PROFESSOR DAVIS'S ENTERTAINMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10617, 12 March 1896, Page 3

PROFESSOR DAVIS'S ENTERTAINMENT.

TKcre was a good attendance at tha Princess Theatre last evening when Professor "W. A. Davis gave the opening performance of his Dunedin season. Professor Davis takes upon himselfthe task of showing that the so-called manifestations ct spiritualistic seances can be produced by him by means of trickery pure and simple. The perfornwuce is certainly notifying, and the whole delusion is so complete that one can scarcely wonder at a person entertaining the belief that supernatural agency is invoked. As Professor Davis points out, he produces his results under conditions which are much more stringent and difficult than those under which spiritualistic seances are conducted; for, whereas in the latter case, the room is porfectly dark, and no attempt is allowed to he made so penetrate the mystery. Professor Davis works in a fairly strong light, and is surrounded by a committee of gentlemen, who strive their utmost to discover hia methods. The professor was tightly bound with strong ropes, his hands and f=et being made very secure, and he was then placed in a sack, which was sesvn up and the threads sealed. The committee, some of the members of which are well-known citizens, were seated on the stage near Professor Davis, who was placed it! a dark cabinet. Precautions were also taken to prevent his carrying on any communication with an outside source. Almost immediately the " manifestations " from spiritland were audible, bells commenced to ring and other sounds were produced. Mrs Mellon'a' famous spirit tests and materialisation were reproduced, and, as the programme, truly set forth, "under conditions thai; make fr.»ud seeminsly impossible." The tpnoks Cissy, Geordie, and Josephine appeared on the st&ge in v ghostly attire, and snme of them held converse with the audience. The lights were then turned on and Professor Davis found as securely bound as ever—tbe rones all tight, the seals unbroken, and nothing to'indicate that he had been free from his bonds. The most mystifying part of his performance, however, was that in which, while seemingly, securely bouud, he retired fnv an instant and next moment walked out without the slightest hindrance. He then retired again, and after the lapse of another moment was discovered in his former condition, tightly bound. This part of the entertainment was truly bewildering, and the professor was rewarded.,with hearty and spontaneous rounds of applause. . Madame Stella Davis gave an exhibition of what was termed "Rosicrucian Psyehomancy." She was placed in a hypnotic sleep, and whilst in that state answered any question acy member of the audience desired This part of the performance certainly created a great deal of surprise. Slips of paper were handed round to the audience, and those whq.desired wrote questions upon them. These questions were mixed in a hat and redistributed, and Madame Davis not only gave the answers, but also stated what the questions were. Tbe audience wers well satisfied with her skill in this direction;. and her efforts evoked many demonstrations of approval. Professor Davis al."O introduced some remarkably clever card tricks, many of them entirely novel, and all the tricks were executed with neatness and celerity. The spirit writing was also a source of wonder to all present. Two perfectly clean slates were bound together and held by one of tbe audience on the stage. A page was selected in a.cUctiouary, and a word was selected from the third line. In order to remove any hnprts«on that the professor had the assistance of a confederate the number of the line wan drawn by ballot by the gentleman on tbe stage. The word ou tbe third line of the page proved to be " moderation," and on the slate 3 being unbound, one which hitherto apparently was quite clean had inscribed upon it in bold characters tbe word " moderation." The programme also included a ventriloquial entertainment by tbe professor, which' gave a great deal of amusement.

To-night another performance will be given.