian spirit TO play
through the trumpet. There were none
in the room. After the spirits started
talking it became very interesting.
They announced their names, always
only their Christian names, and hall
the time SIMPLY called out mother or
father" or baby" Then those in the
circle asked in turn if they were want
ed When the question was asked by
the proper person, the answer was
yes" The burden OF the information
impaired by the shades was that they
were happy, and would watch over
the person addressed.
Contrary to the general impression,
there is no music in the spirit world.
At least one would so infer from the
communications of the ghosts at the
seance. Nearly all of them asked for
music One shade with a strong voice
wanted something lively All Joined
in singing the pathetic ballad of "Swee.
Marie" The other spirits were salts
fed with Nearer Ny God 10 Thee,
and What a Friend We Have in Jes-
us" The music would not have pleased
some people but the spirits were no.
fastdious. At least they made no com
plant One spirit was German, but
he found no person in the circle who
could talk his language, so his per-
formance ended with a very polite
Hot yea"
Nearly every person in the circle had
received a call from the spirits. and the
reporter though, he would be forgotten,
buJ he drew prize. Katie, Katie.
Katie" floated out in soft, dulcet
strains from the big end of the trumpet.
The reporter felt that there was
pretty face behind that seductive voice.
but he hardly dared to hope that the
shade wanted to converse with him.
Everybody else inquired if they were
wanted. and the answer was no"
Then the lady at the scribe's elbow
said: Why don't you answer"
Have YOU message for me?' quer-
led the newspaper man.
Yes"
What it is?"
Hereafter, through life. I will be
your guardian spirit, and l would like
to hold meetings with you twice week
in the darkness"
The prospect was not unpleasant, but
the spirit did not fix time or place The
reporter did not want to appear bold
so he mildly inquired if she had ever
known him in life. receiving a negative
reply. Other members of the circle eX-
planned that the spirit had been "at-
tracted." and ne had to rest satisfied
with the knowledge that there was an
affinity between him and at least one
fair ghost.
Medium Jones guardian spirit finally
called. and the reporter was told to ask
questions. There was one matter upon
which he has always wanted positive
information. Here was his opportunity
TO set at rest all his doubts.
rs there a hell?" he asked.
Il have never smelled any smoke"
and the ghost actually chuckled. This
was facetious shade, and the reporter
liked it best, as the rest were evident
~ suffering from melancholy. A real
Jolly ghost is a decided novelty. This
spirit. in life. was ]. e. Craig, who was
an attorney and has been dead
for seventy years.
The seance lasted about three-quar-
ters of an hour. When it was over.
Medium Jones told the reporter that
there are 100000 spiritualists in the
United States. In Cincinnati there ard
u 900, and in Cleveland $4,000. He will
hold open meetings here, but will not