The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-07-07
SPIRIT TRICKS.
A French ConJurer Shows How They Can
Be Performed.

Be performed.
A French sleight of hand perform
er, M. Alber, claims to be able to
reproduce all the phenomena of
spiritualism that are known to me-
diums. He explains the perform
ance as he proceeds, and it appears
that most of his tricks can be re-
peated without any special machin-
cry in an ordinary parlor.
There is the slate trick, for exam
pie. A slate is shown around among
the spectators. There is nothing
written on it, A spirit is invoked,
the slate is pressed fiat against the
underside of a table with the left
hand of the medium. One of the
audience holds his right hand mo-
tionless. The lights are put out. At
the end of few seconds is heard
the scratching sound of a slate pen
Gil, and when the lights are turned
up again the answers to questions
addressed to the spirit may be read,
usually in badly written characters.
Well, in spite of appearances, it
is possible for the medium to hold
the slate and to write with his left
hand. 1t is only necessary that he
should have upon his index finger a
small thimblelike arrangement. The
pressure of spring shoots out a
miniature slate pencil. The slate is
held by the other fingers, and the
index finger writes from right to
left, the reverse of the usual proc
ess, beginning with the last letter
of the last word. A few hours prac-
tice will enable one to do this sue
cessfully.
Luminous apparitions and will O.
the wisps flying in space around the
heads of the audience form another
part of the programme at most spir-
itualistic seances. They are very
easy of production.
1t is necessary that the medium
should have his arms at liberty. He
asks the company to join hands so
as to form magnetic circle around
him. He explains that such magic
circle is sine qua non of the ap-
pearances which he is about to |
evoke. In reality he desires it be-
cause it is just as well to restrain \
the hands of theaudience from phys
ical contact with the will o. the
wisps and mysterious lights.
AS soon as the lights are turned
down the operator plunges his hand
into his waistcoat and draws out
phosphorized glove, which he Sc
cretly places upon his right hand.
The glove is phosphorized only on
one side, SO that the operator has
but to turn his hand and present
either the palm or the back in order
Io provide light or darkness.
In the obscurity of a darkened
room it is impossible for the audi
snce to determine at what distance
from the eyes the luminous appear
lnce is produced. Sometimes it
seems close, sometimes far off. So
hat if the medium fears that the
of his boots would betray
lin, he has but to remain in his
,lace and confine himself to turn
ng the glove on one side and then
IN the other
But sometimes to prove absolutely
hat there is no deception the me-
lium offers to have his hands tied
behind his back. He uses the famil-
ar trick known as the Davenport
mot, from the Davenport brothers,
Who made it famous, and no matter
low tightly he may appear to be
'ound it is but child s play to release
us hands from their ngature.-
There are apple trees in England
hat are known to have been in ex-
3tenco 500 wears ago.