HIDDEN MYSTERY. (Cassell's Saturday Journal.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 71

HIDDEN MYSTERY. (Cassell's Saturday Journal.)

"There is much money to be made in terrorising the credulous. My business in your country has been connected Avith the extradition of a man Avho out of his dupes has a modest fortune frightened." this Avas said on a recent morning by an affable but keen French detective, waiting at Newhaven for the cross-channel packet. . . . "How do they work? Most often they rent a quite ordinary house, perhaps in the middle of a row of houses. From outside it looks like that on either side of it. Inside it is most elaborately furnished up as' a magician's den. Take a sample instance. The rooms in the house were throughout draped with heavy black velvet, lit up only in places with electric lights, contrived cunningly. There were crystal balls in the rooms, contorting mirrors, and bats flitting about in the partial darkness. Lightning flickered over the ceilings, and 'steam curtains' uprose from the floors. In middle air Avitches' cauldrons boiled, and skeletons stalked the apartments to the sounds of clanking fetters. Headless 'oracles' spoke, and mummies talked of your future; and on the roof, in a small cell open to the sky, an astrologer, Avith phosphorescent profile and hands, at night time told the stars to trembling visitors Avho came to consult. These Avorkers of magic — self-styled — are clever. Some are skilful electricians, ventriloquists, conjurers, thought readers, palmists, and so forth. To attract to them persons whom by all manner of means they may frighten into believing them to have supernatural powers is their object. "Why do the people come? Well, all sorts of promises are made out to them. Have you encountered a period of bad fortune? They, by incantations, can change for you your luck. The plain people they can make pretty ; those Avhc are ill may grow well ; poverty may be exchanged for Avealth ; and to those who are in love and are despairing happiness is assured. This forms a programme of allurement, and many are tempted by it. Some go half in jest ; as you say, ' for fun of the thing.' Butall are served equal; and once within the door the whole gang works to impress the alarmed stranger Avith their Aveird mastery over the spirits of another world.

"From one man I had some of his experiences. They Avere not so comfortable. Icy cold hands clasped his wrists and he «vas turned head over heels, to find himself, as it seemed, transported to another apartment, looking at himself in a mirror Avhere his body appeared with on its shoulders a skull. He AA'as invited to recline in a coffin, and then they set about to nail doAvn the lid. This proved too trying for the man's nerves. He struggled ; and at once it became apparent that the botom of the coffin was not there ; he Avas really lying on the floor. After similar numerous other adventures, he was placed in a, small room, and the four Avails suddenly blazed up in flames. Full of fear, the fellow darted out of the dooi by which he had entered, and fell headlong intc a pit packed with straAV. The walls of it, he soon found, were smooth metal plates ; and, trembling, the prisoner listened to mysterious sounds that came uja through, the floor. He

shouted for help. Light gradually came, for one -nail had disappeared, and there was a room cosily furnished, and the man who had guided him was inviting .him to take light refreshments. This man said he had no belief in. the ' magicians,' but he went again and again to experience what you call a 'thrilling,' paying 25 francs odd (£l} cverj time. Many women consult these people, who ablj adapt their performances to the temperaments of theii clients. 11l effects sometimes follow such visits. One woman went with her sister to find ovt if her missing husband was still not dead, and nearly sacrificed her reason. In a dim light the pair sat in chairs, side by side, as it Avere, but tAvo feet about in between them. There was darkness ; then a light on the ceiling. The two glanced upwards ; and then, as the ilght came back, there was a sound as of thunder far away. One woman gave a cry, and fell fainting, for a horrid-looking figure come up through the floor, was sitting between them. For some days this silly victim Avas not in her own mind. '