The Humbugs of the World Part 10

The acquaintance thus begun was continued, and the photographer found it very profitable to oblige his spiritual friend, by the reproduction of ghost-like pictures, ad infinitum, at the rate of five dollars each.

Mothers came to the room of the artist, and gratefully retired with ghostly representations of departed little ones. Widows came to purchase the shades of their departed husbands. Husbands visited the photographer and procured the spectral pictures of their dead wives. Parents wanted the phantom-portraits of their deceased children. Friends wished to look upon what they believed to be the lineaments of those who had long since gone to the spirit-land. All who sought to look on those pictures were satisfied with what had been shown them, and, by conversation on the subject, increased the number of visitors. In short, every person who heard about this mystery determined to verify the wonderful tales related, by looking upon the ghostly lineaments of some person, who, they believed, inhabited another sphere. And here I may as well mention that one of the faithful obtained a "spirit" picture of a deceased brother who had been dead more than five years, and said that he recognized also the very pattern of his cravat as the same that he wore in life. Can human credulity go further than to suppose that the departed still appear in the old clo' of their earthly wardrobe? and the fact that the appearance of "the shade" of a young lady in one of the fashionable cut Zouave jackets of the hour did not disturb the faith of the believers, fills us indeed with wonder.

The fame of the photographer spread throughout the "spiritual circles,"

and pilgrims to this spiritual Mecca came from remote parts of the land, and before many months, caused no little excitement among some persons, inclined to believe that the demonstrations were entirely produced by human agency.

The demand for "spirit" pictures consequently increased, until the operator was forced to raise his price to ten dollars, whenever successful in obtaining a true "spirit-picture," or to be overwhelmed with business that now interfered with his regular labors.

About this time the famous "Peace Conference" had been concluded by the issue of Mr. Lincoln's celebrated letter, "To whom it may concern," and William Cornell Jewett (with his head full of projects for restoring peace to a suffering country) heard about the mysterious photographer, and visited the operator.

"Sir," said he, "I must consult with the spirits of distinguished statesmen. We need their counsel. This cruel war must stop. Brethren slaying brethren, it is horrible, Sir. Can you show me John Adams? Can you show me Daniel Webster? Let me look upon the features of Andrew Jackson. I must see that n.o.ble, glorious, wise old statesman, Henry Clay, whom I knew. Could you reproduce Stephen A. Douglas, with whom to counsel at this crisis in our national affairs! I should like to meet the great Napoleon. Such, here obtained, would increase my influence in the political work that I have in hand."

In his own nervous, impetuous, excited way, Colorado Jewett continued to urge upon the photographer the great importance of receiving such communications, or some evidence that the spirits of our deceased statesmen were watching over and counseling those who desire to re-unite the two opposing forces, fighting against each other on the soil of a common country.

With much caution, the photographer answered the questions presented.

Arranging the camera, he produced some indistinct figures, and then concluded that the "conditions" were not sufficiently favorable to attempt anything more before the next day. On the following morning, Jewett appeared--nervous, garrulous, and excited at the prospect of being in the presence of those great men, whose spirits he desired to invoke. The apparatus was prepared; utter silence imposed, and for some time the heart of the peace-seeker could almost be heard thumping within the breast of him who sought supernatural aid, in his efforts to end our cruel civil war. Then, overcome by his own thoughts, Jewett disturbed the "conditions" by changing his position, and muttering short invocations, addressed to the shades of those he wished to behold. The operator finally declared he could not proceed, and postponed his performance for that day. So, excuses were made, until the mental condition of Mr. Jewett had reached that state which permitted the photographer to expect the most complete success. Everything being prepared, Jewett breathlessly awaited the expected presence. Quietly the operator produced the spectral representation of the elder Adams. Jewett scrutinized the plate, and expressed a silent wonder, accompanied, no doubt, with some mental appeals addressed to the ancient statesman.

Then, writing the name of Webster upon a slip of paper, he pa.s.sed it over to the photographer, who gravely placed the sc.r.a.p of writing upon the camera, and presently drew therefrom the "ghost-like" but well remembered features of the "Sage of Marshfield." Colorado Jewett was now thoroughly impressed with the spiritual power producing these images; and in ecstasy breathed a prayer that Andrew Jackson might appear to lend his countenance to the conference he wished to hold with the mighty dead. Jackson's well known features came out upon call, after due manipulation of the proper instrument. "Glorious trio of departed statesmen!" thought Jewett, "help us by your counsels in this the day of our nation's great distress." Next Henry Clay's outline was faintly shown from the tomb, and here the sitter remarked that he expected him.

After him came Stephen A. Douglas, and the whole affair was so entirely satisfactory to Jewett, that, after paying fifty dollars for what he had witnessed, he, the next day, implored the presence of George Washington, offering fifty dollars more for a "spiritual" sight of the "Father of our Country." This request smote upon the ear of the photographer like an invitation to commit sacrilege. His reverence for the memory of Washington was not to be disturbed by the tempting offer of so many greenbacks. He could not allow the features of that great man to be used in connection with an imposture perpetrated upon so deluded a fanatic as Colorado Jewett. In short, the "conditions" were unfavorable for the apparition of "General Washington;" and his visitor must remain satisfied with the council of great men that had been called from the spirit world to instill wisdom into the noddle of a foolish man on this terrestrial planet. Having failed to obtain, by the agency of the operator, a glimpse of Washington, Jewett clasped his hands together, and sinking upon his knees, said, looking toward Heaven: "O spirit of the immortal Washington! look down upon the warring elements that convulse our country, and kindly let thy form appear, to lend its influence toward re-uniting a nation convulsed with civil war!"

It is needless to say that this prayer was not answered. The spirit would not come forth; and, although quieted by the explanations and half promises of the photographer, the peace-messenger departed, convinced that he had been in the presence of five great statesmen, and saddened by the reflection that the shade of the immortal Washington had turned away its face from those who had refused to follow the counsels he gave while living.

Soon after this, Jewett ordered duplicates of these photographs to the value of $20 more. I now have on exhibition in my Museum several of the veritable portraits taken at this time, in which the well-known form and face of Mr. Jewett are plainly depicted, and on one of which appears the shade of Henry Clay, on another that of Napoleon the First, and on others ladies supposed to represent deceased feminines of great celebrity. It is said that Jewett sent one of the Napoleonic pictures to the Emperor Louis Napoleon.

Not long after Colorado Jewett had beheld these wonderful pictures, and worked himself up into the belief that he was surrounded by the great and good statesmen of a former generation, a lady, without making herself known, called upon the photographer. I am informed that she is the wife of a distinguished official. She had heard of the success of others, and came to verify their experience under her own bereavement.

Completely satisfied by the apparition exhibited, she asked for and obtained a spectral photograph resembling her son, who, some months previously, had gone to the spirit-land. It is said that the same lady asked for and obtained a spiritual photograph of her brother, whom she had recently heard was slain in battle; and when she returned home she found him alive, and as well as could be expected under the circ.u.mstances. But this did not shake her faith in the least. She simply remarked that some evil spirit had a.s.sumed her brother's form in order to deceive her. This is a very common method of spiritualists "digging out" when the impositions of the "money-operators" are detected. This same lady has recently given her personal influence in favor of the "medium" Colchester, in Washington. One of these impressions bearing the likeness of this distinguished lady was accidentally recognized by a visitor. This capped the climax of the imposture and satisfied the photographer that he was committing a grave injury upon society by continuing to produce "spiritual pictures," and subsequently he refused to lend himself to any more "manifestations" of this kind. He had exhausted the fun.

I need only explain the modus operandi of effecting this illusion, to make apparent to the most ignorant that no supernatural agency was required to produce photographs bearing a resemblance to the persons whose "apparition" was desired. The photographer always took the precaution of inquiring about the deceased, his appearance and ordinary mode of wearing the hair. Then, selecting from countless old "negatives"

the nearest resemblance, it was produced for the visitor, in dim, ghostlike outline differing so much from anything of the kind ever produced, that his customers seldom failed to recognize some lineament the dead person possessed when living, especially if such relative had deceased long since. The spectral illusions of Adams, Webster, Jackson, Clay, and Douglas were readily obtained from excellent portraits of the deceased statesmen, from which the scientific operator had prepared his illusions for Colorado Jewett.

In placing before my readers this incident of "Spiritual Photography," I can a.s.sure them that the facts are substantially as related; and I am now in correspondence with gentlemen of wealth and position who have signified their willingness to support this statement by affidavits and other doc.u.ments prepared for the purpose of opening the eyes of the people to the delusions daily practised upon the ignorant and superst.i.tious.

CHAPTER XV.

BANNER OF LIGHT.--MESSAGES FROM THE DEAD.--SPIRITUAL CIVILITIES.--SPIRIT "HOLLERING."--HANS VON VLEET, THE FEMALE DUTCHMAN.--MRS. CONANT'S "CIRCLES."--PAINE'S TABLE-TIPPING HUMBUG EXPOSED.

"The Banner of Light," a weekly journal of romance, literature, and general intelligence, published in Boston, is the princ.i.p.al organ of spiritualism in this country. Its "general intelligence" is rather questionable, though there is no doubt about its being a "journal of romance," strongly tinctured with humbug and imposture. It has a "Message Department," the proprietors of the paper claiming that "each message in this department of the "Banner" was spoken by the spirit whose name it bears, through the instrumentality of Mrs. J. H. Conant, while in an abnormal condition called the trance."

I give a few specimens of these "messages." Thus, for instance, discourseth the Ghost of Lolley:

"How do? Don't know me, do you? Know George Lolley? [Yes. How do you do?] I'm first rate. I'm dead; ain't you afraid of me? You know I was familiar with those sort of things, so I wasn't frightened to go.

"Well, won't you say to the folks that I'm all right, and happy?

that I didn't suffer a great deal, had a pretty severe wound, got over that all right; went out from Petersburg. I was in the battle before Petersburg; got my discharge from there. Remember me kindly to Mr. Lord.

"Well, tell 'em as soon as I get the wheels a little greased up and in running order I'll come back with the good things, as I said I would, George W. Lolley. Good-bye."

Immediately after a "message" from the spirit of John Morgan, the guerrilla, came one from Charles Talbot, who began as follows with a curious apostrophe to his predecessor:

"Hi-yah! old grisly. It's lucky for you I didn't get in ahead of you.

"I am Charlie Talbot, of Chambersburg, Pa. Was wounded in action, captured by the Rebels, and 'died on their hands' as they say of the horse."

It seems a little rude for one "spirit" to term another "Old Grisly;"

but such may be the style of compliment prevailing in the spirit-world.

Here is what Brother Klink said:

"John Klink, of the Twenty-fifth South Carolina. I want to open communication with Thomas Lefar, Charleston, S. C. I am deucedly ignorant about this coming back--dead railroad--business. It's new business to me, as I suppose it will be to some of you when you travel this way. Say I will do the best I can to communicate with my friends, if they will give me an opportunity. I desire Mr. Lefar to send my letter to my family when he receives it--he knows where they are--and then report to this office.

"Good night, afternoon or morning, I don't know which. I walked out at Petersburg."

Here is a message from George W. Gage, with some of the questions which he answered:

"[How do you like your new home?] First rate. I likes--heigho!--I likes to come here, for they clears all the truck away before you get round, and fix up so you can talk right off. [Wasn't you a medium?] No, Sir; I wasn't afraid, though; nor my mother ain't, either. Oh, I knew about it; I knew before I come to die, about it.

My mother told me about it. I knew I'd be a woman when I come here, too. [Did you?] Yes, sir; my mother told me, and said I musn't be afraid. Oh, I don't likes that, but I likes to come.

"I forgot, Sir; my mother's deaf, and always had to holler. That gentleman says folks ain't deaf here."

The observable points are first that he seems to have excused his "hollering" by the habits consequent upon his mother's deafness. The "hollering" consisted of unusually heavy thumping, I suppose. But the second point is of far greater interest. George intimates that he has changed his "sect," and become a woman! For this important alteration his good mother had prepared his mind. This style of thing will not seem so strange if we consider that some men become old women before they die!

Here is another case of feminification and rest.i.tution combined. Hans Von Vleet has become a vrow--what you may call a female Dutchman! It has always been claimed that women are purer and better than men; and accordingly we see that as soon as Hans became a woman he insisted on his widow's returning to a Jew two thousand dollars that naughty Hans had "Christianed" the poor Hebrew out of. But let Hans tell his own story:

"I was Hans Von Vleet ven I vas here. I vas Von Vleet here; I is one vrow now. I is one vrow ven I comes back; I vas no vrow ven I vas here (alluding to the fact that he was temporarily occupying the form of our medium.) I wish you to know that I first live in Harlem, State of New York. Ven I vos here, I take something I had no right to take, something that no belongs to me. I takes something; I takes two thousand dollars that was no my own; that's what I come back to say about. I first have some dealings with one Jew; that's what you call him. He likes to Jew me, and I likes to Christian him. I belongs to the Dutch Reform Church. (Do you think you were a good member?) Vell, I vas. I believes in the creed; I takes the sacrament; I lives up to it outside. I no lives up to it inside, I suppose. (How do you find yourself now, Hans?) Vell, I finds myself--vell, I don't know; I not feel very happy. Ven I comes to the spirit-land, I first meet that Jew's brother, and he tells me, 'Hans, you mus go back and makes some right with my brother.' So I comes here.

"I vants my vrow, what I left in Harlem, to takes that two tousand dollars and gives it back to that Jew's vrow. That's what I came for to-day, Sir. (Has your vrow got it?) Vell, my vrow has got it in a tin box. Ven I first go, I takes the money, I gives it to my vrow, and she takes care of it. Now I vants my vrow to give that two tousand dollars to that Jew's vrow.

"(How do you spell your name?) The vrow knows how to spell. (Hans Von Vleet.) There's a something you cross in it. The vrow spells the rest. Ah, that's wrong; you makes a blunder. Its V. not F.

That's like all vrows. (Do all vrows make blunders?) Vell, I don't know; all do sometimes, I suppose. (Didn't you like vrows here?) Oh, vell, I likes 'em sometimes. I likes mine own vrow. I not likes to be a vrow myself. (Don't the clothes fit?) Ah, vell, I suppose they fits, but I not likes to wear what not becomes me."

It is scarcely necessary to make comments on such horrible nonsense as this. I may recur to the subject in future, should it appear expedient.

At present I must drop the subject of female men.

At the head of the "Message Department" is a standing advertis.e.m.e.nt, which reads as follows:

"Our free circles are held at No. 158 Washington street, Room No. 4 (up stairs,) on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The circle-room will be open for visitors at two o'clock; services commence at precisely three o'clock, after which time no one will be admitted. Donations solicited."

On the days and at the hour mentioned in the above advertis.e.m.e.nt, quite an audience a.s.sembles to hear the messages Mrs. C. may have to deliver.

If a stranger present should request a message from one of his spirit-friends, he would be told that a large number of spirits were seeking to communicate through that "instrument," and each must await his turn! Having read obituary notices in the files of old newspapers, and the published list of those recently killed in battle, the medium has data for any number of "messages." She talks in the style that she imagines the person whom she attempts to personate would use, being one of the doctrines of spiritualism that a person's character and feelings are not changed by death. To make the humbug more complete, she narrates imaginary incidents, a.s.serting them to have occurred in the earth-experience of the spirit who purports to have possession of her at the same time she is speaking. Mediums in various parts of the country furnish her with the names of and facts relative to different deceased people of their acquaintance, and those names and facts are used by her in supplying the "Message Department" of the "Banner of Light."

If the a.s.sumed "mediumship" of this woman was not an imposture, some of the many people who have visited her for the purpose of getting communications from their spirit-friends would have been gratified. In most of the "messages" published in the Banner, the spirits purporting to give them, express a great desire to have their mortal friends receive them; but those mortals who seek to obtain through Mrs. Conant satisfactory messages from their spirit-friends, are not gratified--the medium not being posted. The mediums are as much opposed to "new tests"

as a non-committal politician.

Time and again have leading spiritualists, in various parts of the country, indorsed as "spiritual manifestations," what was subsequently proved to be an imposture.

Several years ago, a man by the name of Paine created a great sensation in Worcester, Ma.s.s., by causing a table to move "without contact," he claiming that it was done by spirits through his "mediumship." He subsequently came to New York, and exhibited the "manifestation" at the house of a spiritualist--where he boarded--in the upper part of the city. A great many spiritualists and not a few "skeptics" went to see his performance. Paine was a very soft-spoken, "good sort of a fellow,"