IN THE SPIRIT WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2069, 21 December 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

IN THE SPIRIT WORLD.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE MEDIUMS.

A Flood-Light on the Table-Rapping Specialist.

(By Will Irwin, in “ Colliers’ Weekly.") One must begin an avticlo on tho medium "graft” with apologies to the people of tho dark. He who denies “'a'priori ” tlmt there exists a sixth sonso, by which so-called clairvoyants and elninuidients sea without eyes, hear without euiv, and know without personal experiences, provos himself as narrow in one direction as tho most credulous spiritualist in tho other. Mankind believod in this sixth sonse, revenced it into legend and tradition, for forty centuries before science accorded it the reco"mtion of investigation. The body of scientific and scmiseicntihe investigators known ns tho “ coeioty for I’livchical Research ” took it up, and out of their investigations came a conviction, now widely held by the most intelligent poople, that such a faculty—-call it telepathy, spirit communication, higher space or what you will —does exist. Scionco gropes on tho border of this strange country, uncertain still whether it is a domain or only a mirage. So much one must grant m the headlining. Beyond that all is fraud. Ninety-eight per cent, of the professional i. mediums ” arc impostors, gouging dollars out of tho public through an olaborate system of psychological deception, apparatus, and conjuring. These articles have nothin" to do with real clairvoyance—if it oxists—or real spirit return—if that be possible- Inoy are concerned only with thoso humble, unsung adventurers who gain an oasy living by playing upon the deep pieties of the human heart. Iho frame demands talent, long study, and personality in the player.

X—D EMON STB ATI NCi IMMORTALITY.

In tlm patter of spiritualism there are two kinds of mediums—“psYchic ’ uiul "physical’’ The psychics are thoso who, ill tranco, or semiuouco, receive impressions from the spirits of men and women gone 1 efoiv; ’-ho physicals aro thoso who produce effects with matter, such as causing hits of pencils to write on slates, illdependant of human pro on', non, forcing objects to float, unsupported in tho air, and, supremo l'm.t of all, bringing the spirits-of the dead, lu.'lelothcd in now flesh, Sro.n ca'omets. Let us follow a typical seance of each kind; let us "sit fuse uitli Madame August, .trauce, lost, and clairvoyant medium, who : s at home to private sitters every day from 9 to 5. and who demonstrates immortality in the circle every Sunday and Wednesday evening.

Madame August holds her circles in a clingy back parlor on the West Side of New York. The game is the same the country over; the same kind of medium, the same methods, tho same peculiar types among the sitters, the same surroundings. Just such circles are meeting this very evening on Columbus Avenue, Boston, on Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, and on Eddy Street, San Francisco.

THE MUSTY SETTING OF A SPOOK DRAMA.

The decoration of Madame August’s soul parlors are middle-class domestic, much gone to seed. The walls r port three or four crayon enlargements of good homely people, a steel engraving of Isaac and Rebecca, a lithograph of Henry Ward Beecher, a very had painting of Laughing Eyes, the Indian control, a worsted motto, reading, Show Your faces,” and threo or four feminino geegaws, like a gilded fire-sliovel. Near the folding-doors is a table covered with fringed “throw,” and at the other end of the room a parlor melodeon. About the walls stand a saggy sofa and a dozen assorted chairs. The circle is small; for Madame August, who is growing fairly successful charges fifty cents a sitter. Larger crowds come to the ten ami twenty-five cents seances, hut this higher price assures a select class of patrons, who are as likely as hot to come back for private tests at two dollla.rs an hour. Madame August’s manager, a little, genial man with head half-bald and l-.air lialf-motli-eaten, meets you at the door and collects your fifty cents. The sitters comprise two or three old ladies in black, two giggling half-impressed girls, and three sadeyed men of middle age. Each sitter, as he passes drops upon the table some article —a watch, a glove, a ring, or a liankcrchiof: This is to aid the medium—through them she "gots your magnetism.” The circle speaks in . whispers; it is like the moment before church service. “Good evening, friends,” says a highly inflected voice from the doorway—'and M/adame August enters. Comfortably fat, like most mediums, she is tigthly girdled where the waist lino ought to be. One notes a loose sacque, a cloth skirt, diamond ear-drops, a bang, and false teeth. The chubby and comfortable appearance of her face contrasts with the far-aw ly, glaring expression of her eyes. This expression is a part of the stock in trade. Some mediums have’'it: naturally; others must practice.

The manager opens i>roceediug with a discourse, ungrammatical, mystic, full of sentimentalities. “And now,” he concludes, “if Mrs. Burcham will lead us at the organ, our friend will put herself in rapport with those bright influences. I trust, friends, that you’ll al/l got something good and helpful to-night.” During tlie singing, Madame August sits behind tlie table and stares into vacancy. Now and then she shudders violently, now and then she lets her gaze range tho ceiling, as though following the course of the spirit people. This is a test and clairvoyant seance. Her control, Laughing Eyes, the Indian maid, takes possession of her just far enough so that her eyes and ears of flesh can set* and hear the spirits which hover about in such abundance. When she is under full contrdl, at two del! irs an hour, Laughing Eyes takes full possession of her senses. Upon waking, she does not 'know what Laughing Eyes has said through her. The singing is done. In a tense silonce, Madame August rises and stands at tlie table. She shudders; and her hand moves toward a locket.

“I get a strange infloonce when I lift this piece of joolry,” she begins. “Like there was a kind of a heaviness here — Who sent this up?” She touches her chest and sweeps the circle with her eyes. One of the old ladies in black — the smallest among them- —lifts a timid band. “I was attracted your way when you came into the room, you understand,” says Madame August. “And I get right over your head, the letter ‘J.’ Have you any one in sperrit, that begins with a ‘J’? I can’t be sure, but I seem to get John.” “My husband,” answers the little old lady in black. “Yes. your husband,” says (Madame August. “Tell me, he passed out of pneumonia like, didn’t lie—and I get the number seven —wasn't it about seven years ago?” The little woman in. black nods her head. “Now, you never saw me before, did you, little lady?” asks (Madame August. “Because I want you to know that it’s tho sperrit that’s telling you this and not mo. He’s a tall man — yes, yes, Laughing Eyes, bring him

closer —and on his vest he’s got a badge -like, and I seo a helmet on it — do you recognise that?” “His Knights of l’ythias pin,” says the little lady, and, for no apparent reason, she lifts her handkerchief and begins to cry. Madame August, taking her cue, drops her voice to a sentimental, popular-preacher tone. "He wants me to say that ho was with you when you bent over bis dead clay in tho coffin and put that pin there. He knows how you said to yourself, ‘I don’t want him to wear that pill in tho grave, because I’ve thought, sometimes, he liked liis lodge better than me. The only tiling his poor abandoned body will wear to tho grave will be my ring that I gavo hum.’ But your hotter nature asserting itself, and you said, ‘l’ll bo forgiving,’ and you put tho pin in his vest pocket. He wants you to know that he was standing right beside you inflooneing you to do right, and ho knows now, dear one, that you’re glad you done it. And ho wants me to say that he’s got his hand on your head now, and he’s asking you not to worry too much about R. Do you understand ” By this time the whole seance is dissolved in tears. The little lady in black manages to sob out a recognition of R. The evening lias begun Beautifully.

“R just will drink, won’t lie?’’ pursues the medium. The sitter nods.. “‘John tdlls mo that there’s a way with R. John knows, dear one, the pain and anguish you’ve suffered, and his own heart beats with a father’s love for R. Come to me some time alone, little lady, for there’s something private John wants to tell you—” Madame August breaks off nbrupti ly, and her eyes begin to follow gbosts about the room. “George!!” she says with an effect of puzzled awe. “Who is George ” The young girls exchange glances. “I see the name of ‘George’ written right between you two young ladies. Tell me, which of you had a George?” The talller -girl is of the shop-girl type—neat, pretty, a bit underfed. It is she who sp.enks now. "In the spirit?” she says. AVliito paper and ink cannot convey inflections. She says it in a tone of inquiry and slight surprise. A dull ear would have missed it; a medium has trained ears. “No, in the flesh,” says Madame August decisively. "You’re bothered about George, ain’t you?” “Well, not exactly—” "I know, it ain’t between George and you like it was once. Do you know any one in sperrit that begins with an ‘M’?” The sitter bends over to her plump companion. They whisper a moment, and then respond, in dialogue, that there was a Mary—in the store with them—that died—- " She knew George, didn’t she?” asks Madame August. "Well, a Tittle,” says the sitter. "Of course she did—she talked to him when lie came into the store to see you. ‘M’ tells me that she was. a little took with him herself.” The circle smiles; tho sitter looks foolish. "Wait a minute till I get her infloonco stronger. There’s ail ‘A’ after the ‘M’—-ain’t it Mary?” "Yes,” says ono girl, and "Mary O’Brien”' the other. ’ ‘TWell, my dear, there’s a great many bright sperrit faces here tonight, and they’re all asking a hearing oiit of me, so I can’t give you any moro liroofs for identity out of Mary. But she wants to tell you that George’s state of mind ain’t permanent.” "He’l come back?” says the sitter eagerly. "There’s a bad infloonce over him,” says Madame August. "It’ll take time to remove it, but your sperrit friends are working for you. I get an eight and I seo a hand writing March, and I’m ordered-like to tell you that conditions will change on the eighth of March. You mayn’t know it, but they’ll - change. Come to me sometime when we’re alone, dear,” and then her eyes travel to the other girl—the plump one. The giggle is all ont of this sitter now; her eyes are wide with awe.

“My dear,” says Madame August, addressing her, “there's a sperrit that guides me —” she sweeps her hand over the table—“to this nurse. It’s yours, ain’t it?” The purse, to an awed movementuf the circle, is acknowledged. 'Madame August compresses its sides, making apparent its emptiness. “A careful young lady, ain’t you?” she says. The circle laughs at this shot, and the sitter, who has in fact tucked her money into her glove before sending up the purse, blushes red in confusion.

“AVlien the sperrits crowned mo with the gift of mediumship.” says Madame August, “they taught me I’d huve to take a lot from sitters. There is always people that doubt a medium. So I’ll forgive you . It ■seems to me, when I jiiek up this purse, that I got somehow a mother’s infloonce, and just-then d saw a light across you head which means psychic gifts, You’re mediumistic. Didn’t you ever have infloonees and feelings that you couldn’t explain'; Ibetyou, when that girl in the store was Mrrested last Wednesday for duplicating cash-slips, you said ta yourself: 'I knew alb the time she was bad.’ Laughing Eyes tells me it was the medium in you. When I get your magnetism, I feel a great force.” Tho sitter is visibly impressed. “Now, young ladies, I'm going to do a tiling that I cm'fr always do, but the infloonce is strong to-night. I’m going to give vour names. I never saw cither of you before, but

Laughing Eyes has ’em. Lor you to the tail one—“l see an S and a 1). S-u-s Susie—ain’t that right 1). Bush —ain’t that right?—Susan Davis- and for you I get M-a —(Margaret— Lad.v, lady, it ain’t right to whisper in the seance —there’s so many sperrit. voices whispering a round me that 1 get the voices on the earth plane aud voices on the flesh plane mixed, so 1 can’t go further with this young lady’s name. You simply scared Bright Eyes off. (But didn’t I get it right as far as I went?” “The two girls “acknowledge.” and lead in the applause, that follows. The seance lags a little over the next, sitter, a blond man with a German 'accent, who recognises as his a watch that Madame August lifts from tho table. lie is foolishly willing to help, but the spirits bungle. Matin me gets iiis mother in spirit, finds that his mother is alive,switches .to a sister, and discovers that he can not recognize as his one . “Hans” whom she sees standing by bis shoulder. Finally, Madame August getsliim to recognise the spirit of his. Aunt Gertrude, who comes with flier arms lull of flowers. Aunt Gertrude tells him that lie is troubled over property and .that it concerns a. will. 'When lie- reveals that there is no will, Madame August tells him that she sees success written over his forehead, and that conditions will change in September. At this point she is seized by an influence which leads her to a rather shabby mail who sits in tho corner pulling down a pair of celluloid cuffs. COMFORT FOR LILY.

"There’s a Lily right over your head,” she says, “and with it comes such a bright, cherry sperrit. And who’s Morris? And wliat is that about Lily’s .grave?” "We put a lily on her tombstone.” says the shabby nran in a half whisper. “That’s it; she recognises you. Lily and (Morris was 'far apart when ho passed out, but they’re reconciled in sperrit. "When I look at Morris I get a strange infloonce like it was a hard punching paper. And ho seems to be moving all the time —” “He was -a conductor,” volunteers the sitter. It is a bull’s-eye. ‘‘Yes, -and bo passed out ten years ago by falling off the train. He’s holding Lily tight, and lie tells me that he didn’t jump off the train 11purpose, like some of yon thought. Tho quarrel wasn’t anything serious. Ho was going home that very night to ask Lily to forgive him. Tint’s why they found the little ring when they opened his coat. Ho was taking it home to his dear one. And now they’re happy in sperrit, and they’re stretching out their hands to you, telling you that- they're making a bright and beautiful place for you.” Tho circle is weeping again. The chief mourner pulls down liis celluloid cuffs, takes a last wipe at his eyes, aud rises. .

“Friends,” soys (lie, “I'm a- stranger ill this city. I was attracted to this lady’s place to-night- bv an advertisement-. Though I've been to mediums before, I never took stock ■in ’em. But I want to say that .if she. can do to everybody what she just done to- mo, she certainly has a power can’t exiilain. Morris was my uncle, and it all happened in our family just like she says.” In much the same way it goes about the circle. This old woman-, you learn, is trying to get a. word from her dead boy. He was killed in a fight-. Some figment o ; f the old tliieology clings to her, since she is wildly eager to know if he is ltnppy. This slight, -raw-boued spinster weeps with 'Madame August over the lover site lost fifteen years ago. One by one, they give to this fat and tousled old woman the secrets of their hearts as 'penitents give to priests the. secrets of tlieir souls.

At ten o’clock Aladame August announces that the “infloonce” is- liassing. The manager starts a- hymn, during which sho unwinds her convulsions and .passes out of control. The evening closes with a spirit benediction, pronounced, on bebalf of Laughing Eyes, by Aladame August. Four sitters, including the old lady who -recognised ,tlie Knights of Pythias badge and tho two shop-girls, linger to make appointments for private sittings. HOAV MADAAIE AUGUST EARNS HER FEES. But a medium, as Aladame August -frequently tells her sitters, -has :to work ha-rd for all that she gets, flier day is not yet over. AYlieir tli-o -rest aro safely gone, tho shabby.-man of tho celluloid cuffs comes back to get liis -dollar. He knows that .true -psychics have short memories for. mundane things; and besides, lie won’t be table, in the nature of things, to got employment from this medium as endorser for another three months. There aro duplicate gold-ink -ballots to bo prepared for a private sitting the next evening. There, aro the obituary columns of the newspapers to study and compare with lier test books. Finally, just before sho goes to bed,’; Aladame August writes three letters -for the manager—flier .husband —to post. They read almost- alike, and one will do for all :

“Two new dopes for book. Names revealed and acknowledged in circle. Susio Davis, works at Alaev’s. Love affair. Trouble. Fellow’s name is George. Susie acknowledges spirit -Miry O'Brien, who worked in store and knew George. Bit for private sitting. Tall, blond, scar on left temple. Margaret (don’t know second name, pass it- on if you get it), same store, short, plump, brown’ hair, dark eyes, neat dresser. Incident of girl in store fired for duplicating cash •slips, but better not repeat too soon. Margiret bit for development and knew spirit Alary. I gave her your card. K. of P. woman came. Afar■vellous result. Nothing else tonight.” Fourteen sitters ill the circle—seven dollars gross. Deduct a dollar and a half for the pay and admission fee of tho confederate, anil that leaves only o.oOd'ol. for tlie night'. But it has drawn four appointments for private sittings.which may be stretched out indefinitely by careful- work; and some night, out from one of these circles, may flash the easy, rich, and generous “dope” with fame and fortune in her hands. With the money that Air. Madame August .picks up at canvassing, the family, bv industry and application, makes a comfortable living. HOW-’IT WAS DUNE. Now, how did she do it? The first sitter, the little woman in black, received from the “spirit” ono of those small and intimate details which are so very convincing. This sitter is a constant visitor of cheap mediums. Last week she had

a sitting with' Mrs Hcywood down tho street. Sitters of this typo love to toll their troubles. When Mrs Hcywood, “in tho trance stute,” brought out the spirit of John, the husband, this sitter broke down, cried, and told him what happened to that Knights of Pythias badge. When Airs Hcywood c.iino out of trance, she handed the. sitter one of Madame August's cards and recommended these Wednesday evening meotingy as wonderful- and convincing. Tho next afternoon, Mrs Hoywood and Madame August mot, as usual, to trade information-, ami Madaino August carried' away tho liamo of tho dead husband, a description of the sitter, and- that incident- of the pin. Some time she will do as much for Airs 1 Ley wood. While she was going under control, AtiuLnuo August “spotted” Airs Hey-; wood’s sitter. Her husband and manager, collecting money and taking up wraps at the door, had boon making a diagram of the sitters and noting upon it what artiefo each hid deposited on tho tabic. That diagram passed to Madame August as sho entered the room. Tho rest was easy. He who knows not mediums and “dopes” would think that the old woman in black would make a connection between the tale she told Airs Hcywood and the tale Aladame August told 'her. If she does, it is only to marvel at tho strange spirit power by -which Atad.i-me August has taken fresh from tho mind of tho spirit the story that ho heard only two days before.

The husband-manager, after every one was seated, went -through all the wraps on tho liat-rack. The shopgirls both woro long coats, Miss Susan Davis loft her card case in the pocket of hers. The other girl -left a letter, unfortunately without an envelope, and superscribed merely “Dear Margaret.” This referred to her “job” 'at Alacy’s. As for “George,” that was partly psychology and partly luck. It -is almost a certainty that, among fourteen sitters, some ono will li-ave a George “mi the spirit.” Aladanve August asked suddenly, “AVlio is 'George?” and looked over the circle for that glance of -recognition' which the profession knows :as a “rise.” It came, simultaneously, from the two shop-girls. Tho manager had already passed up on a card the information taken 'from their coat pockets. Tho little uncontrolled inflection, mentioned before, showed that George was alive, and also that lie belonged to Susie. ■Aladame August knows that a young girl in a- circle is usually there because of a love affair, just- as an old woman is to hear from .her beloved dead.

Further, she had had many girls from Alacy’s for private sittings, so that she knows the store gossip. Hence. 'Alary O’Brien ninl the girl caught stealing. Her failure with the German-look-ing man was a piece of “fishing” that went wrong. This sitter, while not in the least sceptical, had an immobile face and gave no leads. AYlien she rolled back from him, defeated, she kept things going by switching rapidly to her greasy one-dollar confederate of the celluloid cuffs. His business it is to attend seances, 'receiving and acknowledging wonderful tests; to talk with sitters in circles, getting information from them and passing it on to the medium; to hunt up special bits of family .history concerning rich and generous dupes ; and, occasionally, to play ghost for materializing seances. He might bo a. medium himself wero lie -not addicted to drink; as it is, liorinanages to live, with leisure and some comfort, -in a -Alills hotel. . (To be Continued.!