The herald., 1897-03-31
ATOMIC IMPS
That Occupy the Brain
Cells OF Children
"SPOOKISM" A FINE ART
Why the Snaky Comparison
Was Used
AN Interview AT MIDNIGHT
AN Interview AT MIDNIGHT
HIGH TEMPERATURES OF THE
DEVIL CERTIFIED TO
Lessee of Belmont Hall Donned an
Apron and Waited On Table.
Souls of Animals

1t is an old saw that extremes meet;
that history repeats itself as the progress
of the world is recorded in cyclic epochs,
and that, consequently there is in very
truth, nothing new under the sum-"
And yet at first glance the connection
between the two great classes of spirits
has not, to the ordinary and unenlight-
ened mind, been apparent until the trial
of the libel suit against the Times-Mir-
ror Publishing company by Miss Joseph
inc Holmes, now drawing to conclu-
sion.
Everyone is more or less familiar with
the spirits of commerce, that are usually
confined in bottle, and that have hap
py knack of winning appreciation on
cold, wet night. Ardent spirits these are
sometimes termed, but whether by way
of reflection upon the spirits of the
"spooky'' kind, who, judging from the
revelations made during the trial, are
either very lackadaisical or else of
pronouncedly pugnacious kind, has not
appeared. 1t is too well known to need
any comment that a too close and pro-
longed acquaintance with bottled spirits
causes one to see snakes; and now 1t is
learned that the less tangible spirits also
have snaky characteristics that illus
trate the old truism that extremes meet,
and that with a good supply of spirits,
of either brand, one can start rather
fine private menagerie.
But that Is only one result of dallying
with spirits. The recital that has been
made to the jury in the federal court,
during the last day or two, regarding
the antics of the denizens of the spirit
world reveals one fact at least that
will be considered reassuring by very
large number of people. That is that
even the spirits of the neither world-and
they are the ones that appear to have
made their presence most continuously
and persstently manifest-are merry
mischievous lot and if they are clothed
In sulphurous garments, with birthstone
trimmings, they apparently cause them
no inconvenience. OF course the spirits
of the higher spheres are different, but
if the witnesses are to be believed, the
"boss" spirit of the lot-Abel, who was
described as the Supreme Power-in his
manifestations with Miss Holmes show
ed that he has a light heart, or at least
is moved precisely as folks on this mum
dane sphere are who have hearts and
who are feeling real good and lively.
LADY REPORTERS EXPERIENCE
All this was again shadowed forth yes
terday by Miss Muriel Irwin, the Times
reporter who wrote the article alleged
to be lbellous by Miss Holmes.
Before she went upon the witness
stand. however, Mr.. Van Auken con-
cluded his testimony begun the day pre-
vious His statements corroborated his
wife's testimony, and under cross-ex-
animation nothing that was new was
elected.
Miss Irwin was an Inmate of Belmont
hall for five days and her experience dur
ing that time was decidedly interesting
and rather calculated to give the aver
age young woman the "creeps' She
began her statement by telling how and
under what circumstances she received
instructions from Col. Otis to accom-
pany Mr.. Dodd, the detective sent from
Insley's agency to Belmont hall, and
there as an inmate learn the true situa-
tion and after being certain of her facts
to write a ftll account of her experience
as news and In the public interest.
Miss Irwin found that Belmont hall
was in the charge of a Norwegian wo-
man, an ex-laundress, whom she was in
troduced to as Miss Holmes Owing to
her lack of education and experience IN
speaking the English language. the lat
ter used Mrs. Alexander Russell or san
Francisco as her mouth-piece in giving
new boarder that she could not lecture
herself because if she happened to
speak of anything unpalatable the evil
spirits would get her by the throat ana
choke her. The brother of Miss Holmes
acted as steward and business manager.
The witness stated that of the sixty peo-
pie or so that attended the meetings
during the five days she was at the hall.
she had no reason to suppose that the
greater part were not honest dupes. The
Youngest people there were the children
Of the Wheelers and the oldest present
was the father of A. c. Taylor, an old
gentleman of rs years
MOLECULAR DEVILS
After looking about her. Miss Irwin
came to the conclusion that the very
odd state of affairs she found was the
direct result of the strong hypnotic
power of Miss Holmes. Everybody ap
peared to be held by her in abject sub
lection to her will and were willing be-
levers in the incongruous doctrine which
she inculcated. Witness was treated
to a dsquistion by Miss Holmes upon
pre-Adamite man. That is rather strong
meat for a young proselyte, but Miss
Irwin swallowed it without disarranging
q hair of her coiffure, and her teacher,
presumably, assumed she was edified.
She was told that before the fall man
possessed only one mental characteris
tic--receptiveness; that he was envel-
oped in an aura or atmosphere of in
telligence or soul; the cerebellum or
front brain was made by devils, and
that these forms of intelligence ordin-
arily recognized as the most elevated
part Of man, were the work of devils
So soon as q child began to think, just
so soon did the devils begin to enter eacn
brain cell and by generation of thought
prepare the way for new brain cells and
their corresponding new devils.
By this cheerful doctrine, art, science,
literature and every outward manifesto
ton of high intelligence was declared
as in direct opposition to God. and until
1t was all banished from the mind and
the latter reduced to the receptive con-
dition, in contrast to the creative one,
ealvation would be impossible. The
worlds secondary leaders were said to
be Moses. Confucius, Brahma and the
superlative ones Jesus Christ. Sweden
borg and Josephine Holmes. The end of
all things was said to be near at hand,
and then everyone would develop me-
diumship and be able to see devils.
It seemed to the witness that the