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magic and real detectives-第46章

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satisfactory for the reason that if a man feels SURE that the

medium is a fraud; he has been so well entertained that he does not

regret the money paid for the opportunity to witness it。  This is

the class of medium also who frequently succeed in getting large

sums of money from wealthy persons they have converted to

spiritualism。



Did the writer not give you the true explanation of the manner in

which these things were produced; you would probably say it was

conceived by a very fertile imagination。  If you believed that he

saw these things you would perhaps offer the preacher's

explanation; by saying; 〃it is the work of the devil〃; or that of

the scientist; by asserting that 〃it is the mesmerist's power over

your mind〃; or 〃the operator has discovered an odd force in

nature〃; or go off on a long dissertation on hypnotism and fourth

dimension of space problems。  However; it is not the work of the

devil; neither are there any but NATURAL laws necessary to its

production。



The seance described actually occurred and was described in writing

by Mr。 Smith in the language used; although it was not printed; and

the writer was one of those who assisted in its production。  He

will now proceed to explain this particular seance。 。 。 。



It will be remembered that the room and cabinet were carpeted with

a dark carpet; and that the ceilings were of wood。  The ceilings

were decorated by being put on in panels。  The ceiling of the

cabinet would not have been like that of the room had the closet

been a part of the architect's plans of the house。  It was not; but

was made by the medium。  He simply built a lath and plaster

partition from the corner of a wide chimney to the wall; thus

inclosing a space of six by four feet。  The panel in the ceiling of

the closet was twenty inches square。  This panel was 〃doctored〃 and

could be displaced; leaving an aperture large enough for the

〃spooks〃 to get through with perfect ease。  A light ladder which

reached within three feet of the floor of the cabinet was hooked

fast above and furnished the means of getting down and up again。

There were eight persons connected with the seance described by Mr。

Smith; seven upstairs and the medium in the cabinet。  Of course it

was not necessary that the medium get out of his fastenings; and

the facts are that he did NOT。  The table was placed across the

cabinet door; not to lay the instruments on; but to be very much in

the way should anyone make a rush and 〃grab〃 for the materialized

forms。  In case this occurred; the 〃spooks〃 above would close the

light; making the room perfectly dark; and the manager would do his

utmost to turn the table on end; or side; with the legs out in the

room。  Before the 〃grabber〃 could get the lay of things and get

past it; the spooks would have gone through the trap; closed it;

pulled up the ladder; and the 〃grabber〃 would have found the medium

writhing and groaning and bleeding from the mouth。  The bleeding

was for effect; and was caused by sucking very hard on his teeth or

gums。



The table also served a convenient purpose in the materialization

and dematerialization through the floor。  You now know where the

spooks came from; in this particular house; and how they got in and

out。  Now let us see how they managed the materializations; and the

properties used to produce them。  The trap and ladder were

practically noiseless in their operations; but the music box made

assurance doubly sure that the least sound from the cabinet should

not he heard in the seance room。



When the box began its first air the trapdoor was opened and down

the ladder came a young man clad in a suit of black tights。  He was

entirely covered with black with the exception of his right arm;

which was bare to a point a little more than halfway from the elbow

to his shoulder。  The bare arm glowed with a luminous bluish light。



This condition of things was brought about by powdering his arm

with pulverized luminous paint。  If you are not told the method of

transforming the sticky paint to powder; you will not be able to do

it; and will conclude the writer was romancing in this case。  The

most essential thing to you will be to know where you can procure

this paint。  The writer has been unable to procure it anywhere;

except of Devoe & Co。; of New York City。  It is put up in a package

resembling six…ounce jelly glasses; and you will get six of them

for five dollars。  In order to reduce it to powder; thin the

contents of one of the glasses with one pint of turpentine。  When

it is thoroughly cut and incorporated into the turpentine; soak

strips of muslin in it and hang them out to dry。  When thoroughly

dry you can shake the powder from the cloth。  In order to powder

one of your arms; gather one of the cloths in your hands; and use

it as a powder puff on your arm。  You will not be able to get all

the paint out; but the pieces will make luminous crowns; slippers;

stars; and luminous decorations for your robes。  You will be under

the necessity of perfuming your robes each time they are used; for

the odor of the turpentine will always remain to a greater or less

degree。  To illuminate a robe or costume (the mediums always say

〃robe〃) you proceed the same as in the powdering process; except

that to the pint of paint you will add a wineglass full of Demar

varnish; which will prevent its falling or being shaken off as

powder。  You are not to make the robe of muslin; but of white

netting。  Every lady will know what netting is。  It is the

lightest; thinnest material the writer ever saw sold in a dry goods

store。  Ten yards of it can be put into the vest pocket。  Do not

scrimp the material; but get as much of it into your robe as

possible。



When he of the luminous arm steps from the cabinet into the dark

room no part of him is visible save the arm。  He picks the strings

of the instrument with the illuminated hand and fingers the

keyboard with the other。  He makes a sound of writing on the tablet

and tears off a leaf which he conceals; and; drawing a long black

stocking over the luminous arm; places in the pocket of the sitter

a communication that has been written upstairs in a good light。

This accounts for the even; beautiful writing; supposed to have

been done in the dark。  He covers the luminous arm so that anyone

so inclined could not locate it in order to 〃grab〃 when he is near

enough。  By mounting the table; that luminous hand and arm can be

made to show as though it was floating about near the ceiling。



When four hands were visible there were two spooks at work with

both arms illuminated。 。 。 。  You can readily understand the forces

that floated the music box and table above the heads of the

sitters; and an explanation is useless。



When the first female spirit appeared it was; in reality; a young

woman; dressed in a gorgeous white costume without paint; hence the

light was turned up instead of down; in order that she be visible。

Rhinestones and Sumatra gems being cheap; she was plentifully

supplied with 〃diamonds;〃 although many of those who are the queens

or spirit guides or 〃controls〃 of wealthy spiritualistic fanatics

wear real diamonds; the gift of their wealthy charge; or 〃king〃 as

they usually call him。



When she started for the cabinet she used her hands to keep her

robe from under her feet; and as she went stooped lower and lower;

until; as she disappeared in the cabinet; she went on her hands and

knees。  This is what caused the appearance of 〃dematerialization。〃



When Mr。 Smith's son; Eddie; came from the cabinet; he was

represented by a boy of about eight years of age; the son of one of

the female 〃spooks〃 upstairs。  He receives two dollars a night for

his services; the same as the larger spooks。  He was powdered until

he was very white; a blond wig put over his own hair; and dressed

as most boys are at the age Mr。 Smith's son died。  Mr。 Smith

recognized him by his size; his light complexion; and flaxen hair;

and the fact that he called him 〃papa〃 and gave his correct name。

His father was 〃made up〃 from the description given by the medium;

and acknowledged by Mr。 Smith as correct。  Of course he knew his

own name; for it was given him by the slate…writer。 。 。 。



We now come to a part of the phenomena that all spiritualists who

have witnessed it will swear by。  What is referred to is the

materializing and dematerializing of the spirit from the floor and

before your eyes。  In this you see first a small light; which grows

larger and larger; until there stands before you a fully formed

female or male spirit; as was described in Mr。 Smith's experience。



In order to accomplish what he witnessed; the same spook who had

before been recognized by a gentleman as 〃his queen;〃 prepared

herself in the following way: Divesting herself of all clothing she

donned simply a long chemise that reached her shoe tops。  She drew

on a pair of white stockings
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