INVOKING THE SPIRITS.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 266, 10 November 1888, Page 3 (Supplement)

INVOKING THE SPIRITS.

Thomas Carlyle Interviewed,

Thk 'Pall Mall Gazette' describes what* took pines the other day at a »eance, v/hen the spirit; of Thomas Carlyle was called upon by the medium. The report says :

About a curiously carved round wooden table those present disposed their chairs. We did not put our hands on the table or touch it in any way ; neither was there any invocation or "singing of mournful melodies such as are employed at some seances as a preliminary to the apparition of the spirits. A sheet of this foolscap.was laid upon the table and a lead pencil. Mrs Jencken sat facing the light, I was on her right, my confrere on her left, while Mrs Cattello sat facing her, with hei back to the window. Presently the knocks were heard under Mrs Jencken's chair, and then again in the table itself. They were simply tappings such as jnighb be produced with the finger nail. But Mrs Jencken's hands were visible and motionless, nor was there any visible motion oh the part of any of her members. Then she said, ' I feel like writing ;' and grasping a pencil with her left hand, she began writing upon tho paper in. front of her. What she was writing she said she did not know, and no human being could say what it was as she wrote, for the character? nonld only be read when held up to tho looking-glass or through the paper from therever>-(.: ■ i ie. vYe watched the movement of her hand intently, and presently it stopped. I took the paper and held it to the light. The name of "T. Cavlyle" was appended as a signature to the message, although it must be admitted that it is somewhat difficult to conceive the grim old philosopher returning to earth in order to indite such a message as this :— 'My friend, I rejoice to meet you. I have all that I've longed for. Why do you not converse with your loved ones, and have faith that they may draw near enough to enter into your sphere?—T. Cablylh.' 'To think of old Carlyle coming back to hang round this table !' 1 exclaimed. Instantly there were knocks, and the leffc hand of the medium besran writing. When the message was held to the light behold the following proof—- ' Friend, be more respectful. I am no longer old ; 1 tun a young man now.' We a3ked some more questions, and then received the following reply : ' Lob the departed rest. Their lives need no trumpet to sound their praise, and I feel very sorry that my poor wife was so badly treated.' 'By whom ?' we inquired. No answer. •By Mr Fronde ?' it waa modestly suggested. The response was undecided. 'By yourself ?' boldly inquired one of the sitters. Again an undecided kind of knock left, us in doubb as to whether he was lamenting remorsefully his treatment of Mrs Carlyle, or whether he was merely wroth with some othera who had treated hor ill.