Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05

~ a.
M that fascinating if elusive subject is aware,
of the nineteenth century. But the celebrated Fox
sisters, whose revelations at that time served to
crystalline into organized religious system the
idea of the possibility of communication between
this world and the world beyond, were by no means
the first OF spirltualistc mediums Long before
their day there those who professed to have
cognizance of things unseen and to act as inter-
medlaries between the living and the dead and al
though lost to sight amid the throng of latter day
claimants to similar powers, the achievements of
some of these early adventures into the unknown
have not been surpassed by the best performances
of the Fox girls and their long line of successors
Especially is this true of the mediumship of
young German woman, Frederick Hauffe, who in the
course of her short, pitfu and tragic is
credited with having displayed more varied and
picturesque supernatural gifts than the most re-
nowned wonder worker of to-day Like many
modern mediums, she was of humble origin, her
birthplace being foresters hut in the Wdrtemberg
Mountain village of Prevorst; and here, among
wood cutters and charcoal burners, she passed the
first years of her life. Even while still child she
seems to have attracted wide spread attention on
account of certain pecuiarites Of temperament and
conduct. 1t was noticed that though naturally gay
and playful she occasionally assumed strangely
intent and serious manner: that in her happiest
moments she was subject to unaccountable fits of
shuddering and shivering: and that she seemed
keenly alive not merely to the sights and sounds of
every day life but to influences unfelt by those about
her. This last trait received a sudden and unex-
pected development when, at the age of twelve
thirteen, she was sent to the neighboring town of
grandparents, a worthy couple named Schmidgall.
The Grandfather's Discovery
GRANDFATHER SCHMIDGALL was an exceed
- Ingly superstitious old man. with singular fond
for visiting solitary and gloomy places particu-
larly churchyards: and he soon began to take the
little girl with him such strolls But he discovered
much to his amazement. that though she listened
with avdty to the tales he told her of the romantic
and mysterious events that had occurred within the
somber ruins with which the countryside was liber-
ally endowed, she was reluctant to explore those
ruins wander among the graves where he de-
lighted to resort At first he inclined to ascrbe
her reluctance to weak and sentimental timidity,
but he speedily found reason adopt an altogether
different view. He noticed that whenever he took
her to graveyards to churches in which there
graves, her frail form became greatly agitated
and at times she seemed rooted to the ground and
that there were certain places, especially an old
kitchen IN nearby castle, which he could not per-
suade her to enter, and the mere sight of which
caused her to quake and trembe. The child" he
told his wife, feels the presence of the dead, and,
mark you, she will end by seeing the dead
He was, therefore, alarmed than surprised
when midnight, long after he had fanced her in
bed and asleep, she to his room and informed
hum that she had just behed in the hall tall dark
hgu1e which H. slghng heavily passed her and dsap
with satisfaction Schmidgal remembered that he
had once seen the selfsame appariton but he pru-
IDENTIFY endeavored to convince her that she had
been dreaming and sent her back to her room which,
thencetorward he never allowed her to leave at
night.
In this way Frederick Hauffes mediumship
began. But several years to pass before she
saw another ghost gave evidence of possessing
supernormal powers other than by occasional dreams
of prophetic and revelatory nature In the mean
while she reJoined her parents and moved with them
from Prevorst to Oberstenfeld, where, in her nine
teenth year, She was married. 1t was distinctly a
marriage OF convenience, arranged without regard
to her wishes, and the moment the engagement was
announced she secluded herself from her friends and
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