Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-21

produced communications on states brought
already sealed by the sitter deftly pred the
long sides of the states slightly apart with
a sharp wedge and then inserted between
them a piece Of wire with minute point
Of slate pencil fastened to the end. With
this the trained medium could write what
he pleased the actual writing being done
before the test" actually commenced and
while the medium secreted behind his table
was waiting for Favorable influences" or
something of the kind Mr.. Darlington says
that one ever received independent slate
writing between fastened states that he
did not allow out Of his hands for a short
interval at least. He also explained to me
the variouj fraudulent devices in use by
which mediums produce raps. move tables,
read sealed letters, initiate mind-reading
performances and produce spirit-photo-
me-experimentaly imitated-and they
tainly exactly duplicated those supposedly
genuine.
Has Heard Raps
What phenomena-of all studied-do you
regard as genuine?" 1 asked him as the in
terview drew to a close.
'In considering the evidence in favor of
and against raps' find that there is a GER
tain weight of evidence in favor Of their
genuine character" he said. But the
principal reason that believe that raps are
sometimes genuine is that 1 myself have
obtained them in my own apartment, where
live alone-no other person being present
at the time. For four or five weeks rap
pings would begin In my room about 10
o'clock and continue until 1 went to sleep
and would increase In violence at the time
I went to bed They did not sound like
creaks of the furniture but like knocks
made through thick cloth and upon wood
work. One flight when they were louder
than usual and keeping me awake I got out
of bed and located them on my mantel-
piece. where I could feel their vibration
1t was a queer sensation to feel them COM
ing at the very spot l was intently watch
ing. An unexplainable feeling of apprehen-
sion would often come just before such raps
would be heard there and in other parts of
the room. Several other persons distinctly
heard them on various occasions. One night
l received them by concentrating my atten-
ton while awaiting communication. Once
placed upon my couch a package Of pa
pers, fastened together with rubber bands.
Instantly there was loud quick snap, Just
as If the band had been lifted and allowed
to fly back. During the time the raps were
loudest I would feel a distinct presence in
the room or in the hallway and once during
these apparent hauntings a person occupy
Ing a fiat on the same floor with me and
having no inkling of my experiences sud-
denly felt this presence. unsuggested. These
pleased that they have"
But do you think the departed would
probably waste their time rapping in this
way?"
1T is simply a question of fact, not spec
ulation. whether they do or not AS Minot
]. Savage has asked. When Queen Victoria
or George Washington wished to enter a
room in this world. would they have con-
sidered 1t undignihed to rap upon the door?
think 1t highly improbable that the
spirit Is aware that it is manifesting in raps
That may be merely the physical form in
which their thoughts are automatically reg
istered
Supernormal Moving Of Bodies.
And a word about other phenomena
which appear to be sometimes genuine
Though there are many ways in which
heavy objects may be lifted and moved by
fraudulent me ans in seance tests. 1t is very
doubtful whether these methods would ac-
count for all the phenomena of that sort
witnessed. After going through all the
evidence obtain the impression that some
of the phenomena where bodies appear to
be moved supernormally do sometimes take
place and that there must be some force
in the world as yet unknown and exercis-
ing at least a push-and- pull action upon i'm
ponderable matter. IT is quite conceivable
that some nervous force might under ex-
ceptional circumstances. extend beyond the
bodily frame and exert an influence over the
external material world
II want to emphasize this point: AL
though have given timely warning of
the trickery at present in vogue among
mediums. I do not wish to be understood
that relegate the whole of the evidence Of
the supernormal to the waste basket. The
phenomena which have much evidence in
their favor are besides those described.
chiefly trance manifestations. apparitions.
haunted houses. telepathy. clairvoyance.
premonitions. as well az hypnotic phenom-