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〃The magician then tried the experimentof opening and closing his
hands rapidly； and causing the coin to be transferred； as promised
but failed in the attempt； the coins from the back of each hand
falling on to the table in rather a clumsy manner。 They were；
however； again placed upon the backs of the magician's hands； the
movement was repeated； and this time successfully。 The coins
disappeared from the backs of both hands； in one of which was now
found three of the coins； while the other hand contained only one。〃
Such is precisely the description of the trick； as it would be
given by the average person； on seeing it； and it would represent
his honest opinion of what occurred； as it stands； it is quite
inexplicable by trickery。 Needless to say； the account is NOT a
true statement of what actually occurred； as the following
explanation will make clear：
The first time the coins were dropped on to the table； the movement
was not so 〃clumsy〃 as might have been supposed。 It was； in fact；
intentional； being the principal factor in the accomplishment of
the trick。 What ACTUALLY transpired at that time was this： The
magician； by a quick movement； dropped both coins from ONE hand on
to the table； at the same time dexterously opening the other hand a
trifle； and allowing the second coin； on that hand； to fall into
the interior of the hand itself。 Thus； while both hands are still
seen to be closed； one is empty； and the other contains two coins。
It is obvious； therefore； that； when a coin is placed upon each of
the hands again； the magician has only to repeat the opening and
closing movement； and there will be three coins in one of the
hands； and only one in the other。
This trick illustrates； in a very simple and striking manner； the
possibility of reporting a fact in an entirely erroneous manner；
quite unconscious of the fact that this error in reporting has been
committed。 Just in this same manner； are many slate…writing and
other phenomena misreported； and hence an explanation of the
seance； AS REPORTED； is rendered impossible。 The trouble is that
the 〃report〃 does not REALLY report what actually occurred。
。 。 。 。 。
Many of my readers may feel somewhat insulted at this accusation
that they cannot detect such obvious trickery when it exists； and
that they are liable to make such mistakes in recording a seance as
those here mentioned。 They may comfort themselves with the
thought； however； that it is no disgrace to make mistakes and
errors of this kind； for； as Professor Jastrow pointed out：＇1＇
＇1＇ Fact and Fable in Psychology； p。 148。
〃The matter is in some aspects as much a technical acquisition as
in the diagnosticating of a disease。 It is not at all to the
discredit of anyone's powers of observation or intellectual acumen
to be deceived by the performances of a conjurer； and the same
holds true of the professional part of mediumistic phenomena。
Until this homely but salutary truth is impressed with all its
importance upon all intending investigators； there is little hope
of bringing about a proper attitude toward these and kindred
phenomena。〃
These remarks will make it clear to us why many men of science have
been deceived by very simple tricks and fraudulent devices； while
investigating spiritualistic phenomenatheir scientific culture is
no guaranty that they are any more capable of detecting fraud than
is the man…in…the…streetin fact their training has made them very
much LESS capable of detecting fraud than the average person； who
comes more in contact with the world； and is an acuter judge of
character and human nature。
Anonymous
How Spirits Materialize
From 〃The Revelations of a Spirit Medium〃a book out of existence
now； since the plates and all copies were bought up by
〃spiritualists〃 and destroyed。 The following is given by courtesy
of Mr。 Hereward Carrington：
Reader； have you ever attended a 〃seance〃 for 〃full…form
materialization？〃 Have you ever thought you had met your dead
relative's spirit at these 〃seances〃？
If you have never had the pleasure of attending a seance of this
〃phase〃 you have missed a rare treat。 The writer has assisted at
many a one and will relate to you some of the wonderful phenomena
occurring at them and the means used to produce them。 。 。 。 There
are hundreds of 〃materializing mediums〃 doing business in this
country； who are swelling a good…sized bank account。 Their
business sometimes runs into the hundreds of dollars in a single
week。 This 〃phase〃 of mediumship is considered by the spiritual…
ists as the highest possible attainable； and if you are a clever
〃full…form medium〃 your financial welfare is assured。 。 。 。 Many
and various are the methods employed by the different 〃mediums〃 in
producing this phase。 It is in Boston； New York； and San Francisco
that it is worked the finest。 The full…form seances most often met
with are very simply worked； and easy of performance by the medium。
You are usually given a seat in a circle of chairs about the front
of a 〃cabinet〃 made by hanging heavy curtains across the corner of
the room。 If you are a stranger or one who looks or acts as though
he would 〃grab〃 the 〃spirits；〃 you are seated at the farthest point
from the cabinet； or； if there are two rows of seats； you will be
given a seat in the back row。 。 。 。
I made my way to the 〃materializing seance；〃 at which my friends
hoped to materialize。 I was admitted to the seance room and found
about twenty persons already assembled。 I was seated in the front
row of chairs。 The cabinet used was a closet about six feet long
and four feet wide。 The ceiling of both the room and the cabinet
was of wood。 After a thorough examination had been made of the
cabinet by all those who cared to do so； the sitters were
rearranged to suit the medium。 There were present now thirty…five
persons。 The seance room was very large。 The door had been taken
off the closet that served as a cabinet； and in its stead were hung
heavy curtains。 The floor of the room was carpeted with a dark
carpet； as was the cabinet。 The light was furnished by a lamp
placed in a box that was fastened to the wall some eight feet from
the floor。 This box had a sliding lid in front； controlled by a
cord passing into the cabinet。 By this means the 〃spirits〃 could
regulate the light to suit themselves； without any movement on the
part of any of those in the seance room being necessary。 When
everything was in readiness the medium entered the cabinet； seated
himself and was tied； and so secured to his chair that it was
impossible that he could have any use of himself。 He was most
thoroughly secured to his chair； and his chair nailed fast to the
floor by passing leather straps over the rounds in the side and
nailing the ends to the floor。 After it was shown to the sitters
that he was utterly helpless； the curtain was drawn。 The manager
now placed an ordinary kitchen table in front of the door of the
cabinet； so that it stood away from it about two feet。 The table
contained no drawer。 On the table was laid writing materials； a
guitar； and small bell。 The manager seated himself close to one
side of the cabinet entrance； and started a large Swiss music box。
Before it had finished the first air the lamp was shut entirely
off； making the room inky dark。
An illuminated hand and arm was now seen to come from behind the
curtain； and played an accompaniment to the music box on the
guitar。 We could see plainly the movements of the hand； arm； and
fingers； as it manipulated the strings of the instrument。 It did
not appear necessary to finger the strings on the keyboard；
although the air was in a key that made it impossible to tune the
guitar so that an accompaniment could be performed WITHOUT
fingering。 However； but one hand was visible； and it was picking
the strings。 After the tune was finished； the hand left the in…
strument； and moved out into the room to the front of the table；
and from the sound we knew it was writing on the tablet that had
been placed there。 The arm was of bluish light and appeared to end
just above the elbow； and to have no connection with the body。 It
finished writing and seemed to float into the cabinet near the top。
The light was opened and the manager requested those who had tied
the medium to examine his condition and see if the ropes had been
tampered with。 The examination was made and it was evident that
the fastenings were undisturbed。 The communication was read aloud
to those present； and contained the following：
〃We are pleased to meet so many seekers after light and truth here
this evening； and； from the conditions； as we sense them； we will
have a satisfactory and pleasant seance。 The way to obtain the
best results is for each person to maintain a passive