HOW IT IS BONE.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4862, 9 August 1884, Page 2

HOW IT IS BONE.

Mr Stuart Cumberland, the muscle* reader, called at the Pall vMall^Crizette Office a day or two after his seance, and for half an hour chatted about spiritual" ism, his own career, and his prospect!:—• On Mr Cumberland being asked whether lie was an able spirit-rapper, in a moment mysterious rappings, were heard from all parts of the room, t» if- ia reply to the question. ''You see,'' s»id Mr Cumberland, "I can produce all sorts of knocks and cries, from the still small voice of the infant in the celestial regions to the sepulchral tones of the tormented spirit, whose unearthly groans are so. effective. I get>tbe still, small voice by a dislocation' of the thunibb," and the stillj small Toice spoke in Us melodious tonesV^^ The sepulchral tobies come by a displaceuieat of the knee-joint —so," and the. sepulchral tones reverberated through the: room.. Thte peroriius longusT. can now; easilywork^ as you hear, although I hate a pair pf thick boots on." It was very easily workedl-and effectually. "But, Mr Cumberland, how about th© faces, and hand, and ugh I—the cold feet which we hear, brrather see and f«el, »fc dark seances. How do yoiifexplaia the> pulling .of ■• coats, the patting of bands, and; so.on P " "All done; in the same way, by the sense of touch, a pair of laky tongs, and a strong imagination which will pro»^ duce any phenomena you like to ask for. Most of tnese mediums a.re women, their dresses hide their movements j they weir ■ their slippers, and have half-covering on the feet. Their toes dart out from under their gowns, and pull your; coat or your dress, or, if the distance is top great, they dp it with those long-reaching tongs of their. I will undertake to reproc duce all the phenomena without any con* juring apparatus. It is perfectly amazing how deceptive is the sense of touch. sit down here, opposite to mej and I will explain to you what I mean." Isat down, as ordered, while he explained what is known in occult circles as the theory of " dematerialisation, and what some prefer to term the ring trick. ■•• Suppose you have, a crown of iron on your head,", said Mr Cumberland; " suppose, further, that lam a medium, and have undertaken that spirit shall remove the ring, pass it throttgfc your arms arid legs; arid 'in faot^^de> " i materialise it. T take your two hand* 4i my two hands, see and feclr^v two hands, Close your eyes;,please- vJ, f~,A my tyro hands still ?7^ « O^ t^r T^i^P' Ed Z**!? o*^- c<*taiii' f, ££' '■. the otl">r bemg brer my bead. you see, while you imagined both m -j h? nds to be bn Jotirs. my; right hand had, theoretically, uncrowned you, and was '; playmgall^sorts of tricks withithe ring^Ai a further proof of what practised dexterity and deft manipulation will effect, put your Mr Uumberland place both handsfoni mitfe^ '' "Wow turn head away;*' "Still Veihg; conscious of the contract of both his, hands, I; felt a coldighostly uiuch bn one of my cheeks, a spirit hand fanning up my knee, and other sensations which - sent a visible tremdr- through my nervous system^ or rather would: have done but that I was in a condition of sound healthy scepticism which induced me rather unfairly, to take Mr CumbcrlaDd unawares by^opening jmy;;eyes, to reveal one of his hands on mine and the other playing ilk these tricks: Now fancy," he' went bi^ " that I am a^ hpllovroyed, ;weird;^qliiir-';^ vojante, whom you associata with things unearthly, that the;?ir:is hu3he^^ aad tn^ ' room dark, y^urimaginationg Trnowonderjryou put it downitiorspirits!'' i