SPIRITUALISM EXTRAORDINARY.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1660, 15 August 1873, Page 4

SPIRITUALISM EXTRAORDINARY.

The foFowing is from a late English paper

A. novel entertainment has been produced at the Crystal Palace, London, by Messrs Maskelyne and Cooke, who in an amusing farcical sketch introduce some of the marvellous " manifestations," bo well; known in connection with " spirit" seances. Sir H. j Credant(Mr. Hasarde) being a determined Spiritualist, his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson (Mr. and Mrs. j Maskelyne) do all they can to convince him that thtj startling effects which he attributes to supernatural; agency, can be produced by mers human skill. They! touch a table lightly with their finger J, and it not only " tilts," but mores bodily up above their heads, and' is turned, upside down. A walking-stick dances glee--' fully about the stage, while a bouquet floats gently; through the air and presents itself to the lady, who: is herself raised some three feet above the carpet,' without any visible menus of support. Mr. Maskelyne then performs an elegant and dexterous feat with six China plates, which, by skilful manipulation alone, he causes to waltz and■ whirl about in a wonderful' fashion. This is suooeeded by the Davenport Cabinet seance,, in which Mr. Maskelyne and Mr. Cooke perform all the (eats of the celebrated brothers. They are bound securely with ropes and placed in the, cabinet, the doors of which are scarcely, shut before musio is heardj within, bells are thrown out, and "spirit" hands appear at the apertures in the,doors, the re-opening of which shows both performers bound aa tightly as j ever. The knots of the cords' are then sealed, but this does not prevent them from taking off their coats' and putting them on again as quiokly as any ordinary men could do if porfeotly free. While still bound, their hands are filled with flour, the doors are shut for a moment, and then they appear at liberty, the ropes lying at their feet, and the flour still in their hands.

The concluding feats, however, is justly called "The Mysteiy of Mysteries." Mr. Maskelyne is placed behind a screen with a box, a canvas cover, and some cord. In less than tea minutes the soreeii is removed, and we see the. box completely covered and elaborately corded ; these being taken off, and the box unlocked, Mr. Maakelyne is discovered inside in a very.cramped poiitioD, the box being only just large •oojgh toooatein him wh«n doubled up

'* kßfsi and poet tpgpthe*.' iw wb§ie p*rfQrin»»ew t is of a most wondejful charaol**. aiid although every facility is given for examining the apparatus, both before and after each feat, one comes away completely puzzled as to the' modus operand* by which the' ' results are achieved.