1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:05,559 Speaker 1: How spirits materialize? Reader, have you ever attended a seance 2 00:00:05,639 --> 00:00:09,439 for full form materialization? Have you ever thought you had 3 00:00:09,439 --> 00:00:12,880 met your dead relatives spirit at these seances? If you 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:15,720 have never had the pleasure of attending a seance of 5 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:19,679 this phase, you have missed a rare treat. The writer 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,239 has assisted at many a one and will relate to 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,960 you some of the wonderful phenomena occurring at them and 8 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,480 the means used to produce them. There are hundreds of 9 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:34,079 materializing mediums doing business in this country who are swelling 10 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:38,079 a good sized bank account. Their business sometimes runs into 11 00:00:38,079 --> 00:00:41,679 the hundreds of dollars in a single week. This phase 12 00:00:41,759 --> 00:00:46,359 of mediumship is considered by the spiritualists as the highest 13 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:50,719 possible attainment, and if you are a clever full form medium, 14 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,960 your financial welfare is assured. Many and various are the 15 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,399 methods employed by the different mediums to produce this phase. 16 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,520 It is in Boston, New York, and San Francisco that 17 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:06,560 it has worked the finest. The full form seances most 18 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,680 often met with are very simply worked and easy of 19 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,519 performance by the medium. You are usually given a seat 20 00:01:13,599 --> 00:01:16,400 and a circle of chairs about the front of a 21 00:01:16,439 --> 00:01:20,480 cabinet made by hanging heavy curtains across the corner of 22 00:01:20,519 --> 00:01:23,719 the room. If you are a stranger or one who 23 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,920 looks or acts as though he would grab the spirits, 24 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:30,239 you are seated at the farthest point from the cabinet, 25 00:01:30,719 --> 00:01:33,040 or if there are two rows of seats, you will 26 00:01:33,079 --> 00:01:36,079 be given a seat at the back row. I made 27 00:01:36,159 --> 00:01:39,760 my way to the materializing seance at which my friends 28 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,560 hoped to materialize. I was admitted to the seance room 29 00:01:43,879 --> 00:01:47,799 and found about twenty persons already assembled. I was seated 30 00:01:47,799 --> 00:01:50,840 in the front row of chairs. The cabinet used was 31 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,239 a closet about six feet long and four feet wide. 32 00:01:54,719 --> 00:01:57,359 The ceiling of both the room and the cabinet was 33 00:01:57,359 --> 00:02:01,000 of wood. After a thorough examination had been made of 34 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,400 the cabinet by all those who cared to do so, 35 00:02:03,879 --> 00:02:07,680 the sitters were rearranged to suit medium. There were present 36 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:12,400 now thirty five persons. The seance room was very large. 37 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,319 The door had been taken off the closet that served 38 00:02:15,319 --> 00:02:19,120 as a cabinet, and in its stead were hung heavy curtains. 39 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,520 The floor of the room was carpeted with a dark carpet, 40 00:02:22,759 --> 00:02:25,680 as was the cabinet. The light was furnished by a 41 00:02:25,759 --> 00:02:28,240 lamp placed in a box that was fastened to the 42 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,919 wall some eight feet from the floor. This box had 43 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,400 a sliding lid in front, controlled by a cord passing 44 00:02:35,439 --> 00:02:39,680 into the cabinet. By this means, the spirits could regulate 45 00:02:39,719 --> 00:02:42,719 the light to suit themselves, without any movement on the 46 00:02:42,759 --> 00:02:45,879 part of any of those in the seance room being necessary. 47 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,159 When everything was in readiness, the medium entered the cabinet, 48 00:02:49,199 --> 00:02:53,360 seated himself and was tied and so secured to his 49 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,280 chair that it was impossible that he could have any 50 00:02:56,439 --> 00:02:59,960 use of himself. He was most thoroughly secure to his chair, 51 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,360 and his chair nailed fast to the floor by passing 52 00:03:03,439 --> 00:03:06,639 leather straps over the rounds in the side and kneeling 53 00:03:06,719 --> 00:03:09,240 the ends to the floor. After it was shown to 54 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,960 the sitters that he was utterly helpless, the curtain was drawn. 55 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,919 The manager now placed an ordinary kitchen table in front 56 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,159 of the door of the cabinet, so that it stood 57 00:03:19,199 --> 00:03:23,080 away from it about two feet. The table contained no drawing. 58 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:27,520 On the table was laid writing materials, a guitar, and 59 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,759 small bell. The manager seated himself close to one side 60 00:03:31,759 --> 00:03:36,000 of the cabinet entrance and started a large Swiss music box. 61 00:03:36,479 --> 00:03:39,439 Before it had finished the first air, the lamp was 62 00:03:39,479 --> 00:03:44,479 shut entirely off, making the room achy dark. An illuminated 63 00:03:44,599 --> 00:03:48,120 hand and arm was now seen to come from behind 64 00:03:48,159 --> 00:03:51,360 the curtain and play an accompaniment to the music box 65 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,159 on the guitar. We could see plainly the movement of 66 00:03:54,199 --> 00:03:57,599 the hand, arm and fingers as it manipulated the strings 67 00:03:57,599 --> 00:04:00,639 of the instrument. It did not appear necessary to finger 68 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,719 the strings on the keyboard, although the air was in 69 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,639 a key that made it impossible to tune the guitar 70 00:04:06,759 --> 00:04:10,719 so that an accompaniment could be performed without fingering. However, 71 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:14,919 but one hand was visible and it was picking the strings. 72 00:04:15,319 --> 00:04:18,800 After the tune was finished, the hand left the instrument 73 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,720 and moved out into the room to the front of 74 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,720 the table, and from the sound we knew it was 75 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,720 writing on the tablet that had been placed there. The 76 00:04:27,879 --> 00:04:30,399 arm was of bluish light and appeared to end just 77 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,720 above the elbow and to have no connection with the body. 78 00:04:34,399 --> 00:04:37,319 It finished writing and seemed to float into the cabinet 79 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,319 near the top. The light was opened, and the manager 80 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,680 requested those who had tied the medium to examine his 81 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:46,920 condition and see if the ropes had been tampered with. 82 00:04:47,399 --> 00:04:50,560 The examination was made and it was evident that the 83 00:04:50,639 --> 00:04:55,160 fastenings were undisturbed. The communication was read aloud to those 84 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:58,879 present and contain the following quote. We are pleased to 85 00:04:58,879 --> 00:05:02,639 beat so many seecerts after light and truth here this evening, 86 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:06,240 and from the conditions as we sense them, we will 87 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,959 have a satisfactory and pleasant seance. The way to obtain 88 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,240 the best results is for each person to maintain a 89 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:17,160 passive condition and take what we have to give. You 90 00:05:17,199 --> 00:05:19,680 may rest assured that our best efforts will be put 91 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:24,319 forth to give you entire satisfaction. The control close quote. 92 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,439 The writing was exactly on the rule of the lines. 93 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:33,040 Although written in absolute darkness. The hand and arm, although luminous, 94 00:05:33,319 --> 00:05:36,360 did not give out a particle of light. The arm 95 00:05:36,439 --> 00:05:39,120 had been at least five feet from the cabinet opening 96 00:05:39,199 --> 00:05:42,319 and seven feet from the medium. Surely it was not 97 00:05:42,439 --> 00:05:45,759 he the message read. The light was again shut down, 98 00:05:45,879 --> 00:05:49,720 and the music again started. Once more. A hand appeared, 99 00:05:49,759 --> 00:05:53,560 and floating out to the table again began writing. Of 100 00:05:53,639 --> 00:05:56,800 a sudden the hand disappeared, and after a few seconds 101 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:01,040 I was astonished to feel a hand thrusting a paper 102 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:05,240 into my top coat. Pocket. Now appeared two hands, and 103 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,079 they played an air on the guitar. Now came three, 104 00:06:08,199 --> 00:06:11,600 then four hands were visible, bright as the day. Two 105 00:06:11,639 --> 00:06:14,639 of them began writing again, and when they had finished, 106 00:06:14,879 --> 00:06:17,959 two more sitters with the recipients of sheets of paper. 107 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,319 Soon the light was opened for an inspection of the cabinet, 108 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,639 which was made with the conclusion that the medium had 109 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:29,000 not moved. Those of us receiving communications were afforded an 110 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,800 opportunity to read them. We found them nicely written as before, 111 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,720 and all contained tests. After the light went out again, 112 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,399 more hands were seen. The table was floated about over 113 00:06:40,439 --> 00:06:43,399 the heads of the circle, as was the music box, 114 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:47,160 which weighed at least fifty pounds. Another examination of the 115 00:06:47,199 --> 00:06:51,399 cabinet was made, and everything found satisfactory. This time the 116 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,759 light was not put entirely out, but a very dim 117 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:58,240 light was allowed. The music box was again set playing, 118 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,439 and while yet it was played the first tune, a 119 00:07:01,639 --> 00:07:05,920 tall figure robed in creamy white, with gleaming sparks in 120 00:07:05,959 --> 00:07:08,680 her hair and on her head a sort of crown 121 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:13,560 issued from the cabinet. She was recognized by a gentleman present, 122 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:18,120 a spiritualist, whose spirit guide she was and who addressed 123 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,079 her as my queen. She stood a few seconds behind 124 00:07:22,079 --> 00:07:24,680 the table, and then stepped out in the open space 125 00:07:24,759 --> 00:07:28,279 between the sitters and the table. The gentleman now arose 126 00:07:28,319 --> 00:07:31,800 from his seat, and standing beside her, holding her hand, 127 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:35,160 conversed in a whisper with her for some seconds. This 128 00:07:35,439 --> 00:07:39,160 was most assuredly a lady if appearisons go for anything. 129 00:07:39,639 --> 00:07:42,560 Her hands were quite small and were warm and lifelike, 130 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:47,199 as several including myself, can testify, having been permitted to 131 00:07:47,199 --> 00:07:51,240 shake hands with her. At last she started to the cabinet, 132 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,920 and as she went appeared to grow shorter, until as 133 00:07:54,959 --> 00:07:58,560 she disappeared between the curtains, she was not much taller 134 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,519 than the table. The manner now explained that the spirit 135 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:05,439 had remained out rather too long and came near dematerializing 136 00:08:05,519 --> 00:08:08,240 before she reached the cabinet. Now came the spirit of 137 00:08:08,279 --> 00:08:10,519 a young man dressed in a light suit of clothes, 138 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,160 who gave his name and said his mother was present. 139 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,920 She was, and had a few words of conversation with him. 140 00:08:16,959 --> 00:08:20,279 When he disappeared into the cabinet. The lady said that 141 00:08:20,319 --> 00:08:24,480 it was unmistakably her son, but there was something that 142 00:08:24,639 --> 00:08:27,199 was not as he had been but what it was 143 00:08:27,399 --> 00:08:30,439 she was unable to describe. The next spirit to present 144 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,919 itself was my son Eddie. He came out from the cabinet, 145 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,919 calling Papa, Papa. The manager asked, who is your papa, 146 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:42,080 and he replied mister Smith. All this time he stood 147 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,519 between the table and the cabinet, and only his head 148 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,960 and shoulders could be seen. The manager told him to 149 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,399 step out where he could be seen. When he came 150 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,600 round to the front of the table, it was rather dark, 151 00:08:54,759 --> 00:08:58,200 but I could swear it was my son. He was 152 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:02,000 just the right size, with long flaxen hair and a 153 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,159 very pale face. He wore a light colored waist and 154 00:09:05,279 --> 00:09:08,759 darker knee breeches and stockings, with a large black bow 155 00:09:08,919 --> 00:09:12,039 at his throat, just as I remembered seeing him last 156 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,720 in health. While Eddie was still standing in front of 157 00:09:14,759 --> 00:09:17,679 the table, a large man came out and shook him 158 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:21,919 by the hand. Eddie spoke, saying, must I go back? Grandpa? 159 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,440 The farm turned toward me, saying, my son, this is 160 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,840 a great pleasure to us, but we must not long remain, 161 00:09:29,039 --> 00:09:32,519 as it is our first attempt at materializing. He turned 162 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,480 to go when the manager said to him, if the gentleman, 163 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:37,320 is your son, you are to give him your name. 164 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,399 The name of the child is Eddie. In my own 165 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,120 is j a smith, replied the farm. As they vanished 166 00:09:44,159 --> 00:09:47,600 into the cabinet, the manager suggested that it would be 167 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,480 well to examine and see whether the medium had been 168 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,639 out or not. The cabinet was examined, and everything found satisfactory. 169 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:59,000 Spirit after spirit came from the cabinet, one or two 170 00:09:59,039 --> 00:10:01,759 at a time for an hour. Some of them came 171 00:10:01,799 --> 00:10:05,080 to friends, and others were controls of the medium. Many 172 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,879 of them were recognized by different ones of the sitters 173 00:10:07,879 --> 00:10:11,000 in the room. I, for one, could swear to the 174 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,240 identity of my own son, Eddie, while my father was 175 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:18,879 plainly recognizable. The room was again made dark. Suddenly there 176 00:10:18,919 --> 00:10:21,639 appeared on the floor in front of the table a 177 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:25,159 light about as large as a baseball. It moved about 178 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,399 in a circle of perhaps a foot in diameter and 179 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,559 grew larger. It soon lost the shape of a ball 180 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:35,600 and appeared to be a luminous cloud. Seemingly we could 181 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,480 see into and through it. In the course of thirty seconds, 182 00:10:39,919 --> 00:10:43,320 it had become as large as a six year old child. 183 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:47,799 Still there was no definite shape, only a fleecy cloud 184 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:51,879 like mass, turning, twisting and rolling. At the end of 185 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,080 perhaps a minute, it was the size and shape of 186 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:58,399 an adult person. The face could not be seen, but 187 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:02,600 light luminous spots visible, as though the hairs and ears 188 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:06,720 were decorated with gems. The shape spoke and requested light. 189 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,279 As the light was turned on, the luminousness disappeared, and 190 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,639 we beheld a beautiful young lady clothed in a dazzling 191 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:18,639 white costume. Her arms and shoulders were bare, and about 192 00:11:18,639 --> 00:11:20,879 her neck there was a necklace of what appeared to 193 00:11:20,879 --> 00:11:24,960 be very brilliant diamonds. Her feet were encased in white 194 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:29,159 slippers with straps across the inn step in. Her ears 195 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:33,120 and hair glistened and shimmered beautiful diamonds. Her face and 196 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:37,039 arms were as alabaster, and altogether she was one of 197 00:11:37,039 --> 00:11:39,840 the most beautiful women I had ever beheld. She was 198 00:11:39,879 --> 00:11:43,159 recognized by a lady and gentlemen present as their daughter. 199 00:11:43,879 --> 00:11:46,320 They had met her here before. They were from the 200 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:50,159 east and were wealthy. The spirit requested that they come 201 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,799 to her, which they did, and were each kissed and 202 00:11:52,879 --> 00:11:56,720 embraced by it. They held a moment's conversation with her 203 00:11:56,799 --> 00:12:01,120 and resumed their seats. When the lamp was slowly turned down. 204 00:12:01,519 --> 00:12:05,200 As the light became dim, the spirit became luminous, The 205 00:12:05,279 --> 00:12:09,799 face and arms disappeared, and the body became as a cloud, again, 206 00:12:10,279 --> 00:12:14,039 turning and twisting and growing smaller, until it was nothing 207 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:16,799 but a small light spot on the carpet, which of 208 00:12:16,879 --> 00:12:23,039 a sudden disappeared entirely. Immediately after this manifestation, an examination 209 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:25,840 of the medium and cabinet was made, and it was 210 00:12:25,919 --> 00:12:28,759 certain the medium had not been away from his chair. 211 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,200 The light was again turned out and the music box started. 212 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:36,120 When two bright spots appeared on the carpet, one at 213 00:12:36,159 --> 00:12:39,000 either end of the table. These went through the same 214 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:42,480 process of development, until when the light was turned on 215 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,440 there was another beautiful female spirit at one end of 216 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,440 the table, and a child of perhaps eight years of 217 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,679 age at the other. The child was recognized by a 218 00:12:52,759 --> 00:12:55,679 lady present as her daughter, while the adult spirit was 219 00:12:55,759 --> 00:12:59,799 recognized and rapturously greeted by a gentleman who sat near 220 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:03,799 me on my left as his darling angel Guardian. They 221 00:13:03,799 --> 00:13:06,879 had quite a long conversation in which they made use 222 00:13:06,919 --> 00:13:10,840 of very endearing language, each to the other. I supposed 223 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:14,200 it was the gentleman's wife. The spirits did not disappear 224 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,399 as the first one had, but when the light had 225 00:13:16,399 --> 00:13:19,840 been turned off, the luminous shape revolved a few times, 226 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:24,039 and on two occasions assumed the garb in shape of men. 227 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,200 And when the light was turned on again there stood 228 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:31,279 the men with beards and men's forms. After some eight 229 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:36,159 or ten of these materializations and d materializations before our eyes, 230 00:13:36,519 --> 00:13:40,679 the last couple completely disappeared. The light was again turned down, 231 00:13:40,799 --> 00:13:44,320 and a luminous shape came from the cabinet, followed by others, 232 00:13:44,399 --> 00:13:47,679 until seven of them stood on the floor. The light 233 00:13:47,799 --> 00:13:50,200 was turned up until we could see the seven spirits. 234 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,559 Five were females and two males. They were of different sizes. 235 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,679 The curtain at the door of the cabinet had been 236 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:01,399 pulled aside, and we could see the medium sitting in 237 00:14:01,399 --> 00:14:04,600 the chair in which he was bound. The farms now 238 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:08,440 filed into the cabinet again while the music box played. 239 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,759 After they had disappeared, the light was turned up, an 240 00:14:11,799 --> 00:14:15,399 investigation made of the cabinet, and the seance was over. 241 00:14:16,159 --> 00:14:18,879 Their reader is a truthful description of what can be 242 00:14:18,919 --> 00:14:22,879 witnessed at the seances of mediums who are artists. None 243 00:14:22,919 --> 00:14:25,919 of your bungling amateur work here. The work of such 244 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,159 a medium is always satisfactory, for the reason that if 245 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:31,960 a man feels sure that the medium is a fraud, 246 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,000 he has been so well entertained that he does not 247 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,919 regret the money paid for the opportunity to witness him. 248 00:14:38,519 --> 00:14:42,000 This is the class of medium also, who frequently succeed 249 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:45,279 in getting large sums of money from wealthy persons they 250 00:14:45,279 --> 00:14:49,000 have converted to spiritualism. Did the writer not give you 251 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,919 the true explanation of the matter in which these things 252 00:14:51,919 --> 00:14:55,440 were produced, You would probably say it was conceived by 253 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,879 a very fertile imagination. If you believed that he saw 254 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,759 these things, you perhaps offer the preacher's explanation by saying 255 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,279 it is the work of the devil, or that of 256 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:08,759 the scientists by asserting that it is the mesmerist power 257 00:15:08,879 --> 00:15:13,480 over your mind, or the operator has discovered an odd 258 00:15:13,559 --> 00:15:16,720 force in nature, or go off on a long dissertation 259 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:21,240 on hypnotism and fourth dimension of space problems. However, it 260 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:23,679 is not the work of the devil, neither are there 261 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:28,399 any but natural laws necessary to its production. The seance 262 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:33,480 described actually occurred and was described in writing by mister 263 00:15:33,559 --> 00:15:36,919 smith in the language used, although it was not printed, 264 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,639 and the writer was one of those who assisted in 265 00:15:39,679 --> 00:15:44,519 its production. We will now proceed to explain this particular seance. 266 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,039 It will be remembered that the room and cabinet were 267 00:15:48,039 --> 00:15:51,399 carpeted with a dark carpet, and that the ceilings were 268 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,840 of wood. The ceilings were decorated by being put on 269 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,720 in panels. The ceilings of the cabinet would not have 270 00:15:58,799 --> 00:16:01,279 been like those of the room had the closet been 271 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:03,960 a part of the architect's plans of the house. It 272 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,399 was not, but was made by the medium. He simply 273 00:16:07,399 --> 00:16:10,519 built a lath and plaster partition from the corner of 274 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,960 a wide chimney to the wall, thus enclosing a space 275 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:16,879 of six by four feet. The panel in the ceiling 276 00:16:16,919 --> 00:16:20,320 of the closet was twenty inches square. This panel was 277 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:24,200 doctored and could be displaced, leaving an aperture large enough 278 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,559 for the spooks to get through with perfect ease. A 279 00:16:27,639 --> 00:16:30,440 light ladder, which reached within three feet of the floor 280 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,080 of the cabinet, was hooked fast above and furnished the 281 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,639 means of getting down and up again. There were eight 282 00:16:37,679 --> 00:16:42,159 persons connected with the sails described by mister Smith seven upstairs, 283 00:16:42,159 --> 00:16:44,679 and the medium in the cabinet. Of course, it was 284 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,480 not necessary that the medium get out of his fastenings, 285 00:16:47,639 --> 00:16:50,000 and the facts are that he did not. The table 286 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,039 was placed across the cabinet door, not to lay the 287 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:55,879 instruments on, but to be very much in the way 288 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:59,759 should anyone make a rush and grab for the materialized forms. 289 00:17:00,279 --> 00:17:03,960 In case this occurred, the spooks above would close the light, 290 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,079 making the room perfectly dark, and the manager would do 291 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:09,960 his utmost to turn the table on end or side 292 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:13,440 with the legs out in the room. Before the grabber 293 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,480 could get the lay of things and get past it. 294 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:18,160 The spooks would have gone through the trap, closed it, 295 00:17:18,279 --> 00:17:20,759 pulled up the ladder, and the grabber would have found 296 00:17:20,799 --> 00:17:24,000 the medium writhing and groaning and bleeding from the mouth. 297 00:17:24,519 --> 00:17:27,200 The bleeding was for effect and was caused by sucking 298 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,559 very hard on his teeth and gums. The table also 299 00:17:30,759 --> 00:17:35,440 served a convenient purpose in the materialization and de materialization 300 00:17:35,559 --> 00:17:38,480 through the floor. You now know where the spooks came 301 00:17:38,519 --> 00:17:41,400 from in this particular house, and how they got in 302 00:17:41,519 --> 00:17:43,960 and out. Now let us see how they managed the 303 00:17:44,039 --> 00:17:48,799 materializations and the properties used to produce them. The trap 304 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:52,640 and ladder were practically noiseless in their operations, but the 305 00:17:52,759 --> 00:17:56,519 music box made assurance doubly sure that the least sound 306 00:17:56,519 --> 00:17:59,359 from the cabinet should not be heard in the seance room. 307 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,519 When the box began its first air, the trap door 308 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,279 was opened, and down the ladder came a young man 309 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:10,480 clad in a suit of black tights. He was entirely 310 00:18:10,519 --> 00:18:13,640 covered with black, with the exception of his right arm, 311 00:18:13,799 --> 00:18:16,160 which was bare to a point a little more than 312 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:19,240 half way from the elbow to his shoulder. The bare 313 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:23,440 arm glowed with a luminous bluish light. This condition of 314 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,200 things was brought about by powdering his arm with pulverized 315 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:30,359 luminous paint. If you are not told the method of 316 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,680 transforming the sticky paint to powder, you will not be 317 00:18:33,759 --> 00:18:37,039 able to do it, and will conclude the rider was romancing. 318 00:18:37,079 --> 00:18:40,079 In this case, the most essential thing to you will 319 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,839 be to know where you can procure this paint. The 320 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,920 rider has been unable to procure it anywhere except of 321 00:18:46,079 --> 00:18:49,119 a devout and company of New York City. It is 322 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:52,759 put up in a package resembling six ounce jelly glasses, 323 00:18:53,079 --> 00:18:55,440 and you will get six of them for five dollars 324 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:59,359 in order to reduce it to powder. Thin the contents 325 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:02,559 of one of the glo glasses with one pint of turpentine. 326 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:06,319 When it is thoroughly cut and incorporated into the turpentine, 327 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,680 soak strips of muslim in it and hang them out 328 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:12,640 to dry. When thoroughly dry, you can shake the powder 329 00:19:12,799 --> 00:19:16,000 from the cloth. In order to powder one of your arms, 330 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,920 gather one of the cloths in your hands and use 331 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,079 it as a powder puff on your arm. You will 332 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:24,319 not be able to get all the paint out, but 333 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:28,759 the pieces will make luminous crowns, slippers, stars, and luminous 334 00:19:28,759 --> 00:19:32,160 decorations for your robes. You will be under the necessity 335 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,640 of perfuming your robes each time they are used, for 336 00:19:35,759 --> 00:19:38,720 the odor of the turpentine will always remain to a 337 00:19:38,799 --> 00:19:42,279 greater or lesser degree. To illuminate a robe or costume, 338 00:19:42,519 --> 00:19:45,880 the mediums always say robe. You proceed the same as 339 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:49,359 in the powdering process, except add to the pint of paint. 340 00:19:49,759 --> 00:19:53,319 You will add a wine glassful of damar varnish, which 341 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,200 will prevent its falling or being shaken off as powder. 342 00:19:56,799 --> 00:19:59,359 You are not to make the robe of muslin, but 343 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,640 of white netting. Every lady will know what netting is. 344 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:06,039 It is the lightest, thinnest material the writer ever sold 345 00:20:06,039 --> 00:20:08,720 in a dry good store. Ten yards of it can 346 00:20:08,759 --> 00:20:12,039 be put into your vest pocket. Do not scrimp the material, 347 00:20:12,279 --> 00:20:15,119 but get as much of it into your robe as possible. 348 00:20:15,799 --> 00:20:18,720 When he of the luminous arm steps from the cabinet 349 00:20:18,799 --> 00:20:21,759 into the dark room, no part of him is visible 350 00:20:22,039 --> 00:20:25,240 save the arm. He picks the strings of the instrument 351 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:29,440 with the illuminated hand and fingers the keyboard with the other. 352 00:20:30,039 --> 00:20:32,559 He makes the sound of writing on the tablet and 353 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:36,000 tears off a leaf, which he conceals, and, drawing a 354 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:39,599 long black stocking over the luminous arm, places in the 355 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:42,720 pocket of the sitter a communication that has been written 356 00:20:42,839 --> 00:20:46,920 upstairs in good light. This accounts for the even beautiful 357 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:50,119 writing supposed to have been done in the dark. He 358 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,400 covers the luminous arm so that anyone so inclined could 359 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:55,720 not locate it in arder to grab when he is 360 00:20:55,759 --> 00:20:59,759 near enough. By mounting the table, that luminous hand and 361 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:02,279 arm can be made to show as though it was 362 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:06,119 floating about near the ceiling. When four hands were visible, 363 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:09,559 there were two spooks at work with two arms illuminated, 364 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:12,799 you can readily understand the forces that floated the music 365 00:21:12,839 --> 00:21:16,079 box and table above the heads of the sitters, and 366 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:20,119 then explanation is useless. When the first female spirit appeared, 367 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:23,240 it was in reality a young woman dressed in a 368 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:27,400 gargious white costume without paint. Hence the light was turned 369 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:30,559 up instead of down in order that she be visible. 370 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:35,839 Rhinestones and sumatra gems being cheap, she was plentifully supplied 371 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,920 with diamonds. Although many of those who are the queens 372 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:43,039 are spirit guides of controls of wealthy spiritualists, fanatics wear 373 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:46,079 real diamonds the gift of their wealthy charge are King, 374 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:49,559 as they usually call him. When she started for the cabinet, 375 00:21:50,079 --> 00:21:52,839 she used her hands to keep her robe from under 376 00:21:52,839 --> 00:21:56,440 her feet, and as she went stooped lower and lower, 377 00:21:56,759 --> 00:21:59,720 until as she disappeared in the cabinet, she went on 378 00:21:59,759 --> 00:22:03,079 her hands and knees. This is what caused the appearance 379 00:22:03,079 --> 00:22:06,839 of de materialization. When mister Smith's son Eddie came from 380 00:22:06,839 --> 00:22:09,440 the cabinet, he was represented by a boy of about 381 00:22:09,559 --> 00:22:11,880 eight years of age, the son of one of the 382 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:15,680 female spooks upstairs. He receives two dollars a night for 383 00:22:15,799 --> 00:22:19,279 his services, the same as the largest spooks. He was 384 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,920 powdered until he was very white, a blonde wig put 385 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:26,160 over his brown hair, and dressed as most boys are 386 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:30,519 at the age mister Smith's son died. Mister Smith recognized 387 00:22:30,599 --> 00:22:34,000 him by his size, his light complexion, and flaxen hair, 388 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,160 and the fact that he called him Papa and gave 389 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,440 his correct name. His father was made up from the 390 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,960 description given by the medium and acknowledged by mister Smith 391 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,960 as correct. Of course, he knew his own name, for 392 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:50,240 it was given him by the slate writer. We now 393 00:22:50,279 --> 00:22:53,559 come to a part of the phenomena that all spiritualists 394 00:22:53,599 --> 00:22:56,680 who have witnessed it will swear by. What is referred 395 00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:00,359 to is the materializing and de materializing of the spirit 396 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:04,319 from the floor and before your eyes. In this you 397 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,759 see first a small light which grows larger and larger, 398 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,079 until there stands before you a fully formed female or 399 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:15,279 male spirit, as was described in mister Smith's experience. In 400 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,599 order to accomplish what he witnessed, the same spook, who 401 00:23:18,599 --> 00:23:22,279 had before been recognized by a gentleman as his queen, 402 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:27,440 prepared herself in the following way, divesting herself of all clothing. 403 00:23:27,839 --> 00:23:31,759 She donned a simple long chemise that reached her shoe tops. 404 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:35,200 She drew on a pair of white stockings and over 405 00:23:35,279 --> 00:23:38,640 them a pair of white slippers. Into her hair and ear, 406 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:42,079 she put rhinestone diamonds, and around her neck a necklace 407 00:23:42,079 --> 00:23:45,880 of the same beautiful but valueless stones. On each year 408 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,759 lobe and around her neck were put small spots of 409 00:23:48,759 --> 00:23:52,359 the luminous powder to represent the diamonds. While it was dark, 410 00:23:52,839 --> 00:23:56,799 her face was powdered and her eyebrows and eyelashes darkened, 411 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,319 while a dark line was drawn under each eye. She 412 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,920 now took a black mask that covered her head and 413 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,880 her robe in her hands, and went down to the cabinet. 414 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,160 Arriving there, she put the black mask over her head 415 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:14,240 to prevent the luminous diamonds being seen until the proper time. 416 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,920 She carried her robe in a black bag. Crawling from 417 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:21,000 between the curtains and under the table, she exposed on 418 00:24:21,079 --> 00:24:24,119 the floor a small part of her robe. This she 419 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,119 shook and moved about, allowing it to escape from the 420 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:30,240 bag until it was all out. She was now from 421 00:24:30,279 --> 00:24:32,960 under the table and on her knees, and it was 422 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,079 time the head show on the farm. So getting close 423 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:39,039 to the robe, she threw off and under the table 424 00:24:39,079 --> 00:24:42,279 the black mask. The shape was now the size of 425 00:24:42,319 --> 00:24:45,559 an adult. She adjusted the robe to her person and 426 00:24:45,839 --> 00:24:48,519 rapped for light. As a matter of course, when any 427 00:24:48,599 --> 00:24:52,000 light was made, the luminousness of robe was drowned, and 428 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:55,599 she appeared in simply a white costume. The necklace and 429 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,400 ear drops could now be seen, but when the light 430 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:00,240 was such as to reveal them, the loos when of 431 00:25:00,279 --> 00:25:03,839 spots had disappeared, leaving the spectator to think the ones 432 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,440 he now saw were the ones he had seen in 433 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:11,319 the dark. The process of de materialization will now be apparent, 434 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:15,200 and the description will only tire the reader. One small 435 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,839 spook was all that was required, as he could be 436 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,559 made to represent boy or a girl as was desired 437 00:25:20,839 --> 00:25:23,720 by clothing him in the garments of Edith's sex. At 438 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:26,559 the close of the seance, the full force of spooks 439 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:30,160 came into the room. After disappearing, they shinnied up the ladder, 440 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,640 drew it after them, closed the panel and the trap 441 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:36,359 in the floor above it, replaced the carpet and pushed 442 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,359 over the place a heavy bedstead, from which they took 443 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:43,799 the castors. They now carried the letter downstairs and concealed 444 00:25:43,799 --> 00:25:46,200 it in the coal house as they went through it 445 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:49,519 on their way home. They will get their pay next day. 446 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:53,240 Should ever so close an examination of the cabinet be made, 447 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:58,000 you could not find anything wrong. This particular medium has 448 00:25:58,079 --> 00:26:01,240 taken investigators into the cellar beneath the cabinet and the 449 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:05,160 room above it scores of times, yet nothing was discovered. 450 00:26:05,799 --> 00:26:07,920 You are not always to search for the trap of 451 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:11,000 the ceiling, nor yet in the floor. A trap is 452 00:26:11,039 --> 00:26:13,720 not possible in the ceiling, except a closet is used 453 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:16,720 as cabinet and the ceiling is of wood. Where this 454 00:26:16,759 --> 00:26:19,920 condition of things does not exist, you must search elsewhere. 455 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,079 The floor is a very likely place when it cannot 456 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:25,680 be made in the ceiling. If you do not find 457 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:28,960 it there, examine the base or mop board. If it 458 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,559 is in the mop board, you will find upon examination 459 00:26:32,039 --> 00:26:34,480 that there is a joint in it near the corner 460 00:26:34,519 --> 00:26:37,599 of the cabinet. But you will find it solidly nailed, 461 00:26:37,599 --> 00:26:40,319 with about four nails each side of the joint. This 462 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:44,839 appearance of extraordinary solidity will be absolute proof that it 463 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:48,160 is not solid. The nails are not what they appear, 464 00:26:48,519 --> 00:26:51,400 but are only pieces about one half inch in length 465 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:54,480 and do not even go through the board. The piece 466 00:26:54,519 --> 00:26:56,799 is fastened on the other side with a couple of 467 00:26:56,799 --> 00:27:00,240 bolts that hold it very firmly in place. There is 468 00:27:00,279 --> 00:27:02,960 a corresponding opening in the mop board in the next room, 469 00:27:03,279 --> 00:27:06,119 although no attempt is made to so carefully conceal it, 470 00:27:06,559 --> 00:27:09,759 as no one is ever admitted to it. Through this trap, 471 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:13,319 the spooks into the cabinet by crawling and wiggling. It 472 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,160 is not a very desirable trap, for the mop board 473 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:19,039 is scarcely ever wide enough to permit of a trap 474 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:22,160 that the spook could get through in a hurry. Besides, 475 00:27:22,279 --> 00:27:25,039 they must assume their costumes after they get into the 476 00:27:25,079 --> 00:27:28,279 cabinet or tear them to pieces. You can see how 477 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:32,480 this would make it very inconvenient. If the room is wainscotted, 478 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,559 the spook will have all the sea room necessary in 479 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:38,559 his trap, for it will extend from just below the 480 00:27:38,599 --> 00:27:41,240 molding on the top of the wainscotting to the floor 481 00:27:41,279 --> 00:27:44,240 behind the strip of quarter round. It is next to 482 00:27:44,279 --> 00:27:48,799 an impossibility to detect these traps by examining in the cabinet. 483 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:53,200 They were constructed to avoid discovery, and no pain spared 484 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:57,279 to make them so absolutely perfect that not one chance 485 00:27:57,279 --> 00:28:00,559 in a million is taken. The proper place to seek 486 00:28:00,559 --> 00:28:03,680 for traps is in the adjoining room, upstairs, or in 487 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:06,519 the cellar. One is foolish to undertake to find a 488 00:28:06,559 --> 00:28:09,720 trap by thumping the walls or floor, for if you 489 00:28:09,759 --> 00:28:12,920 happen to thump one, the medium who is smart enough 490 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:15,960 to make use of a trap is also sharp enough 491 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,319 to make provision for its being thumped, and your sounding 492 00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:23,039 method goes for nought. Bear in mind that when you 493 00:28:23,079 --> 00:28:26,279 are examining the cabinet, you are seeking at the very 494 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:30,400 place that is prepared most effectively to withstand your investigations. 495 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:34,079 Do not forget the manager in your search. He or 496 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:37,400 she is never searched, or never has been up to date, 497 00:28:37,759 --> 00:28:40,200 which has been the cause of many a failure to 498 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:43,519 find the properties of the medium. When the sales was 499 00:28:43,559 --> 00:28:46,519 given in a room and cabinet furnished by a stranger 500 00:28:46,559 --> 00:28:50,119 and skeptic, do not be deceived into a belief that 501 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:53,400 all of the sitters are strangers to the medium. There 502 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,599 may be one to five persons present who pay their 503 00:28:56,640 --> 00:28:59,400 money the same as yourself, and who may appear to 504 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:01,599 be the most skied gyptical of anyone in the room. 505 00:29:02,279 --> 00:29:05,920 They will generally be the recipients of some very elegant tests, 506 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:10,960 and weep copiously great grief fladen tears when they recognize 507 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:14,359 the beloved features of some relative. They are the most 508 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:18,079 careful of investigators, and when the medium's trap is located 509 00:29:18,119 --> 00:29:21,960 in the door, jam will pound the walls and insists 510 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:24,279 on the carpet being taken up. When they will get 511 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:27,160 upon their hands and knees and make a most searching 512 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,920 examination of the floor. They are the closest and most 513 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:34,480 critical of the investigators, but they are very careful to 514 00:29:34,599 --> 00:29:38,599 examine everywhere except where the defect is located. Because one 515 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:42,279 or two men seem to be making such a critical investigation, 516 00:29:42,759 --> 00:29:45,519 do not allow that fact to prevent you making one 517 00:29:45,519 --> 00:29:49,200 on your own responsibility. Wait until they have finished, and 518 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:53,079 then examine not only where they did, but more particularly 519 00:29:53,279 --> 00:29:56,480 where they did not. Their examination is only for the 520 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:59,839 purpose of misleading others. Their tests are received in a 521 00:30:00,119 --> 00:30:02,960 way to cause those about them to think they admit 522 00:30:03,039 --> 00:30:07,039 them very unwillingly, are because they were so undeniable that 523 00:30:07,079 --> 00:30:10,279 they could do nothing else. A great many will probably 524 00:30:10,359 --> 00:30:13,880 deny that confederates are ever employed. They are not by 525 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:16,720 mediums who are not smooth enough to produce that which 526 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:19,839 appears so wonderful as to make a good business for them. 527 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:23,519 The writer could advise those mediums who give such rank 528 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:28,279 seances to employ a few floor workers they are easily obtained, 529 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:30,599 and see what a difference it would make in the 530 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:34,119 amount of business they will do. Get good ones those 531 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:36,920 who know human nature and know when they have said 532 00:30:37,039 --> 00:30:39,839 all that is necessary. Most of them are inclined to 533 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:43,319 say too much, thus causing the ordinary man to suspect 534 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:44,839 that they are confederates.