The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1908-02-22
SPOOK TRADE LOOKING UP
Spiritnalsm Ont OF the Dodrums Again and Gotham Is the
Mecca.
Mecca.

Spiritualism is out of the doldroms
again, and is sailing before a stiff
breeze after the period of depressing
calm which followed it's decline in
Brooklyn. The center of activity is
shifting again to Manhattan, and the
opponents of the art of materializing
spirits are coming from up the country
and from neighboring cities to fill the
wants of the ever credulous for mani
festations from the world beyond
Most of the newly arrived mediums
are crude in their methods, and many
are of the old-line variety, who have
learned nothing except the simple
tricks of the COS, yet they are appar-
emily coming money and are finding
those in the upper regions of Manhat-
tan who are only too glad to believe in
all that they profess.
Simple as the wonders" are which
they perform when one is familiar
with the mechanical principles involv-
ed, the glib tongued spook guardians
who have recently arrived in New
York are not lacking in the gift of per-
suasive speech and the impressiveness
Of manner.
Everybody can be his own medium
and entertain his friends by bearing in
mind few easily acquired rules and
making only slight expenditure for
apparatus. Indeed, homemade ma
terials can be employed by one who is
fairly ingenious.
1t is well to construct spirit cabi-
net, for a few sticks of wood and
few yards of black cloth are all that
is necessary. For impromptu exhibit
tons the back parlor will do very well,
after labels and papers and seals have
been impressively placed on doors and
windows and transoms to show that
no human agency has been called upon
to intervene in causing the ghosts to
walk.
Between the front and back parlor
or any other two rooms may be hung
black curtain No light is allowed in
the rear room, and in the front apart
ment one jet turned low is required.
1t is better to have a dim light in a.
room adjoining, the front apartment in
which the spectators are assembled.
Then, enter the medium! It is we'll
to practice the receptions for at least
week in advance if one is only begin
ming his interesting career. Most me-
diums insist upon being tied by COM
mlttee. Only tyros and the feeblest
kind Of amateurs will tie themselves,
for it does not look we'll and is shock
even to the most trusting.
There are from fifty to sixty rope-
tying tricks. The medium insists upon
being bound by the committee, but he
always, handles one end of the rope
himself, and all the knots which are
made are fashioned into slip knots, for
no other kind can be tied under medi-
umistic conditions.
Not only is the committee, by the
manner of the holding Of the cord
compelled to tie slip knots, but the
medium is all the while stealing
slack"
Having thus completed the tying,
the next processes are largely theatre
CAL Directions have been given to
those without to join hands in circle
and sing something Of a slow and SOL
emn meter. If there are believers
present hymn is preferable. Any
thing sad, however, will answer the
same purpose. The joining of the
hands is a guarantee that there. will be
no interference with the manifesta-
tons.
Holding Of hands may be especially
interesting to some of the spectators,
and may attract their attention to each
other and keep them from too closely
following the details of the seance
Suppose, then, that the medium has
his hands bound to his knees. He first
gives some simple manifestations, such
AS writing on a pad Of paper. The