THE BALDWIN ENTERTAINMENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1123, 28 February 1885, Page 3

THE BALDWIN ENTERTAINMENT.

The entertainment given by Professor and Mrs Baldwin in the Town Hall on Thursday night, and repeated last night, is one that those who were privileged to witness will long remember. The tricks of spiritualists as exposed by the Baldwins were wonderfully clever, and the thoughtreading of both quite surprised the audience. Mr Baldwin explained that the first part of his entertainment was carried out by trickery and deception, but that the clairvoyante part of it was genuine. After giving some examples of how spiritualists rap out answers with a rapping-hand, he called four gentlemen upon the stage to act as a committee from the audience to see that everything was done fair and square. A cabinet stood upon the stage, inside of which there was a chair and quite a variety of musical instruments. The committee examined the cabinet thoroughly and satisfied themselves that it was impossible for anyone to get into it without being seen. Professor Baldwin then stepped into it and sat down on the 'chair with a long piece of rope in his hand. Mrs Baldwin closed the front of the cabinet, and in fifty seconds threw it open again, when Mr Baldwin was found securely fastened hand and foot to the chair with the rope. The cabinet was closed again, and instantly a terrible racket began inside of it : tambourines, bells, &c, were set agoing and thrown'out upon the stage, but when the cabinet was opened its only occupant was seen bound as before. Next the knots on the rope were sealed, and one of the gentlemen on the stage was asked, to lend his coat. The cabinet was closed for a moment, and when opened again Mr Baldwin had the ooat on. The ooat was sewed together at the breast and sleeves, and the cabinet shut again, when almost immediately the coat was thrown out on to the stage, Mr Baldwin remaining bound as before. A member of the committee then went into the cabinet and sat with his back to the operator,. holding him firmly by the knees. On closing the cabinet the usual noises were at once heard, and the gentleman in with the operator confessed to having felt himself touched about the face and hody,though he held the Professor tightly all the $ime. Mr Baldwin then, with, the cabinet open, and in full view of the audience, showed how 1 the whole thing was done. He next proceeded to give examples of thought-read-ing. Qne of the committee walked slowly round the stage, selecting with his eyes some object. He then took the Professor, who was blindfolded, by the hand, and shortly afterwards he led the gentleman across the stage and picked up a watch lying on the table, which was acknowledged tobe the article thought of. Another of the committee hid a pin ? while Jthe, Professor, accompanied by two other members of the committee, went outside the hall. On returning, blindfolded as before, and holding the hand of the gentleman who hid the pin, he hurried to the back of the hall and found the pin in a Chinaman's pocket. Striking though these feats of Professor Baldwin's were, the clairvoyance of Mrs Baldwin was more so. Pencils and paper were given to a number of the audience, on which questions were written, and! the papers Kept by the writers. . The manner in these questions were answered .took everybody by surprise, and at once dispelled the idea of collusion or trickery. Questions either - written or thought of were answered, as though.C&ljs Baldwin/a mind were quite en rapport* 'with' that of the inquirer. This part of the performance was certainly^mpat ..wonderful* and all present must have, come away, satisfied that there isiaomething in tnought- , reading after all,