Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-05

really becomes conspicuous Hitherto, with the
exception of the Bryant-Wells investigation, which
could hardly be called scientific, his pretenSions
had not been seriously tested, and operating he
did among avowed sprituasts he had enjoyed un-
limited opportunities for the preparation OF fraud.
But henceforth, skeptics well as believers having
ready access to him, he found himself not infre
quently in thoroughly hostile environment, and
subjected to the sharpest criticism and most
restrained abuse. Nevertheless, he was able not
simply to maintain but to augment the fame of his
YOUTH and, after a mediumship of more than thirty
years, could claim the unique distinction OF not
once having had charge of trickery proved against
him
Besides this overcoming with astounding ease
the handicaps of his humble birth and lack of educa
ton, his life continued round of social
triumphs of the highest order; for he speedily won
and retained to the day of his death the confidence
and friendship of eaders OF society IN every European
capital. With them. in castle, chateau, and man
sion, he made his home, always welcome and always
trusted and in his days of greatest stress, days OF
i'll health vilfcation and legal entanglements they
rallied unfailngly to his aid Add again that Kings
and Queens We'd with one another in entertaining
and rewarding him. and it is possible to gain some
idea of the heights scaled by this erstWhle Connectl
cut country boy.
He began modesty enough by taking at a
quiet London hotel; where, his fame having spread
through the city he had the pleasure of giving
a seance to two such distinguished personages as
Lord Brougham and Sir David Brewster. Both
retired thoroughly mystfed, though the latter some
months later asserted that while he could mot
count for all he had witnessed he had seen enough
to satisfy himself that they COulQ all De produced
by hands and feet, statement which, by the
way at variance with one he had made at the
time, and involved him in a most unpleasant con-
trOverSy.
Basis of Lytton's "Zanoni"
A FTER Brougham and Brewster came long
succession of other notables, including the
novelist Sir Bulwer Lytton, to whom most edify-
ing experience granted Rapping away
usual the table suddenly indicated that it had
message for him. and, the alphabet being called
out:
Il the spirit who influenced you to write
Indeed" quoth Lytton with skeptcal smile
Suppose you give me tangible proof OF your
presence.
Put your hand under the table"
No sooner done than the invisible being gave
him hearty handshake, and proceeded:
I'VE wish you to believe in the 1t stopped
So In what? In the medium,
At that moment there came gentle tapping on
his knee, and looking down he found on it a small
cardboard cross which had been lying another
table. Lytton the story goes, begged permission
to keep the cross as souvenir. and promised that
he would remember the 'spirits - I'M junction.
For Home of course, the incident was splendid
advertisement, the extravagant reports
spread broadcast by other visitors. Consequently,
Of one of his English patrons, he gained instant
recognition, and was enabled to enter with phenom-
email ease upon his Continental crusade.
In order to reach the most striking manifesto
lions of his peculiar ability must pass hurriedly
the events of the next few years, though they
perhaps the most picturesque of his career, in
and his Empress, with the King of Prussia, and
with the Emperor of Russia. In Russia he
married to the daughter of noble Russian family,
and for groomsmen at his wedding had Count
Alexe Tolsto, the famous poet and Count Bob
rnsk of the Emperor's chamberains. This
in 1888 and shortly afterward he returned to
England to repeat his sprituastic triumphs of
1855, and increase the already large group of in
fuential and titled friends whose doors were