按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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