A VICTIM TO SPIRITUALISM.

Evening Star, Issue 3934, 4 October 1875, Page 3

A VICTIM TO SPIRITUALISM.

Mr Robert Dale Owen, the wellknown Socialist, has paid a heavy price for his belief in spiritualism. There is said to bo but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous, and Mr Owen has just afforded a proof that between superstitution and lunacy the interval is sometimes not much greater. He had several times witnessed the performances of the notorious “Katie King,” and had become an ardent believer in her so-called manifestations. He wrote an elaborate article upon them, in which he dwelt strongly on the indubitable proof they afforded of a life beyond the grave. This article he sent to the ‘ Atlantic Monthly,’ but the day before the issue of the magazine the ingenious frauds of the medium received their crushing exposure. Mr Owen, who is more than seventy year's old, was informed of the revelation, and became painfully agitated when the conviction that he had been made a dupe was forced upon him. He immediately telegraphed to the editor of tlm • Atlantic Monthly’ to cancel his article • but the telegram was too late—the magazine was already published. Mr Owen’s proof that “ Katie King ” was a spirit and Katie’s own confession of imposture were published the same day and circulated throughout tire United [States. The shock to his self-esteem was too heavy ; Mr O wen’s mind gave way under it, and ho is now helplessly insane.— ‘ European Mail.’