The Washington times., 1922-08-26


years ago, 1 visited a spiritualist.
1 made no appointment with her
and she didn't know l was coming
until 1 walked in on her. We lad
neither seen nor heard of each other
before.
Notwithstanding this, she could
tell me correctly mo name, the
names Of members Of my family
and of friends and various facts
connected with my life which were
all true. l would appreciate 1t very
much, indeed, If you would tell me
how she could tell me these names
and facts concerning my life, in view
of the fact that she had never heard
Of me before.
Recently 1 again made surprise
visit on another spiritualist who had
never heard of me before. She also
surprised me by telling me correctly
similar facts, including correct
names. X. Z.
A. l am wondering, r. c., il you
ever heard of the Spirit Blue Book. -
1t is one Of most important
properties of the mediumistic profess
sion in the world. y international in
scope, 1t lists hundreds of thousands
of names, addresses and the most
searching information. What is not
in the book is in the form Of data
gathered through cooperative plan.
Special attention is paid in the list
ings to persons interested in
spiritism-its advocates and Its
opponents.
The means by which mediums
know who is coming to see them are
too numerous to mention. Once in
side, however, the work Is easy. /
know that a favorite trick Of the
medium who is confronted by an
absolute stranger is to say, THE
spirits are not with me. Come
again tomorrow" AS the person
leaves, the medium signals to a con-
federate outside. This latter follows
the stranger and obtains, in divers
ways, all necessary information. 1t
may be necessary in some cases to
telegraph out of town for the desired
data. l know for a fact that this is
done.
have tricked some mediums in
this way, through my knowledge of
their methods: Going to their rooms,
I would be purposely on my guard
for any question they might ask ME
that would give them hint of my
identity. Then the medium. perhaps
little worried, would go through a
stock performance, telling me who,
in the spirit world. was very happy;
in other words. attempting to cover
/ the fraud by generalities. When the
seance was over, I would reveal my
self, and the medium would say, dis
gustedly: "Why didn't you tell me
srI
in?"
O.-Not many years ago in Wash.
ington I attended seance conduct
ed by Mrs. Ripples, who claimed to
be an independent voice medium" "
During this particular evening
the spirit (?) of the physician who
attended mother at my birth, and
had been dead since was nine
years of age, came and conversed
with me at length, mentioning
names of both his family and mine,
and must admit we had a most
enjoyable, sane, heart-to-heart talk.
1t was marvellous.
I was an entire stranger to the
medium. never heard Of her before
In my life, and vice versa. Now,
NV friend. will you kindly enlighten
me as to how you think this clever
trick was done? There are living
witnesses who will substantiate
this statement. A. X.
A.-Your question parallels r.
C.'s, which I had answered above.
These names and facts appear to
be convincing evidence to the aver.
age person and I am not surprised.
wish TO supplement my first
answer, however, by saying that