WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:05.559 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