New-York tribune., 1907-09-22
INFORMATION FROM BLUE BOOK"

Persons who have attended the seances OF
spiritualistic mediums are invariably tremen-
dously impressed by the intimate personal in
formation which a medium-who has never
before been in the town and is stranger to its
peoples able 70 give them This information
is impaired coming from the dead, or it is
in answer to written questions which the IN
quirers imagine the medium never sees be
fore the answer is given.
If the CredulOuS victims of trickery, MT. Alb
bOtt shows, were afforded opportunity for
scanning the pages of the mediums blue
Book they would cease to be surprised at any
thing. Every medium and every confederate or
q medium makes it a point to gather Copious
and minute information about all such per
their manifestations This information is
tabulated and the book passed on to the next
medium who visits the place.
The Blue Book according to Mr.. Abbott,
is book of general Information compiled for
the use OF mediums and other soothsayers Little
personal history such as might he useful to =
medium is absent from these books. The books
constitute the stock in trade of mediums by
which they are able to give accurate descriptions
of persons who have passed away and intimate
information about family secrets, business mat
ters and even the future plans of the subject
asking guidance.
Mediums, in their private sittings with sub
jeCts. marvellOuslX clever at drawing from
them information which these persons never sus-
peCt that they give. Every bit Of this infOrna-
ton. Mr.. Abbott asserts is tahulatcd for future
Besides that. nearly every one who asks
a written question of medium. under the i'm
embodied spirits. will write with frankness
that he or she would never use were it imagined
that the medium and. usually. a confederate,
will peruse # before answer is given to the
queries contained in the billet.
Mr. Abbott states that whenever there is
writing whether on a slate or on bit Of paper.
that writing IS always read by the medium. and
the answer or message always prepared by
either the medium or an unsuspected conted-
crate. There aCtGally hundreds Of ways by
which writing can be read and prepared. 50
skilful are these tricks that even when persons
ar told they tricks they refuse to believe
that any but a supernatural agency has been
employed
Notes in sealed envelopes. Mr.. Abbott shows.
are read hv rubbing a sponge dipped In odor-
less alcohol over the face Of the envelope. This
renders IN writing visible. BY the time the
medium places these notes in a conspicuous
position gets through pressing them 20 his
forehead 10 get the impression the alcohol
has evaporated and the owner Of the note is
dumfounded at the accuracy NJ the medium
reading. especially he thinks he sees every
movement made by the medium and certainly
sees that the envelope has never been opened
In other cases managers OF shows cleverly
change hats or bags in which sealed notes have
been collected, and SO cleverly do they accom-
plish this that the audience is willing 10 swear
that the hat bag never left their sight for n
moment. At the moment OF exchange the me-
dunn SO engrOsses the attention of tho audience
that the slight. perfectly natural movement
made by himself or his confederate entirely es-
capes observation as one hat is showed behind
things upon the table and another taken up. or
eor,a anna -artlv moro Ir1posefble but equally
simple exchange effected. In one case the
medium holds the bundle of envelopes in his
hand and with the saTte hand grasps the back
of an upholstered chair. which he puts out Of
his way before continuing ms INtHllsSta 'i"i'S.
No one sees the envelopes slipped into A re-
CeptaCle In the back of the chair ana another
bundle taken from a clip at the same spot ms
chair is set where a confederate can get out the
written questions. read and convey them 10 the
medium as he gives his answers, inclose them
in other envelopes and at the close OF the seance
return them to their owners. who believe they
have never had them out Of sight for moment