magic and real detectives-第38节
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where he was seated somewhat behind a table； on which were some
flowers； a music box； etc。 However； the medium was in view
plainly； and he never removed the bandage from his eyes or in any
manner molested it。
When the boy came on the stage directly from the front with the hat
full of sealed envelopes； the manager placed a handkerchief over
the hat and asked the boy to take a seat near the front of the
stage facing the audience。 He was also directed to hold the hat in
his lap； and to deliver the envelopes to the manager； one at a
time； as he should call for them。
The operator now delivered a lecture； lasting some ten or fifteen
minutes； explaining the strange powers of the blindfolded medium；
who sat at the rear of the stage in full view； while the boy still
maintained the seat at the front of the stage； and held the hat of
envelopes in sight of all。
After the lecture； the manager requested the boy to give him one of
the envelopes； which the boy did。 The manager did not look toward
it in any manner； but took it in the tips of his right fingers；
held it in the air； and asked the medium to give the writer of this
question a test。 The medium shivered a few times； allowed his
frame to convulse slightly； and thus began：
〃I feel the influence of one who was a brother。 I get the name of
Clarence。 Will the one who wrote this question identify it as
his？〃 There was no response from the spectators； and the medium
asked again that the writer speak out。 Still silence greeted his
request； when suddenly he pointed his bony finger into the crowd；
while his blinded face confronted them； and exclaimed： 〃Mr。 John
H； why do you not respond to your test？〃 A gentleman in the
audience then acknowledged the test as his。 The medium then
continued： 〃Clarence was drowned。 I sense the cold chilly water as
it envelopes his form。〃 At this the lady sitting with the
gentleman began to cry。 The medium continued： 〃The drowning was
wholly an accident。 There was no foul play。 Now； Mr。 H； have
I answered your question； and are you satisfied with your test？〃
The gentleman； a well…known citizen； acknowledged that he was
perfectly satisfied。
The manager then laid the envelope on a small table and asked the
boy for another one。 The boy gave him another from the hat when
the blindfolded medium； ten feet or more distant； gave the second
test。
He shivered again and began： 〃I feel the influence of a young lady
who died suddenly。 She says； 'Sister Mary； I am very happy； and
death was not so hard to endure。 I want you to consult a good
honorable attorney； and take his advice in the lawsuit you ask me
about。'〃 The medium then continued； 〃 Miss L； your sister
regards you with a look of great tenderness and love。 Are you
satisfied with your test？〃 A lady then replied that she certainly
was entirely convinced。
The manager now laid this sealed envelope beside the other one and
again called for another。 This was continued until all of the
envelopes in the hat were removed and the questions answered。 None
of the envelopes were opened。 In some instances the medium first
read the questions； word for word； before answering them； and when
he did so； he described the writing minutely； even the formation of
the strokes of the letters。
After all of these tests were given； the medium removed the
blindfold and seemed much exhausted。 Then the tables were removed
to one side of the stage； and a cabinet erected； after which some
cabinet manifestations that were very interesting were given。 When
these were over； the manager collected the sealed envelopes from
the table； and placed them on the front of the stage； inviting the
writers to call； should they so desire； and get their questions。
Some availed themselves of this opportunity and tore open a number
of the envelopes until they found their own questions。 The
audience seemed greatly impressed with this exhibition； and the
next day it was the talk of the town。
。 。 。 。 。
On the next evening I again repaired to the public hall to witness
and； if possible； fathom this performance。 This time； however； I
found that an entirely different method was employed。 Envelopes
and slips of paper were distributed； and after the questions were
written and sealed the manager went about the room； gathering them
up in a small black bag with a drawstring around its top。 As he
gathered up each one； and while the writer still held it； he gave
to that person a number which was to serve as that particular
person's number during the tests。 At the same time the manager
marked the number on the subject's envelope； while the subject held
it； drawing a circle around the figure； after which the subject
dropped the envelope into the sack。
When all were collected； the operator took the sack in the tips of
his fingers； and holding it aloft； walked up the runway to the
stage where a cord hung from a screw…eye fastened in the ceiling
above。 The other end of the cord was attached to a piece of
furniture on the stage。 The manager now attached the black bag
containing the envelopes to the end of this string； and then taking
the other end； drew the bag up to the ceiling near the screw…eye；
where it remained in full view during the tests。
While the manager was doing all this； the ghost…like medium had
been walking about the stage； reading in a large Bible。 He now
laid the Bible on a table and advanced to the front of the stage；
while the manager delivered a lecture on spiritual philosophy and
also on the strange power of the medium。 After this the manager
announced that the medium would hold a Bible service； during which
time he would give the tests。
The medium now took his Bible； and seating himself in a chair
facing the audience； began by reading a verse。 After this he
closed his eyes for a time； and then gave the first test。 He
began： 〃I will give these tests in the order in which the manager
gave you your numbers； commencing with number one。 Now； Mrs。 Clara
S； I see standing near you an elderly lady； somewhat stooped；
but I cannot see her face plainly。 She seems to be your mother。
She says to tell you that your son is doing well where he is； and
for you not to worry； for he will return to you in time。 Are you
satisfied？〃 A lady in the audience was visibly affected； and
acknowledged that the medium had answered her question correctly。
The medium read another verse in the Bible； after which he gave the
second test in a manner similar to the way in which he had given
the first one。 After this he read another verse； and so continued
until all the questions in the sack were answered。 The manager now
lowered the sack； and emptying the envelopes into a small basket
distributed them unopened to their writers。
The effect of this exhibition was fully as great as was that of the
former one； and the medium continued to be the wonder of the town。
。 。 。 。 。
On the next evening I again attended the meeting。 On this occasion
questions were written and sealed as on the former occasions。 This
time the medium was dressed as a 〃Mahatma；〃 wearing a large turban。
As soon as the questions were written； the manager collected them
in a small wicker basket； and emptied them on a table on the stage。
He only talked for a moment； describing what the medium would do。
During all this time the medium was seated near the front of the
stage。 The medium now tapped a little bell he held in his hand； as
if summoning the spirits； and began giving the tests in the most
marvelous manner。 He seemed somewhat nervous； and finally arose
and walked across the stage； stopped a moment and then continued
his walk。 Meanwhile he kept giving the tests。 Occasionally he
would walk about nervously； and sometimes he would seat himself in
the chair for a time； but he kept right on giving test after test；
with perfect accuracy； while the sealed envelopes remained in full
view on the table。 During this time； and in fact during the time
the audience was writing the questions； neither the medium nor the
manager had ever left the sight of the spectators for even an
instant。
After all the tests were given； the medium； very much exhausted；
fell on a couch on the stage； while the manager scooped the
envelopes back into the basket； and then distributed them to their
writers in an unopened condition。
I will now explain how this 〃occultist〃 gave these various billet
tests。
We will first refer to the tests given the first evening。 A boy
from the audience gathered up the sealed envelopes in a hat； and
brought them to the stage； sitting with them in his lap； while he
delivered one at a time to the manager； who held it aloft； during
which time the blindfolded medium in the rear gave the test。
There was a simpl
