SPIRITUALISM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 508, 3 December 1881, Page 2

SPIRITUALISM.

“ Silverpen,” in the New Zealand, Herald, .says---' ‘ Spiritualism is gaining ground extensively in ’Frisco, though how any intelligent person can give himself or herself to the apparent folly of the science I never could tell—that is, I can excuse weak-minded women for becoming believers, but when it comes to business men, possessed of strong common sense in the relations of daily life, I confess myself at sea. We have lately had a new medium here, an English girl, by name Eva Fay. Miss Fay is a pretty, welldressed woman, who captures the hearts of reporters, and manages to keep hold of her audience. She came here well announced, in consequence of which 2,000 people, at half a dollar a head, filled the house on her first appearance. Nothing is seen on the large stage save a cabinet. is about twelve feet high, the same size in length, and about six feet across. It is simply made of four upright posts, round which crimson cloth is nailed, with a roof of the same. One side, that which faces the audience, is open, having a crimson curtain which is drawn back or forward at will. Miss Fay appears in yellow satin, embroidered in red roses, and presents two rather thin arms to the committee of three gentlemen selected from the audience — generally men of position—in order that there may be no humbug. These men tie the fragile wrists with separate pieces of cloth, sew them, and paste plaster over them; the ends are tied together and ihe hands crossed behind; then there is more tying, and Miss Fay sits in the cabinet and is again tied down to a staple and iron ring, her hands still behind her. Instruments are placed on her knees and a tin bucket by her side. The curtain is drawn. Instantly the instruments — guitar and tambourine —begin to play, Miss Fay screams “ Lights!” the curtain opens, and the tin bucket is on the lady’s head, her hands still tied. Again the curtain closes, while sheets of paper are placed on her knees ; instantly a loud scratching is heard, the committee men standing round the cabinet. “ Light!” says the medium, the curtain opens, and, lo ! messages from the dead appear on the various sheets. These are read aloud, while people jump up in the audience and recognise their relatives. It is wonderfully done, truly, but I am an infidel in regart to spirits, unless I’m sick, and then they are useful mixed with water ; otherwise, I only wonder how Miss Fay loosens her hands to perform her tricks. She beat the committee men, one of whom sat with her in the cabinet, when he, too, was discovered with the tin bucket over his head, and he seemed to know nothing of the matter as to how it got there. I only wish I had got the chance that he had. You see Miss Fay is pretty, and the old committee man has a great regard for the sex generally. The lady was untied before the audience, and certainly the knots were in statu quo\ but I have no suggestion to make, the ways of woman are unscruitible and past discovery. With spiritualism comes f ree love, hand in hand. If I might, I would dip into this subject, but the editor would be after me full tilt with a long lecture, otherwise 1 could amuse you. Free love is carried on in its extreraest sense by these people, who make a splendid living by finding “affinities” for the imbecile creatures who seek their aid. For instance, you go to a medium ; she falls into a trance, and sees some other woman’s husband who is miserable with that wife of his; you, the sitter, are his “affinity.” You are worked upon until what little brains you possess become so addled that you promise to meet this man—more you know not. You meet and make up, he leaves his wife, you your husband—if you have one—and go and live together. The solution is, the man has seen you and paid for the result ; the medium hooks you in by means of a “capper,” viz., a decoy. You don’t know how it’s done; you only find yourself in the end the free lover who finds an affinity sent by “ spirits.” Oh, humanity, humanity, how feeble and idiotic you are ! These women also pretend to give stock points, and you may see grave old business men going by the score to see what for tune has in store for them. Meanwhile, medium grows rich, and laughs at her dupes. I know people who place such reliance on the “ points ” given that they will stake their last dollar on the advice ; for all sorts of business speculations the most important counsellors are the mediums.