' ' 77/; »^
 
 TWIXT TWO WORLDS: 
 
 9 Jl3arrat(tje of 
 
 The Life and IVork of IVilliam Eglintott, 
 
 JOHN S. FARMER, 
 
 AUTHOR or "A NF.W IIASIS OF nF.I.IEF IN IMMORTALITY." 
 'HOW TO INVF,STIGATE SI'IRITLIALISM," "EX ORIENTF, l.UX," ETC., ETC. 
 
 LONDON: 
 THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESS, 16, CRAVEN STREET, STRAND. 
 
 1886.
 
 PRINTED BV 
 HA^ELl., WATSON, AND VINF.V, I.I 
 LONDON AND AYLESHURV.
 
 
 In conpliance with current copyrigjit 
 
 law. U.C. Library Bindery prcxiuced 
 
 this replacement volune on paper 
 
 that meets the ANSI Standard 739 48. 
 
 1984 to replace the irreparably 
 
 deteriorated original 
 
 19% 

 
 SRLf 
 URL 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. Early Life and Development as a Psychic i 
 
 II. Early Professional MEniuMsiiip 5 
 
 III. The "Blackburn Stances" 8 
 
 IV. Work in London, the Provinces, and Abroad 14 
 
 V. Remarkable Stances at Malvern 21 
 
 VI. Private Stances and Spiritualism at Home 30 
 
 VII. .South African Experiences 42 
 
 VIII, The Story of a Haunting Spirit 50 
 
 IX. Scientific Invf.stioation on the Continent 58 
 
 X. Drawinos and Writings Produced hv Arnormai. Means. Casts from Mai kriai isi;d Hands . . 69 
 
 XI. American Experiences 85 
 
 XII. Visit to India 8g 
 
 XIII. The Royal Family and Spiritualism — Psychography Explained 98 
 
 XIV. General Testimony to Psychography no 
 
 XV. "Brought to Book" 139 
 
 XVI. Evidence for Independent Mind-action in Psychography 154 
 
 XVII. On Materialisations and Apparitions Formed with the Medium in Full View .... 163 
 
 XVIII. Phases of Opposition. Spiritualism and Art. A Problem for Conjurers 184 
 
 XIX. Conclusion 19a 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 9- 
 10. 
 II. 
 12. 
 '3. 
 
 14. 
 
 15- 
 16. 
 
 PACK 
 
 Portrait Etching of Mr. Eglintoii . . Fronlisfiecc 
 
 Knots Tied in .in Endless Cord .... 34 
 
 A Novel Test 38 
 
 Plan of the Garden Aizwc^. . ... -39 
 
 Dr. Hutchinson's Dial 44 
 
 A Direct Drawing 7° 
 
 Writing with Ink on a Card inside a Closed and 
 
 Weighted Book 71 
 
 Specimens of Direct Writing 73 
 
 Direct Drawing and Writing 74 
 
 A Direct Drawing Executed in Total Darkness . . 75 
 
 Writing produced under an Inverted Tumbler . . 91 
 
 Plan of Shnce Room in Calcutta .... 96 
 
 A Direct Drawing 100 
 
 Ground Plan of Mr. Eglinton's St'ance Room at Old 
 
 Quebec Street .103 
 
 Table used by Mr. Eglinton, and Mode of Holding 
 
 the Slate for Simple Experiments .... 104 
 Method of Obtaining the Writing when the Slate is 
 
 held by Mr. Eglinton and the Sitter . . . 105 
 Method of Obtaining the Writing between two Slates 
 
 held over the Table 106 
 
 17. Method of Obtaining Writing when the Slates are 
 
 tied and held over the Head of one of the .Sitters . 
 
 18. Obtaining Writing under an Inverted Tumbler . 
 
 19. Reduced Facsimile of Recognised Psychogra|ih 
 
 Writing ...... 
 
 20. Handwriting of Mr. Eglinton .... 
 
 21. Handwriting of Dr. Nichols' Daughter 
 
 22. Facsimile of Direct Writing, reduced one fourth 
 
 23. Facsimile of Direct Slate Writing obtained in M 
 
 Adshead's presence ..... 
 
 24. Exact Reproduction of Direct Writing on a Card 
 
 25. Exact Reproduction of Direct Drawing on a Card 
 
 26. Direct Writing on a .Slate 
 
 27. Message Written between the Slates when Resting on 
 
 the Shoulder of the Sitter .... 
 
 28. Facsimile of Direct Writing obtained in Broad Day 
 
 light 
 
 29. Direct Writing obtained under an Inverted Tumbler 
 
 30. Dr. Herschell's Fenestrated Slate 
 
 31. Plan of 5(4jnf<' Room ..... 
 
 32. Plan of Stance Room ..... 
 Portrait of Mr. W. Eglintoii .... 
 
 107 
 108 
 
 114 
 "5 
 "S 
 
 120 
 
 1 25 
 
 132 
 
 «33 
 135 
 
 '37 
 
 149 
 150 
 152 
 170 
 177 
 188 
 
 CHROMO LITHOGRAPHS. 
 
 PAOB 
 
 Plate I. Spirit Lights To face 25 
 
 ,, II. A Materialised Hand .... ,,48 
 
 ,, III. A Miniature Hand .... ,,72 
 
 ,, IV. Facsimile of Direct Writing in Four Colours ,, 97 
 
 PACK 
 
 Plate V. Materialisation, ist St.ige . . To face 121 
 
 ,, VI. Materialisation, 2n(l Stage . . ,. 144 
 
 ,, VII. Materialisation, 3rd .St.age . . ,, 169 
 
 ,, VIII. An Apparition Formed in Full View ,, 192
 
 Co 
 
 CHARLES BLACKBURN 
 
 THIS VOLUME IS I NSC Kill EI) 
 liY THE AUTHOR 
 
 AS A si.ic.iir ackno\vi.ei)(;m1':n r of iiie many sicr vices 
 
 HE HAS U END EKE I) TO THE CAUSE OF 
 
 MdDl'RN SPIRITUALISM IN KNGI.ANl).
 
 TWIXT TWO WORLDS. 
 
 CHy\PTER 1. 
 
 EARLY l.llT. AXD DFJ'KLOPMENT AS A rSYCIIlC. 
 
 !l.i.!AI\I KCWJNTON (or Willie as lie is fainilinrly railed by his rri.'mls) was b,,rii 
 nil till- lOth of July, 1.S57, ill Isliiii;tun, near the New River, a imw densely 
 populated quarter of the Metropolis, but at that time almost open nmiitry. 
 rhe family (ni the lather's side is Scotch, and through John Mdutgnmerie, 
 of Bridgend, who died about 1630, a descent can be traced i'rom the Mont- 
 gomeries of Ayr. His mother, a Miss Wyse, came of a family, some mcnibers 
 o' which have held important official positions in the City of London. 
 
 His early life was spent at school. Though extremely imaginative, dreamy, and sensitive, 
 and, as a boy, passionate and iiot-tempercd to a degree, no indications of the wonderful 
 pow-r which afterwards developed itself were noticed. He recollects nothing himself, nor as 
 far as cm be ascertained, is any member of his family aware (.f abnormal phenomena having 
 oc( mil d in Willie's presence. 
 
 Hi- education was a limited one, being purely commercial, and it ended just when most 
 hovs -.ni commencing their studies in earnest. l'"rom school he passed into the welM<no\\n 
 piiMi^hing house of a relative- to K arii the business of a ])rintir and publisher ; hut, owiny 
 I' I Ins a^sociatioll with .Spiritualism, his connection in this capacity' was of short duration 
 
 Willie's religious trainint; was practically uil. His father in early life had renounced 
 (■hM-.li.inity, and had become an Agnostic. On the other hand, his mother was distinguished 
 l.y a swret, gentle piety, and " between the two," he writes, " 1 was jjuzzled both ways, 
 ail'! V as practically left to solve the problems of life and religious teaching for myself, the 
 ivsiilt being the acceptance of materialistic notions, and the doctrine of total aiinihilatiou." 
 
 \>ry early in life were the principles he had adopted brought to the test of experience 
 in the ]ia.ssing away of his mother in July, 1873, her remains being consigned to their 
 leslini; )>lace on his birthday. Mors janua vitcv ; and so it proved to be in the present case. 
 Wiiiiiu; ..f the event, he says: "The loss to me was irreparable; for she was my only friend 
 ,uid counsellor. She left a void which has never been filled." This bereavement seems to
 
 2 ' Tzvixt Two Worlds. 
 
 have stirred liini to more earnest thought and action, and to a deeper sense of the reality 
 of hfe. He now began to take a more active interest in endeavouring to fathom the truth 
 of the \arious dogmas, with tlie result that Atheism seemed to him the most rational. A 
 poor result maybe, but he was in the right track, for he iiad begun to tliiiik. The mischief 
 is not that people believe this or that doctrine, or profess this or that faith ; it is rather 
 that they are indiilerent and apathetic, and will not think at all about these things. There 
 is hope for the former, but very little for those who imbibe their religion as mechanically 
 as they do the air they breathe. 
 
 At this time he was, in company with his father, an occasional attendant at the services 
 held by Mr. Charles Bradlaugh at the Hall of Science, becoming more than ever prejudiced 
 against everything and everybody Christian. In this place, however, he was destined to receive 
 the first impetus to a career in which he would be fighting in defence of what was then 
 intolerable to him ; and little did he think that, through his own marvellous but latent gifts, 
 he would be able to deal deadly blows to the miserable doctrine of annihilation. So it was 
 to be, however. 
 
 It was in February, 1874, that a discussion on Spiritualism took place at the Hall of 
 Science between Dr. Sexton and Mr. Foote, the former defending the latter's attack. Dr. 
 Sexton, it should be observed, had himself been converted from Atheism through Spiritualism. 
 Willie Eglinton relates his impressions as follows: — "I had never heard the word Spiritualism 
 mentioned before, and was full of eager inquiries about it. My father attended this discussion 
 with some friends, as also did I with some young companions. The place was densely 
 packed, and hundreds had to be refused admission. I remember that when Dr. Sexton ap- 
 peared he was but slightly cheered compared with Mr. Foote, owing, as I then supposed, 
 to the weakiiess of the Spiritualistic party. I can but own that I felt a slight feeling of awe 
 creep over me when Dr. Sexton began to address the audience, because my scant informa- 
 tion had led me to expect that in his presence chairs and tables would float about. This 
 slmwcd my utter ignorance of the subject." 
 
 In the course of jiis debate, Dr. Sexton advised all persons wishing to test the truth 
 of Spiritualism to try in their own homes by themselves rather than with a professional 
 medium. Willie's father, who was never a bigot, thought this sensible advice, ajid cnsulting 
 a friend (Mr. John Davis, who has himself since become a Spiritualist, and whose family 
 subsequently developed remarkable psychical powers), they agreed to buy a book of rules and 
 try that very night to see "if there was anything in it." 
 
 A home circle was formed, and, conforming with the conditions laid down in the book of 
 rules, chapters from the Bible were read, and hymns were sung-" proceedings," remarks Willie 
 Eghnton in his description of what took place, "quite unprecedented in our family circle 
 I refused to join them, on the plea that 'it was all humbug, thus setting myself up as an 
 authority upon a subject of which 1 knew nothing." Who has r.ot done the same ? 
 
 1 he others sat patiently for two hours, awaiting manifestations, but in vain. Not discouraged by 
 tins la.lure, it was agreed to sit again and again, and give the subject a fair trial. Seven or eight 
 evenmgs were passed in endeavouring to obtain proofs of the existence of some spiritual power, but 
 "on.- uere fortluonung. To show his feelings on the matter, Willie fixed upon the door of the seance 
 r..o„, large cards, upon which were written, " There are lunatics confined here; thev uill be shortly
 
 /urr/y Life and Dcvelopiiioil as a Psychic. 3 
 
 let loose; highly- dangiious," etc., etc. 'I'liis so far oHeiKled his father, that lir was tuhl i.ilher to Join 
 the circle, or leave the house during the investigation. He elected the former alternative; and, ui\(U r 
 protest, cnkred the sc'diicr room. 1 now contiiiUL- in his own words: — "My manm f, previous to 
 doing so, was that ol' a bo}' full of fun ; but as soon as I found myself in the presence of the- ' in(|uirers,' 
 a strange and ni3-sterious feeling came over me, which I could not shake olT. I sat down at the table, 
 determined that if anything hajipened / would put a stop to it ! Something did happen, hut I was 
 powerless to prevent it. 1 he table began to show signs of life and vigour ; it suildiid)' rose olf 
 the ground, and steadily raised itself in the air, until wc had to stand to icaeh it. This was in hdl 
 gaslight. It afterwards answered, intelligent!}', questions which were put to it, and gave a nundx r of 
 li si Cdiiimunications to jiersons present. The next evening saw us eagerl}' sitting for lintlur maiii- 
 lestatii'iis, anil with a larger circle, for the news had got witlely spreail that we had ' seen ghosts and 
 l.ilki c! (o them,' together with similar reports. After wc had read the customary prayei', I 
 I I ni((l to be no longer of this earth. A most ecstatic feeling came over me, and I ])resenlly passed 
 inlip a liance. All my friends were novices in the matter, and tried various means to restore me, 
 luit witliiiut result. At the end of half an hour I returned to consciousness, feeling a strong desire to 
 ii l.ipsi- into the former condition. We had communications which proved conclusively, to my mind, 
 lb, it tin spirit of my mother had really returned tons. Even u])on the hypothesis that we anil our 
 li ii lids \'.ere conspiring together to delude each other, as is too commonly suggested nowadaj's by 
 ni;ni\, the internal evidence containiil in the messages was suflieient to convince me ol the presence of 
 some al'iiormal power which could tell us of things only known to 'the dead' and ourselves. 1 he 
 \aiiniis theories of ' elementals,' 'astral bodies,' and 'shells' had not then been propounded to perplex 
 .iiicl coiilbund, and I readily accepted as proved the fact that those who had passed beyond this life 
 could and did connnunicate with us. I then began to realise how mistaken — Imw utterly empty and 
 iiiispiritnal — had been my past life, and I felt a pleasure indescribable in knowing, beyond a doubt, 
 thai those who had passed from earth could return again, and prove the immortality of the soul. In 
 tin (nii( tness of our family circle, only broken by the admission of friends to witness the marvellous 
 nianil'c si.itions, we enjoyed, to the full extent, our communion with the departed ; and many are the 
 happy hours I have spent in this way." 
 
 rrei|uent seances were also held with a professional trance medium. .Xbout this time Mr. llaxby, 
 afterwards well-known as an excellent physical medium, and who died a few years ago, joined the 
 circle, and began to develop strongly his mediumistic faculties. 
 
 A n-w months after the first sc'aiicc, stronger phenomena gradually developed, and instruction and 
 guidnni' were given by a spirit who gave the name of "Joey Sandy," and who has since become one 
 of tif |>iincipal directors at all Mr. Eglinton's sfV7«C(?s. The latter says: — "To his honesty and fidelity 
 I owe the success I have met with both in public and private, while his vivacious disposition and 
 eoiiunon sense have rendered him a general favourite." 
 
 1, as well as many others, can confirm this estimate of "Joey Sandy's" character and work. I 
 have ev( I found him willing and patient in his endeavours to bring home to earnest inquirers the 
 tnitli cf Sjiiritualism. I have learnt, after a long experience of his ways and objects, to respect him 
 .1^ a lii. n, and to esteem him most highly for his work's sake. Ever faithful and true, "Joey 
 Sandv" will never be eflaced from the memory of thousands who owe to him what has proved an 
 inestimable blessing. 
 
 "lunest," another of Mr. Eglinton's "guides," or instructors, as I prefer to say, caim- tn him
 
 4 ' TwLvi Tzvo IVorlds. 
 
 about eighteen months after the advent of "Joey Sandy." His sober common-sense, intelligence, 
 and kindness, have made him respected by all, and too high a tribute cannot be paid to so good 
 and noble a spirit. 
 
 Apropos of the estimation in which this co-worker of Mr. Eglinton was held, even in 
 1876, when he first began to manifest strongly, a writer in the Rt'ligio-Philosophical Joitnial 
 thus speaks of him : — " When ' Ernest ' gives us some of his calm, well-expressed advice, 
 delivered in words of earnest feeling, or when he tenderly commits us to the care of guardian 
 angels, invoking blessings upon us, the voice causes our very hearts to swell in soft responsive 
 affection ; and it would be impossible to ascribe a voice so full of the human feeling gained 
 through a long life of experience, and such vicissitudes as human existence always brings, to an 
 elementary. No; we feel it is a man before us, a spirit rich in the love of humanity, long- 
 suffering, patient, calm above luiman weakness by self-conquest, and a very angel of mercy and 
 beneficence to mortals." 
 
 To this many a heart comforted through his ministry will say "y^men." Only those who 
 have come into these intimate relations, born of mutual confidence and trust, can conceive the 
 weight of the evidence so ungrudgingly given in favour of the survival of the soul after death. 
 Critical acumen is of immense service in psychical research, but to pass beyond even the 
 threshold of the inquiry one needs something more, hence the failure of many investigators. 
 But to those who unite with a critical eye the sympathetic mind, all the things of the spirit are 
 possible, and no trouble is too great, no proof too much to ask of the invisible workers. I 
 acknowledge with deep gratitude my personal indebtedness to Mr. Eglinton's guides, and hope 
 that placing on record my firm conviction of the cause of so much failure may open up the right 
 path to others. 
 
 A variety of phases of mediumship were subsequently developed — trance, healing, and clair- 
 voyance — and finally materialisations were obtained ; not with a cabinet or darkened room, but in 
 the moonlight, while all sat round the table. At these times Mr. Eglinton was invariably conscious, 
 and the figure of his motlier generally appeared, radiant, and transcendently beautiful, "and looking," 
 he says, "more as we imagine spirits to be than any I have since seen, and they are not a few. 
 I was induced to sit in the dark for manifestations by a friend of mine, who had been to a seance 
 with a professional medium, and who gave a wonderful account of what had taken place. After I 
 did this the really spiriliial seances we had been having seemed to leave us, and in their steatl we 
 obtained the rough physical phenomena so common to all dark seances." 
 
 It is a matter for deep regret tliat these dark cabinet seances have played so important a part 
 in the history of Spiritualism. Why they were introduced at all seems a mystery, as no more 
 potent source of error or perplexity could possibly have been devised. Happily at the present 
 time they relate to a state of things, let us hope, passed away for ever. More rational and 
 sounder methods now obtain, to the advantage of all concerned. Eortunately, Mr. Eglinton steadily 
 set his face against them, and though, in deference to the wishes of others, and the exigences of 
 circumstances, he has occasionally sat in this way, yet it was always distasteful to him, and his 
 best results have ever been ohlaineil under the auspices of better conditi.ins.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 EARLY PROFESSfOX.lL MEDH 'MSI II r 
 
 IIL powers of Mr. Egliiiton's iiu.-diuiiislii|) having now attrnt'tL'il public altriition, 
 
 he received lumierous applications for scuuccs, i)ut lie .steadily resisted for a long 
 
 time all cfTorts to induce him to become a professional medium. I I<)we\er, after 
 
 having given a large number of sconces to his friends, he found the strain in 
 
 following his business and giving sittings at the same time was proving too much 
 
 for him, and, after a rather severe illness, he resisted the calls of the public no 
 
 longr but entered upon his career as a professional medium. Personally he now regards this step 
 
 3s an injudicious one, as thereby all his prospects in life have been di'stniycd. I hope events 
 
 will yet falsify Mr. Eglinton's fears on this point. 
 
 One of the earliest of these .Sfrtz/rrs is recorded in The Mcdiuiii for September, 1875, and again 
 in r)ct<:)ber and succeeding months. About this time he became acquainted with Mrs. Catherine 
 Wocidforde, who was then giving "developing" seances, and to her and Mrs. I5rcwcrton he owes 
 much for their kindly advice and support. In Mrs. Woodforde's rooms he conimenced a series 
 of must successful sittings, and at the same time his equally remai-kable prc.ifessiunal career. At 
 till end of the same year (1875) several seances were given to the Dalston Association of 
 Spii itualists, of which society he was afterwards made an honorary member. Perhaps one of the 
 earliest sittings on record in England for plaster casts took place with him in januar}', 1876, 
 when, at the residence of Mrs. Woodfordc, several moulds were obtained, including that of a face. 
 
 In January, 1876, another successful series of seances was given, this time tn the llri.xton 
 Psychological Society, under the presidency of Mr. Desmond Fitzgerald, M.I.Tel.E., and these 
 vvcie followed in quick succession by others. The first scaiicc held by him at the house of Mrs. 
 Macdiiugal Gregory, whose intimate friendship he enjoyed fioni that time until she passed from 
 oui midst in May, 1885, took place in February, 1876, and was fully reported in the Spiii/nalis/, 
 ol March 3rd. There were present Sir Garnet (now Viscount) Wolseley, the Hon. Mrs. Ci)wper- 
 i'emple (now Lady Mount-Temple), Mr. A. Joy, the \'iscountess Avonmore, General Brewster, 
 C'.ipl.iin James, and others. Most striking results were obtained, but as in the matter of evidence 
 I sull' 1 from an entbarras dc ricltcsse, I shall have to pass b}' many ca.scs with only a bare 
 mention. At this time he first came in contact with Mr. Iknjamin Coleman, a long-to-be- 
 remembered pioneei- and supporter of Spiritualism in England, and Mr. Charles Blackburn, of 
 Blackburn Park, Didsbury, Manchester. 
 
 It needs no words of mine to emphasise the services so freely and spontaneously rendered to
 
 ' Twixt Tu<o Worlds. 
 
 Spiritiialibiii by Mr. BlacUburn. As a matter of fact, the movement is indebted to him more 
 than many 'ipiriliialists dream of— especially the new generation of inquirers and investigators. 
 For years Mr. ISiacUburn has spent him.self, his time, and his resources, in furliiering the cause 
 of spiritual research. Hardly a mediinn can be named who has not experienced his fostering 
 care, and whose gifts, but for him, would never have been carefully e.xannned and usefully applied. 
 Nor is the literature of the movement less indebted to him. For a long time he contributed 
 hidtilmls of pounds yearly to the support of the Spiritnaliit newspaper, and in numerous other 
 ways has he watered and tended the growth of what he believed would, if carefully guided, 
 prove one of humanity's greatest blessings. I hope Mr. Blackburn will forgive these allusions to 
 what 1 know he himself regards as of little account, but for the sake of histoiical accuracy it is 
 desirable that the facts should be made known. 
 
 Mr. Blackburn united a wise discretion with unbounded generosity in his work for 
 Spiritualism. He clearly saw the great need of Spiritualism at that time, as now, was 
 systematic research, and with tjiis i:nd m \iew he arranged for a series of e.\periiiiental 
 scdiurs with various mediinns. TiieHe took place at the rooms of the British National Association 
 of Spiritualists at 3.S, Gieat Kusscll Street, Bloomsbury, and were known as the "Blackburn 
 sc'ainrs." Mr. Kglinton was amongst the mediums engaged, and the first seance took place in 
 March, 1876. Important results were obtained at these sittings. They were given before a 
 committee of the B.N.A.S., and taking place as they did in the light, they were much appreciated 
 owing to tlie extreme difficulty existing at that time of obtaining other phenomena than those 
 occinring at dark seances. Mrs. Marie Neville, the wife of George Neville, the well-known 
 actor, writing in the Spiriliialist, for March 17th, 1876, testifies that these daylight seances 
 were a great step in advance. She further expressed an opinion that these conditions should 
 be encotnaged in every way as likely to be satisfactory to inquirers, adding that " Mr. 
 Eglinton's courtesy and willingness to submit to any proposed test cannot be too strongly 
 commented upon." 
 
 At one of these seances he met another life-long friend and tried worker in Spiritualism, 
 Mf. Dawson Rogers. Mr. Rogers, in the Spiritualist, for March 24th, 1876, gives a very 
 interesting account of the manifestations witnessed by him, and concludes his report by saying, 
 " 1 will only add my belief that all present had the most implicit confidence in the genuineness 
 of the manifestations." Amongst those present on the occasion were the Rev. W. Miall, the 
 Rev. \V. Newbould, and other well-known Spiritualists. 
 
 On March 21st, 1876, Mr. Kglinton held another seance at Mrs. Gregory's, at 21, Green Street, 
 W. He there met I)r, Kenealy, M.P., who was, if not then a Spiritualist, very much interested 
 in the subject. A frequent correspondence ensued, and as instancing how thoroughly Dr. Kenealy 
 believed in the Claimant up to the day of his death, I may mention that, in one of the advocate's 
 letters to Mr. Eglinton, after expressing his wonder and belief in the phenomena of Spiritualism, 
 he adds a characteristic note, " Anniversary of poor Tichborne's conviction." 
 
 It should be specially remembered that from this time (March, 1876), down to the year 
 1883, Mr. Eglinton never gave a single sitting on his own premises. This fact entiiely cuts 
 the gromul from under the feet of those who ignorantly assert that mediums can only obtain 
 results in a pi-e|iared room of their own. 
 
 Seance followed seance in rapid succession, and Mr. Eglinton was kept fully employed.
 
 Farly Profcssioiia/ RTcdiiimsIiip. 
 
 As showing the iniptrssidn licing made upon thi- public — cspccinllv \\w nitical expert 
 investigators — it is pleasing t(j read in tlie SpiiilKalist oi" May 1 2th, I S76, tiint "the test 
 manifestations witli Mr. KgMnton are of great value, not because other mediums may not 
 obtain equally conclusive results, but because, in his case, they have been observed and 
 recorded by good critical witnesses, whose testimony will carry weight witii the public ; 
 all mediums should seek to get their test results thus verified." How strong and conclusive 
 the testimony in regard to Mr. Eglinton's mcdiumship was, to wiiich the editor here refers, 
 will be seen when I come to deal with the general results of these experimental sraiiccs of 
 Mr. Blackburn's. 
 
 -^■^^
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE "BLACKBURN SEANCES.' 
 
 S already mentioned, these experimental scaiiccs were, for the most part, held 
 at the rooms of the late British National Association of Spiritualists, 38, 
 Great Russell Street, with various mediums. The results obtained were 
 valuable, and marked a distinct advance in our knowledge of occult science. 
 Mr. Eglinton contributed not a little towards this end ; indeed, more sc'anres 
 were held with him, as medium, than with any other, while the records of 
 that period speak in no measured terms of the uniformly satisfactory conditions observed at his 
 sittings. As an e.xample of the impression given to those who came in contact with him one 
 instance will suffice. Writing in the Spiriltialist of December 2:znd, 1876, Mr. W. Newton, 
 F.R.G.S., in summing up a few of the results of a fairly good seance says: — "All were im[iressed 
 with a conviction of the thoroughly genuine nature of the phenomena, and it is unnatural to 
 suppose that fourteen individuals keenly set upon preventing fraud, should, at the same time, 
 deliberately meet for the purpose of imposing on each other a mutual delusion." A week or so 
 later {SpiritiialiAl, January 5th, 1877) he adds, "The value of these sittings is great to those 
 who desire evidence of physical power external to the medium ; whilst the readiness of Mr. 
 I'lgliiiton to submit at all times to the most stringent and frecjuently soiiK-what uncomlortable 
 conditions, lu.-lito tu confirm the conviction of his thorough honesty induced by observance .il tin 
 plunnnuna which occur in his presence." Similar testimony was borne in many other (|ii ntt is, 
 but one other must suflice. The Secretary of the B.N.A.S. Experimental Research Committee, 
 when summarising the results of these sittings, incidentally says, " Those who have 
 attended the scries of sconces .... have reason to thank Mr. Eglinton for his thorough sincerity, 
 simplicity, and cordiality. . . . The orderly manner in which the seances have been conducted, 
 the strict yet simple tests imposed, and the facilities given to strangers to satisfy themselves 
 of the l/ond fide nature of the manifestations, have had lasting and beneficial results." Testimony 
 like this, often repeated, was one of the few gleams of light at an exceptionally gloomy period 
 in the history of Spiritualism. The whole movement was passing through a crisis. Mediums were 
 being assailed on every side from without, and, in some cases, from within the mo\'cment. 
 "Exposures" were thick in tlie air. Mr. Lawrence had been sentenced to three months' 
 impri-sonmenl, as al>() had Mr. Slade, whose sentence, however, was quashed un appeal. Later 
 Dr. Monk was sentenced to the same term at I luddersfield. Fortunately Mr. Eglinton e-,raped ■
 
 The " Blaiklniri! Scant I'x!' () 
 
 and though oftt-ii thixatriu-d since, he \y.\-^ not _vet in that le^lieet he<n eallcd to hear the 
 martyr's cross. 
 
 I he lihiridiurn sta/nrs consisted of thiee scries of twelve sittings each, and extended over a 
 period of upwards of nine months (1S76). Between eighty and ninety iiuiuircrs were admitted 
 iixe of cliarge, many of whom attended more than onee, a large percentage ultimately be- 
 coming mcmheis of the Association, '{"hcsc sraiiccs were for the most jiart held in the light — a 
 leature of Mr. Kglinton's mediumship which time has oidy strengtliened. A characteristic sc'aitcc 
 is described by Miss Kislingbury and Dr. Carter 131al<e (Doc. Sc, and Lecturer on Anatomy 
 at Westminster Hospital) in tile Spinliialisl for May 1 2th, 1876, amongst those present being 
 Mr and Mrs. Desmond Fitzgerald, Mr. J. Romanes, F.R.S., Captain RoUeston, and Mr. Ilensleigli 
 Wedguood, J. P. for Middlesex. On this occasion "Mr. I'.glintoii's coat sleeves were sewn 
 Mgeth' r behind his back near the wrist with strong white cotton ; the tying connnittet- tlu-ii 
 iH'inid him in his chair, passing the tape round his neck, and placed him close behind the 
 (lutaiii (oi the cabinet) facing the company, with his knees and feet in sight. A small round 
 table, with various objects upon it, was placed before the medium outsitle the cabinet and 
 in \\f\\ of the sitters; the little stringed instrument, known as the Oxford chimes, was laid 
 iuMitid across his knees, and a book and hand-bell were placed upon it. In a few moments 
 Ihi- strings were played upon, though no visible hand was touching them ; the book, the front 
 of \\iii(h was turned towards the sitters, opened and shut (this w'as repeated a great number 
 111 tiiHi >, so that all ]iresent saw the experiment unmistakably); and the hand-bell was rung 
 iV.ini within, that is without being raised from the board. The musical box placed near the 
 iiulain, but fully in sight, was stopped and set going, while the lid remained shut. Fingers, 
 and at times a whole hand, were now and then protruded through the curtain. An instant after 
 oni- of these had ajipeared. Captain Rollcston was requested to thrust his arm through the 
 cntriln, and ascertain whether the tying and sewing were as at first. He satisfied himself that 
 tiny well , and the same testimony was given by another gentleman later on. This was the 
 first part of the seance. Mr. Eglinton was released from his bonds, and it was founil that 
 the nuisries of his arms were in a cramped condition from the constrained attitude he had been 
 ('•rcid til maintain. As all the sitters expressed their opinion that tlie manifestations were beyond 
 I doubt genuine and coinincing, it was agreed that a second short sitting should be held without 
 putting the medium into bonds. Mr. Eglinton sat, however, so close behind the curtain that 
 that on oi'c occasion, wlien a large bare foot had been protruded, the sitters nearest the cabinet 
 drew bark the curtain, with "Joey's" permission, and showed Mr. Eglinton asleep oi- entranced, 
 with his boots on his feet. Something like a face appeared between the curtains, i)ut some of 
 us were not at all sure about it. 'Joey' asked for paper and pencil, and in another moment 
 handed the paper out of the side window of the cabinet, with the word Evuc J. S. in Greek 
 characteis upon it. 'Joey' explained that he meant to express by this his Joy that some friend 
 in the I abinet had succeeded in materialising a face." 
 
 These experiments were often repeated and similar satisfactory results obtained. In the 
 .s/i,n/ii(i/i>/ for May 19th, 1S76, Mr. Desmond Fitzgerald, M.I.Tel.E., reports a very marvellous 
 sraiiee held in the light. There were also present on that occasion Mr. Robert Wyld, LE.D. 
 (I'.din.) ; Mr. Alexander Tod, of Peebles ; M. de \'eh, aiul others. The nudiuni was 
 similarly .secured, his wrists and neck being, in addition, tied to the chair, and lastly the frei 
 
 2
 
 lo ' T-a'ixl 'J\'o ITor/ih 
 
 end of tlic tape used for tlic last mentioned purpose was passed tlirough an aprrUirc in tiie 
 cabinet, so tliat Dr. Wyld might hold it in his hand. The feet were placed upon a liasbock, 
 the curtains of the cabinet being so drawn as to leave the feet and knees exposed to liie view 
 of those present. A stringetl musical instrument was placetl on his lap constituting a kintl ol 
 table, on which was placed a book and a hand-bell. The gas was then lowered, and 
 Mr. Fitzgerald thus narrates what took place : — -" In about half an hour the book was distinctly 
 and repeatedly seen to open and close up again. Then a hnger was seen in pro.xiniity to the 
 book ; and, in a short time afterwards, a hand was several times protruded between the curtains. 
 'Joey' now requested that someone should come forward and ascertain, iinnu-diately after a 
 hantl had been shown, whether the medium w.is still seciuvd as at first. This challenge was 
 taken up by Dr. Wyld and I\lr. CoUingwood." This test is an important one for investigators, 
 and Mr. Fit/.gerald happily requested Dr. Robert Wyld and Mr. j. F. CoUingwood to give their 
 testimony. This they freely did, and signed the following brief statements: — "()n two occasions 
 immediately after seeing the 'spirit' hand protruded from the cabinet, I examined Mr. ICglinton's 
 bonds and found them perfectly secure. (Signed), R. S. Wvld, M.D." The other ran, " 1 also, 
 on one occasion elid the same. (Signed), j. F. Coli.ingwoou." i\Ir. Fitzgerald continues: — 
 " Miss Kislingbury then asked ' joey ' whether Dr. Wyld could be allowed to stand behind 
 the mediLuii, inside the cabinet, whilst the materialised hand was shown to the sitters outside. 
 This inquiry was answered in the affirmative ; and, accordingly. Dr. Wyld entered the cabinet, 
 and took up a position behind the mediLun, who moaned and shivered as though 'power' were 
 being drawn from him to an unusual extent. In relation to this test, I obtained tlie following 
 very brief but suflicient testimony, bearing in mind the value of evidence obtained on the spot 
 and at the time :— ' We saw the hand whilst Dr. Wyld was in the cabinet. G. de Veh, Fllen 
 Potts, E. Kislingbury, E. Fitzgerald.' Dr. Wyld also expressed himself as being perfectly 
 satisfied with the test. Some of the sitters did not very distinctly see the hand on th'is 
 occasion, by reason of others pressing forward towards the cabinet. After a break a second 
 seance was held, at which the medium sat unbound, with his feet and legs in view. Under 
 these conditions a foot was protruded between the curtains of the cabinet, being distinctly seeu 
 by M. de Vi:h, Mr. Tod, and Mrs. Fitzgerald, and less distinctly by the other sitters, including 
 myself." 
 
 On other occasions (Spirilualist, June 9th), notwithstanding the testing being somewhat 
 dilferent, equally good results followed. Mrs. Wiseman, i, Orme Square, Palace Gardens, W., 
 describes the facts, and is supported in her testimony by Mrs. E. T. Chaplin ; indeed, the reports 
 of all tiiese seances were, as far as the facts are concerned, officially endorsed by all |)rescnt, 
 and whatever might be the special theories adopted by individual members to explain them' 
 there was no question as to their supernormal character as far as the medium was cmcerned'. 
 
 Mrs. Wiseman says :— " The wrists of the medium's coat sleeves were sewed securely to 
 the knees of his trousers, and he was tied round the waist to the back of his chair. A bell 
 and a stringed musical instnnnent were placed on the ground behind him in the cabinet and 
 the curtams drawn, leaving his hands and knees in full view. The ^as was lowered and i,i 
 ten or lltteen minutes ' a voice ' from the cabinet, said to be that of Mr. Eglint.m's e.mtrolling 
 spirit, greeted the company, asking the names of the strangers. Mr. Tapp introduced me, when 
 the voice said, 'I know Mrs. Wiseman; I am very glad to see her and h.r friend.' Mr. Ta,,,,
 
 1 lie " Blackbiiiii SrntiCiS." i i 
 
 llicn ask.il him t" do sdiiutliiiig for up. lie answered, ' \\c will do wliat wc ran, Init tlif 
 
 iiicijiiini is not will; wr wish to do souk tiling new. Start the musieal box.' I'his being done, 
 
 an attempt to l;er|i time witli it upon the stringed instrument in the eabinet was made. Faces 
 
 were -seen by two or three of the eompan}- between the curtains, wliirli at tiiis time wi-re 
 
 opened about a foot by unseen hands, which also held them ajiart. I'iie most sceptical could 
 
 not deny that tiie hands and knees of the medium were at the same time distinctly ^(-en. 
 
 Tlie next manii'cstation of intere.st was a light w]\icb seemed to proceed from the palms of 
 
 the m( dium's hands ; one o'i tlic j'arty .said it was a handkerchief, which it somewhat resembled 
 
 in (. >rm. To me it appeared in substance like a fleecy cloud, undulating for a few seconds; 
 
 I III II it was dinwu liack under tiie medium's chair, and at tiic same time it was fading away. 
 
 yM'ter :i short jjrcak the bauds of the medium were tied cunningly togetiier, and be was placed 
 
 in a calico bag, which was sewn up tightly to bis throat ; lie was then re-scatcd in his chair, 
 
 i ' ■urtains were drawn. The spirit asked that a pair of black gloves might be laid upon 
 
 ' lahle in front of the cabinet. This was done by a stranger, Mr. Terrell, who, as wag 
 
 • Is found, had [uovided tiiem for a special test, wbicii he bad only mentioned to 
 
 li- 1 slingbin-y, before entering the s^caticc room. The spirit then asked for matches 'that 
 
 I :id " smell,' and some sealing wax. Taking these from Mr. Tapp, he ob.scrved, ' I hope we 
 
 •hi' urn the medium.'- Presently wc heard several attempts to strike a ligbt, two of which 
 
 ■eessful, showing tbrougli the ciu'tains that tb'- liglit was under the medium's chair, 
 
 ,i .ill foot from the ground. After this a book was placed, by 'joey's' request, on 
 
 ?ir I ' nton's knees, and was distinctly seen by all present to op(-n and shut several times. 
 
 '. , !■ ' lie entranced medium was released from the bag, we lonnd the black gloves on his hands, 
 
 I "illoned, and dabbled with sc-aling wax. The matches and wax were foiuid at the feet of the 
 
 iVU'l'imi, inside the bag." 
 
 "^li-;-, Kislingbiiry adds: — "In reference to the black gloves, 1 may add that when Mr. Terrell 
 
 1 \\> whether be should be allowed to impose his own test, I replied tliat I did not know, 
 
 :'i ' m.idi' no further uu.ntion of it; the gloves were not mentioned in the cii'de until the 
 
 ; ' iiii=e1f asked for them. Neither the nnxlium nor any one present but mvself and 
 
 .: 1,11, and probably bis friend, knew anything of the proposed glove test." 
 
 1 !• re weie also present besides Mrs. Wisctnau, Mrs. Cha[)lin, and Miss Kislingbury, 
 Cai't'iiii James, late of the gotb Light Infantry, Baron von Dirckinck-I lolmfeld, Mr. 'T. Terrell, 
 M. I ,S. Morris, Mrs. Mackinnon, Mr. F. Napier, I,t. R.N., Mr. R. Stock, I.t. R.N., 
 ' i' (",. R. 'Tajip, on behalf of the saiiicr Conmiittee of the Associatii.m. 
 
 'ir;r details with reference to a similar savur appeared in the Spiii/ita/is/ for June l6th, 
 |S;'.. ' lie medium's coat sleeves were sewn to his knees, and were thus placed in lull \iew of all 
 pp i I I No "spirit" bands were projected onthis occasion, the presiding intelligence explaining 
 ih-M il r-st was an unusually severe one, as the substance with which the sjiirit hand is 
 , I, lip. I ord( r to render it \isible to ordinary mortal \ision has to be abstracted IVom the 
 
 i. I :.i ic medium, and that this exceedingly subtle chemical jiidccss is carried on with far 
 mure diflii nlty in the ligbt, and under the eye of man, than in the still darkness of the 
 rinsed cabinet. 
 
 At till next scaiirr, however, it was suggested by the spirit that the same lest should be 
 liiicl .ig.-iin, as he was ambitiniis of accomplishing the feat; he fuither remaiked that he and
 
 I 2 ' Twixt Tivo M'^or/ds. 
 
 liis niediiini were niiicli iiulrbtcd to the managers of tliese samccs for allowing and encouraging 
 new manifestations undt.r stiiit test conditions ; they were somewhat tedious to develop, but 
 were of the greatest henilit to tlie cause. 
 
 Miss Kislingbury says : — " 'I'lie efforts were attended with success. Hands came out 
 freely at the height of a foot or more above the medium's hands ; also several times at the 
 side of the curtain ; to which facts Dr. Carter Blake, who sat nearest the corner of the cabinet, 
 gives testimony: 'When Mr. Kglinton's hands were sewn to his knees, and in view of tiie circle, 
 a naked right hand and arm, to above the elbow-joint, was seen by me through the crevice of 
 the curtains; and tliat this hand, after ringing the toy-gong, placed it in my own hand. The 
 arm seemed to proceed from a body behind Mr. Eglinton, and his right hand sewn to his knee 
 was seen by nie and others at the same time.' " 
 
 The toy-gong is a little instrument with a whistle at one end, and something resembling 
 a gong at the other, which a friend brought in just before the scaiicc began. Mr. Eglinton wa;5 
 seen to make convulsive movements with his arms and legs during these proceedings, and was; 
 heard to breathe deeply, but his hamis were never out of sight of the sitters ; and tlie sewing, 
 which had been done bj' I\li-. C'ollingwood very cftectuallj', was fjuiul intact when an interval was 
 ordered. 
 
 The second test was quite as satisfactory' as the hrst, and altugethrr no\\:l. Mr. ICglinton's 
 coat-sleeves were sewn together, and to his coat behind his liack ; the coat was also sewn together 
 in front near the throat, this time by Miss CoUingwood, who was the greatest stranger present. 
 The following attestation explains what took place under these conditions : — " We, the 
 undersigned, entered the cabinet during the si'aiicc with Mr. Eglinton, and stood behind him 
 during several minutes. In this period of time, according to the statement of the sitters outside, 
 hands were seen, and several objects were moved about b}' these hands, which we certify were 
 not those of the medium, since we satisfied ourselves on this point by keeping our hands on 
 his shoulders during the occurrence of the phenomena. (Signed), C. Fitzgerald, 19, Cambridge 
 Street, Hyde Park, W. ; John J.\mes, Tottenham; M.vrion Cdm-INgwood." Miss CUingwood alsr, 
 placed her hand.s, i)y request, on Mr. Eglinton's head while the above was taking place. 
 
 The olijccts which were moved by the hand, or hands, were placed on the little stringed 
 iiisliunuiit known as the O.xford chimes, which was laid inverted on Mr. Eglinton's knees. The 
 strings of this were struck at times, and a book which was placed upon it was opened and shut 
 repeatedly. Sometimes a hand was seen to touch the book; sometimes it appeared to open and 
 
 shut alone. In any case, the hands were not Mr. Eglinton's hands, as is proved below : 
 
 "We, the undersigned, entered the cabinet in which Mr. Eglinton was seated, examined the 
 sewing which secured the medium's hands behind his back, and found it intact, hiiincdiatcly 
 before ami after this examination various phenomena occurred, and hands were exhibited at the 
 aperture of the cabinet. (Signed), Marion CoLLiNGwoon ; Emmeline Coi.lingwood," 
 
 Amongst those present were Mrs. Fitzgerald, Captain James, Mr. R. Pearcc, Signor Pizzi, 
 Mr. j. Sparrow, Mi's. Lewis, Mr. J. F. CoUingwood, Miss E. CoUingwood, Miss A. M. Collingwo..d, 
 Dr. C. Carter Blake, Mr. D. Fitzgerald, on behalf of the seance committee of the National 
 Association of Spiritualists, and Miss Kislingbury. All concurred in the verdict of •' quite 
 satisfactor}'." 
 
 1 have only space f.r another case. It is related by Dr. Carter Blake, and is specially
 
 The " niackhuni Si'a 
 
 iirrs. 
 
 I 
 
 LMiiliniud hy Mr. A. A. M.iy. it oLTiirrci-l at the tlosi.; of tlicsc sc.iiio's, at a meeting 
 wliicli was devoted to the repetition of experiments previously rondiicted. Dr. Blake says: — 
 " I'hc iiu-diinii's hands were firmly sewn to his trousers' knees, and plaeed outside the curtain 
 in view of all the company. After a short time, the voice of 'Jney' heing heard, hands were 
 shown at the aperture above the level of the medium's hands which were still in view, and 
 a hand was ]irojccted to a distance of more than eight inches from the limits of the medium's 
 elbows ; it ninved the curtain fmcibl}-, and subseciucntly rolled it u]i from the corner triwards 
 Mr. Fcjlinton, showing nothing behind the curtain. With permission I, who was sitting at the 
 1^1 iKi- of the cabinet, to Mr. Eglinton':^ left, placed my iiand therein, when it was clasped by 
 an Mlijcct resembling two fingers and a thumb, the annulus and minimus fingers iieing absent. 
 1 hi- hand was distinctly a r/^'/// hniul. The cm'tain being ai;ain drawn towaids the niedinm, 1 
 d'^tiniily saw a whole light hand lying transversely across Mr. Kglinton's ferearu'. A lady then 
 enl' T' <l the cabinet and ^tatccl to me that she saw a hand projected in an u|nvard direction from 
 Mr. I' gliiiton's knees. l)uring that time, bands were several times fi-eely projected froni the 
 .ipeituie. At the second pait of the si'(7)icr Mr. ICglinton's hands were sewn Ixbind his back to 
 bis Coat. The ' O.xfiird chimes ' being placed on his knee, and a book ]ilaced on them, the 
 leave- of the book were often lifted, on one occasion a hand being seen lifting the cover and 
 leaii - of the book in front of the medium, and with the ciutains tightlj' drawn and jiinned 
 bitwei'i his mouth and tin- book. The sc'amr shortly afterwards broke up, leaving upon the 
 mind of the visitors the conviction that the experiment (previously witnessed through Mr. 
 I'igliuton's mediumship) of showing two visible and tangible hands, one being his own and one 
 being similar to his own, had been well and exactly repeated." 
 
 Few, except the hypercritical, will be disposed to question the value of such evidence, 
 rill- methods were sound, and the results do not rest upiin a single experiment. The facts 
 v.crc in many instances repeated, and results obtained at one srniirr verified over and over 
 again al subsequent meetings.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 IVORK IN LONDON, THE PROVINCES, AND ABROAD. 
 
 intervals, during tiic progress of tlicse sittings for experimental research, 
 Mr. iLgiinton visited various pnivincial ti>wns, giving seances with more or 
 less sucecss. In May, 1876, lie went to Manchester, causing a good deal of 
 kyL?ic»5av?^ iMii- controversy and promoting inquiry. The following month Southsea was 
 gto^SiSSr^" \isited, remarkable phenomena occurring in his presence whilst there. The 
 results were recorded in the spiritual and local press at the time by the 
 Rev. T. Colley (now Archdeacon Colley). On one occasion (Spirititalist, June 2nd, 1876), 
 he says of the levitation of solid objects in the light : — " We have just had a remarkable 
 sitting with Mr. Kglinton, round a very small table, in light sufficient to see one another, our 
 hands in view. Our circle was composed of three ladies, a clergyman, and a medical gentleman. 
 The direct voice of ' Joey,' the spirit, spoke to us, and a spectral hand was seen to take up 
 a roll of paper and Ooat it about, touching one and another, and afterwards to take it out of 
 the circle, and let it fall on the dining-table. Then it was suddenly snatched up, and lightly 
 ' chastised ' us, startling us not a little, for it was a strange sight to see an inanimate object: 
 behaving in such a way ; the medium's hands were in full view on the tal)le. The musical 
 bo.N was levitated a little. The medium was next entranced, and carried by invisible power 
 over the table several times, the heels of his boots being made to touch the head of our 
 medical friend. Then he was taken to tlie further en<l of the diiiiiig-niom, and linally, after 
 iii-ing lillrd abi.iit as a thing (jf no wiigllt what(;\-i'r, was depc. sited (|uiell\' in his i liaii'. It 
 was a strange matter to witness, and made us fearful lest the in.wer .shoiild fail, and the 
 niedium fall." 
 
 Tin- medical gentleman referred to is Dr. Malcolm, and at one of the recent Conversaziones 
 of the l.nn<l.in Spiritualist Alliance, after an interval of nine years, Mr. Kglinton was much 
 gratified to k-ain fnjm Mrs. Malcolm that their experience at this time had been the means 
 of converting them to a belief which bad been tenaciously held ever since. " Cast thy bread 
 upon the waters, and it shall return to you after many days," has been the experience of 
 the subject of my narrative as regards hundreds with whom he has, at various limes, C(.me in 
 contact. 
 
 After a lu;ivy s(.'ason of hard woi k he took a well-earned rust in the West (.f iLu-laiul. 
 Going on to I'lymouth in a professional capacity, he gave si-aiurs for ni.wards (,f three
 
 Jf^orA- in Loudon, tlic Provinces, and Abroad. 15 
 
 weeks wilh the in..st pnin..uiia-d succi-s-;. " \\wx -l-avrv," the well-kiiMwn West of England 
 coiTcsp. indent, wlin had hcccinc a mnviTl at nne ..f tlie eailier sittin.us, wiote in the ll'^cs/cni 
 Mnnm/n- A'avs ol" July jStli, iSyG, that, althon-li " -it-at dili.Tcnoc <,( opiniun prevailed as 
 til the cause (if these unnileiTul niaiiilestatimis, and snnie talked va-uely aluuit ciuiniini^ aiul 
 wiles, all weie hnund U< admit that they cunld not possibly lind any elue to the ' tricks.' 
 • ■ • • 'I Ml'- l\i,diiiton is a conjurer, he is undoubtedly one ol' the very cleverest who 
 c\|| lived. . . . Maskelyui' and Cook are not a p.il.h upon Mr. li-liuton. I he l^uvptian 
 n.ill exposure of Spiritualism is mere child's play compared with wliat we wilne.s.sed." 
 
 A lout,' editorial report of his fcancrs was inserted in the Devon/tor/ /ik/i/hih/iiiI, and 
 cans.-d much discussion from their .sensational character. At these sittings he had the pleasure 
 ol mutiny the Rev. T. l.emon, a gentleman who has since t.dcen a most active interest in 
 ih' movement in the West of England. 
 
 '^altash in ('ornwall was the ne.\t resting-place. Sroinr^ were given at the hou.se of Mr. 
 Suell, the friend and coadjutor ol Mr. lirunell, the famous engineer. 'i'lie former hail long 
 been ,1 Spiritualist, and used to obtain powerl'ul physical phenomena in his own I'amily. 
 
 \t Torquay he was entertained by Mr. Glynn, of Abbey Road, one of the kindesldiearted 
 of men, and an old and sincere Spiritualist, who passed away in 1S78, deeply regretted. His 
 dau'ihtcr. Miss Cdynn, recorded in the .Mniinni the results obtaim d at the si'aiicc.s held in her 
 f.ither's house, the most notewortli}' feature of these being, perhaps, the lirst instance of " tlircct 
 willing" ))roduced in sight of all the sitters. In the Mcdiinn of September 1st, 1876, occurs 
 IIk; following from Miss Glynn's pen : — " We imposed the same conditions as last time, vi;:., 
 hi Idiiig Mr. Eglinton's hands firndy, and turning the light down so as to enable us to see 
 I mi another distinctly. We had sat some five or tt'ii minutes when something seemeil to 
 l:d-,e up the pencil and begin writing, which continued for li\e' or si.\ minutes. The paper 
 was afterwards put into my hands, and on looking at it, 1 inuiul that the sheet of jiaijer 
 contained si.x verses of poetry, descriptive of my departure from home (I was about to leave 
 lionie). This poetry was written, as I before stated, ir pencil, before our \eiy eyes, and the 
 wilting is so small that only one who has good ej'esight can read it. At the bottom was 
 a font-note, written by 'Joey' (one cannot mistake his writing), with the words, 'To Nellie 
 on lier departure from home' — and in the corner was a portrait in pencil of 'Joey.'" 
 
 Miss Glynn also gives a characteristic account of the materialisation |)hi nonii na then oi-cur- 
 ling through Mr. Eglinton's mcdiumship. She says {Mcdiitiii, August ^jtli, 187OJ; — "1 atleiuled 
 t .' o i.r three sc'niices at some friends' houses, and was greatly impressed with the extraordinary 
 phi M lucna, but still 1 did not feel thoroughly satisfied until I had a sitting at our own house. 
 The seance on the evening in question was attended by my father, brotlua-, I'rieinl, and self 
 (ni.it Spiritualists). We sat round a small table. Joining hands, and the liglit was turned down 
 Io\\ . Almost immediately we heard loud raps all over the room, in airswer to questions put 
 \>\ II . Mr. Egliiiton by this time became unconscious (or in a trance state). ^Ve had not 
 sat above five minutes before we heard 'Joey' speaking in the direct voice, but as yet, to 
 my mind, this is a doubtful manifestation, which I must investigate further before believing. 
 Not that I cast any doubts upon the voice, but whether he s]ieaks through Mr. Egliiiton 
 or not 1 cannot as yet determine. l'"ollowing the voice, we were suddenly startled and not 
 a Utile amazed by seeing a shatlowy form pass between Mr. Egliiiton and myself'. My father
 
 1 6 "Twixt Two IVor/ds. 
 
 laiu^iiig I)}' the appL-arancc and t'caturLS ol' the spirit that it was his dcceasL-d inotiicr, asked 
 if it was so, ami tiie iniinediatc reply was ' Yes,' b}' three raps on the floor. Whilst she 
 was in I'ull \ie\v df us, another and smaller form came between the other spirit-lorm and 
 myself, wlumi 1 immediately recognised by questions which I asked him, and which 1 after- 
 wards saw was a brother whom I had lost twelve or thirteen years ago. Now, seeing these 
 two forms with Mr. Eglinton by my side, and his hands being held also, was most convincing 
 to my mind, for the conditions under which Mr. Eglinton sat utterly precluded the idea of 
 any trickery or conjuring on his part. To see and recognise two of my dearest relatives, 
 whom I had thought never again to see in this life, was naturally touching to me, and I 
 honestly aflirni that my scepticism at this point entirely vanished. The forms faded from tiur 
 view, and all was quietness for some few minutes. We were startled from our lethargy by 
 hearing the noble and manl}' voice of Mr. Eglinton's chief guide ' Ernest.' He took up the 
 tube and spoke in a most impressive manner through it, coming round to each of us, and 
 giving us an excellent address and splendid advice as to our future conduct in this life." 
 These experiences were also repeated on, other occasions. 
 
 In consequence of these and other equally' successful seances, [niblic opinion was much 
 aroused in opposition ; so much so, indeed, that the local clergy felt it to be their duty to 
 warn their congregations against the wiles and snares laid for them by the devil through his 
 vicegerent, Mr. Eglinton. The usual result followed. Defenders sprang up ; inquiry was 
 promoted ; and an impetus given to Spiritualism not otherwise possible. 
 
 Returning to London for a time to resume the Blackburn seances, he, in October, went 
 to Merthyr Tydvil. Seances were given at the residences of in([uirers, amongst whom was 
 Mr. J. T. Docton, 2, High Street. This gentleman sent a long report to the Medium, from 
 which the following is extracted: — "The next form to appear was that of a lady. She 
 announced herself as being ' Mrs Eglinton,' the mother of the medium, and in stift but 
 impressive accents she thanked my wife for the care and kindness she had shown to her 
 son. With a ' God bless you ' she wished us adieu, and retired to the cabinet ; and it was 
 then we experienced the beauty of spirit communion, for we heard the mother invoking in 
 solemn prayer heaven's choicest blessing and guidance over her (then) entranced son. The 
 next iorm to apiiear was that of a man at least live feet ten inches in height, and of a very 
 powerful build. He came towards us with a quick and heavy step, so heavy that the floor 
 shook with his tread. ' Why, this is Captain Harding ; we knew him well,' was the instan- 
 taneous and conmion expression of all the sitters, to which exclamation he gave his assent by 
 three loud raps with his knuckles on the table. He gave a hearty shake ol the hand to 
 one of the company, and then left us. Directly he had reached the cabinet he sang out, 
 in a voice like thunder, ' Eight bells, Docton,' addressing my brother. This materialisation 
 was a very remarkable one, for it was beautifully complete, tall, powerful,— majestic in appear- 
 ance, its features distinct and life-like, and consequently was instantly recognised, and, as a 
 test, was satisfactory, for the somewhat stale insinuations of the sceptics that materialisations 
 are only 'make-ups' of the medium will avail nothing in this case. Mr. Eglinton being 
 scarcely hve feet seven inches in height, it would be somewhat dillicult for him to increase his 
 height at least three inches, and even when that is done he uuist borrow a face and head 
 ol some one before he could have been recognised in a good light the instant he emerged
 
 iJ'or/: in Loiiiioii, tlic l^ioviincs, and .llnoixd. \f 
 
 liuni lliL cabinet as ('aiitaiii I larding, a man wlioin I and oihrrs nC the ccinipanN' had known 
 for years." 
 
 Here, as in other places, a good deal of interest was aroused, the ll'is/rni Mail pnl)lisli- 
 ing amongst its reports a long and fair article, entitled "A Cave of M3stery at Mcrtiiyr." 
 Swansea w'as the next place chosen, and success was also attained here, but it was accom- 
 panied with endless abuse. The Slade case was then being tried and populai- feeling ran high. 
 
 From Swansea he returned to London for further seances with the B.N.A.S. In a 
 report of a council meeting which appeared in the Daily Tclcgrapli of October loth, 1876, 
 it is stat((l tliat " the Scientific Research C,"ominittee ha<l obtained direct s|iirit writing under 
 absolute test conditions through the mediumship of Mr. \V. Eglinton." 
 
 A visit to Malvern ensued, his advent at this place giving rise to much opposition and 
 critieisi'i. The editor of the Malvern Ncivs, in a long article of two columns, gave an inipaitial 
 account of some striking phenomena he had witnessed, subsequently dealing w'ith the question 
 in a long leader pleading for free inquiry. 
 
 U was during this his first visit to Malvern that he met under tlie fillowing soine- 
 wiiat ])eeuliar circumstances, Mrs. Mary S. G. Nichols. Mrs. Wilkes, authoress of " Ur of 
 the C'haldees," and an old friend of Mr. ICglinton's, was staying with Mrs. Nichols at the 
 lime. I'.ut as they were all vegetarians his friend was hardly in a position to entertain 
 him. Ibr desire to see liini, however, overcame her scruples, and, smuggling him in, a very 
 pleasant day was spent, he being regaled with good things not altogether in the order of 
 vegetarianism. Mrs. Nichols, who had known of Mr. Eglinton's presence in Malvern, hearing 
 (.1 his visit from the servants, sent for him late the same evening, and her acquaintance 
 as well as that of Dr. Nichols, was made close upon midnight. Writing of this intercourse 
 and their subsequent friendship, Mr. Eglinton says: — "Her kind greeting and symiKithy with 
 uu' work attached me very much to her, and from that moment 1 found the truest and best 
 Irii nd I ever had in my life. She was a mother in very name to me. To her 1 consider 
 I owe the foundation of whatever there is of .good in me. Her inolheiiy care and guiding 
 hand, dining a residence with hei' of over si.x years, and an intimacy never once broki-n of 
 over ( iglit years, which lasted up to the day of her passing away, being very essential at 
 this period when 1 was just entering upon manhood. Her sjilendid qualities of mind, her 
 broadness of opinion, her largeness of heart, and, above all, her charity — I have frequently 
 known her to give her last penny to those in need — endeared her to every one with whom 
 she came in contact. She was a great sufferer during the latter period of her life, 
 having broken her leg in 1880, which was never properly set, the broken edges causing 
 exquisite agony ; in addition to which she was suffering from an internal complaint of which 
 not even her husband knew. Only / knew how much she suffered, and what she endured. 
 After an immensely useful life she passed away peacefully on the morning of May 30th, 1SS4, 
 and Dr. Nichols and I were the sole mourners at her burial on June 3rd, 1884." 
 
 In September, Mr. Eglinton received a very cordial invitation from the Oroniase Society 
 of Spiritualists at the Hague to pay them a lengthened visit; and arrangements being finally 
 made, he arrived there on the 29th October, and gave his first seance on the 30th. M. de 
 Bourbon (who claims to be the son of the Dauphin supposed to have died in the r( inple, 
 and therefore legal heir to the French throne) reports in the Medium (No\embir lutli, 1876): —
 
 '^ 'Tzuixi Two Worlds 
 
 " iMi-. \V. ICyliiUoii has arrived, and has made a good impression." Mi. A. J. Kiko, 
 will) has done so nuicii to promote the cause of Spirituahsm in Holland, I'avourab!}' reported 
 upon these seances, wliicli were attended by the e'liic of Dutch society. On tiie Jlh November 
 he \vent to Leyden University, and gave a most wonderful sitting to the students there: 
 their demonstrations after the success will long be remembered. He next went to Arnheim, 
 but he had not such good results as at other sittings ; the intense excitement the Slade 
 trial was everywhere causing unfavourably influencing the requisite harmonious conditions. 
 
 On his return to London from the Continent a series of non-professional seances were commenced 
 at the house of Mrs. Macdougal Gregory. This was in January, 1877. These gatherings were 
 attended by Sir Patrick and Lady Colquhoun, Lord Borthwick, Lady Jenkinson, the Rev. Maurice 
 Davies, D.D., Lady Archibald Campbell, Dr. AUmann, Sir William Fairfax, Lord and Lady Mount- 
 Temple, General Biewster, Sir Garnet (now Lord) and Lady Wolseley, Lord and Lady Avonmore, 
 Professor Blackie, and many others ; indeed, the little pied-a-lcrrc oft" Park Lane became a well- 
 known resort (jf distinguished members of society, and a centre iVoni which was diffused a know- 
 ledge of Spiritualism amongst the highest in the land. 
 
 Mr. W. 11. Harrison describes one of tliese seances in the Spin'liialist foi- l'ei)ruary Jjrd, 
 1>^77: — "Last IMonday evening ten or twelve friends sat round a large circular table, with tlicir 
 hands juined, under which conditions, Mr. W. Eglinton, the medium, was held on both sides;. 
 There w-ere no other persons in the room than those seated at the table. An expiring tire gave 
 a dim light, permitting only the outlines of objects to be visible. The medium sat at that part 
 ot the table which was nearest to the fire, consequently his back was to the light. A Inrm, of 
 the full proportions of a man, rose slowly from the floor to about the level of the edge of the 
 table ; it was about a foot behind the right elbow of the medium. The other nearest sitter w as 
 Mrs. Wiseman, of Orme Square, Bayswater. This form was covered with white drapery, but no 
 features were visible. As it was close to the fire, it could be seen distinctly by those near 
 it. It was observed by all who were so placed that the edge of the table or intervening sitters 
 did not cut off the view of the form ; thus it was observed by fovu" or five persons altogether, 
 and was not the result of subjective impressions. After rising to the level of the edge of the 
 tal)le, it sank downwards, antl was no nmre seen, having apparently exhausted all the iiowir. 
 Mr. Lglinton was in a strange house and in evening dress. Altogether it was a lest luanirestation 
 which could not have been pmduced by artificial means." 
 
 Mkss Chandos Leigh Hunt (granddaughter of Leigh llunl) ha<l some interesting e.xperiences 
 at this time, which she has recorded in the Mediitin. Did the exigencies t,f space allow, there is 
 much in these records which I should like to quote and allude to. A bare mention, li.iwever, 
 must suffice. They very pointedly illustrate the remarkable superiority of tlie phenomena when 
 conditi(jns are harmonious, and thereby form a striking contrast to the result obtained when these 
 are conspicuous only by their absence. 
 
 For a long time previous, fierce discussions had been carried on in the s|)iritual press as to 
 the real nature of these form-manifestations, some writers asserting that there was n., separate 
 individuality as between the medium and form. Alive to the necessitit-s of the case, Mr. ICglinton's 
 guides were not slow to satisfy earnest inquirers, and to show that whatever other theory might 
 be adduced with regard to these forms, it was clearly probable that medium and form were^'at 
 times abstiact and separate individualities. A case in point is that recorded by Dr. Carter ISIake,
 
 ll'or/.- in I.ondoii, the /'rovii/ccs, ami .\hioad. K) 
 
 ill the Spin/iia/is/ of April 6tli, 1877. At n si'mirr, nt wiiicii wciu picsciit, besides liiniself, Captain 
 Jnnies, Mr. .). F. Cnllin,-;w..(>(l, V.G.S., Mrs. Lewis, Mr. VV. H. Mawsoii, Mr. W. Culler, Mrs. liiirton 
 15urt(in, Mrs. 'leiiiiysdii Ker, and Mrs. and Miss Kalkiner, this fact was dearly denumslrated. " The 
 ni( (liuni, who wore blacU clothes, was placed loose in the cabinet, sitting on a chair, with his face 
 in a westerly direction. The curtains being closed, and the musical bo.K tinned on, a long white 
 figure, resembling that known as ' Abd-u-lah ' was seen at the centre of the curtain within one 
 niiiHite IVoui the time of the closing of the curtains. After a few more miiuites the form came out 
 and walked into the middle of the room, eight times in all. Tiic figure termed 'Joey' then appeared, 
 and stepped to the front of the cabinet, where, after retreating several times, he stooped down to 
 the ground, and covered his head with a fold of white drapery, lie then rose- up with the black 
 beard attached to the cheeks (but not chin) of 'Abd-ii-lah,' and stood up to a greater height than 
 that which the medium hinrself reaches. lie further i)icked up the light round table and held it 
 at arm's length above his head, trying (abortively) to place it on the top of the cabinet. After 
 some time, a reciucst was made by a lady and gentleman present that the medium and 
 ' Abd-u-lah ' should be shown together. To this request 'joey' acceded; and subsequently the 
 fulh.wing events took place: Mr. Eglinton sitting as before, the curtains were drawn, showing 
 the ligurc ' Abd-u-lah ' standing up near and in front of the wire screen ; and two patches of light 
 whi.h may be reasonably conjectured to have been Mr. Eglinton's face and left band at the level 
 whieli hJ would have occupied if he had been sitting in the chair. Ihis n,.t being, however, 
 ,H,fe.tl> clear to all, the form 'Abd-u-lah' took a step or two to its own proper right, keeping 
 l-Hv to face with Eglinton, who rose from his chair, and raised both his hands with what appeared 
 t,, be convulsive action. This time there was no doubt that it really was Eglinton standing up in 
 front ol, and about three and-a-half feet outside, the cabinet opposite to a form exceeding himself in 
 statin-,- and dressed in white. This was clearly seen by all present during an interval of time which 
 1 estimate as six minutes, and in what has been termed 'quarter gaslight.' Eglinton then sat down 
 in his , hair, and the form 'Abd-u-lah' appeared to vanish into Eglint..n, appearing to unite with him 
 ,,„„,. the breast. I then stepped into the cabinet, ascertained that Eglinton was thoroughly asleep, 
 r,lt,.,l him outside the cabinet, and examined the spot carefully. The voice called that of ' joey' 
 wis chattering around and about the walls of the cabinet all the time. Eglinton subsequently woke 
 u,, 1 consider this to have been the most remarkable scancr which 1 have seen in the presence 
 of Mr Eglinton, and to have been thoroughly conclusive to those present of his non-idcntity with 
 the form which is called 'Abd-u-lah.' It is the more remarkable, as on a previous occasion 
 some very slight manifestations took place, though the conditions were similar and .satisfactory." 
 
 On April 9th, 1877, Mr. Eglinton was invited by a "Mr. Fleming" to give a sramr at 22, 
 Finsbury Circus On going there he was surprised to find several priests. 'I hey insisted on 
 the most absurd conditions, with the result that no phenomena whatever were obtained. It was 
 afterwards discovered that this sitting had been arranged for the Rev. Canon C.ilbert, who subse- 
 quently made it the subject of an attack upon Spiritualism and Mr. flglinton, in a course of sermons 
 preached at St Mary's, Moorfields. Not only was he vulgarly abusive as regards Mr. Eghnton 
 in particular but he thundered forth all the fire of his artillery against Spiritualists and me.hums 
 in general It would be unprofitable to enter fully into all the details here and now: sulhce ,t to 
 say that his temper and methods were .so strongly disapproved, ami the opposition to lus diatribes 
 so pn.nonnced, that several ^ermons which he had annou.iced to deliver in the same couise were
 
 20 
 
 ' Twixt Two Worlds. 
 
 he congregation of tlie reverend prelate proved more liberal and just than tiie priest 
 
 abandoiK d. 
 himself. 
 
 '\\\v sc'ttiias given to Canon Gilbert seem to have had a prejudicial efl'ect upon Mr. I'^giintun's 
 health, lie became ailing, and after a short visit to Birmingham and Kingston, at the former of 
 which the seances were not of a satisfactory character, his health finally gave way, and culminated 
 on May 8th in a serious illness. All engagements had to be cancelled, and being invited by Dr. and 
 Mrs. Nichols to spend the summer at their pretty place at tiie foot of the Malvern Mills, he accord- 
 ingly left London for that town on June 2nd. He was so ill and altered in appearance that when 
 met by his friends at the station they failed to recognise him.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 REMARKABLE SEANCES AT MALVERN. 
 
 R. EGLINTON'S stay nt Malvern under the hospitable roof of Dr. and Mrs. Nichols 
 marks a new departure and distinct advance in the character and quality of his 
 mcdiumship. In their pleasant home on the hills, and under their skilful treatment, 
 .'y ^^tlMIl^^ ^- he soon recovered his usual health and strength. Then commenced a series 
 
 •'"• 1 . ■'7.r~"""T''\ of most remarkable manifestations. The events of this period have been so 
 
 caiclully and fully recorded by Dr. and Mrs. Nichols — both trained observers — that 1 prefer 
 tluii fresh unvarnished account to any second-hand summary that I might write, and, therefore, 
 give the narrative in their own words. It appeared in a series of letler.s in the Spiritiinlift, 
 extending from July to October, 1877. 
 
 On July ijtli, 1877, Dr. Nichols gives evidence as follows: — "Your readers are aware that 
 on the 2nd of June Willie Eglinton came to Aldwyn Tower, Malvern, very ill. lie was sd much 
 (linn'^i'd hy his illness, that when I met him at the Paddington station, I did not know him till 
 he ^poke to me. For two or three months he had not been able to sit for any manifestations, 
 in the last week of June he had so far recovered, that we had .some short but very satisfactory 
 sc'aiiccs, though the power was soon exhausted. On July 1st we had a sc'tiiicc undei- strict test 
 conditions, some account of which, I think, may be of interest. At our short sraiiccs the voice 
 of 'Joey' had been firm, distinct, and loud, and there was very acute intelligence. To ])rove that 
 the viiice was not that of the medium, Mrs. Nichols mi.xed some dark wine with watei', and Willii', 
 though in deep trance, filled his mouth full of this li(|ui(l. 1 turned olT the light, and 'Joey' 
 insl.uitly spoke in the best voice. I lighted the gas and the sleeping medium ejected the large 
 mouthful of wine and water into a basin. I then covered Willie's lips with gummed paper, which 
 I made adhere tightly to Ixith lips. The voice came firm and full the' moment tin- li^ht was 
 turned out. Quickly turning up the gas, I found the paper quite fast, and so dried that it was 
 difficult to remove it. After this we had some slate-writing in the usual way. These e.\i)erimcnts 
 were made in a small room, the door locked, and no one present but Mrs. Nichols and myself. 
 The ne.xt day we added another witness, a young officer of the English aiuiy. \Vc four sat round 
 a small table in the light. A large musical bo.x was placed under the table. Mrs. Nichols secured 
 Willie's feet, and all our feet were in contact. Mrs. Nichols held Willie's right hand, and Lieu- 
 tenant I held his left, and all our hands were joined. With feet and hands thus secured, the 
 
 musical box imder the table was wound up, and played, and stopped, and played again at our
 
 2 2 ' Txuixt Tuo Worlds. 
 
 ie(|iic.st. An^- luiiiibLT ol' notes were struck that \vc askccl lor. !■ irat three iiutcs, then iwu, 
 and so on, were struck as wc requested. 
 
 "Next day wc sat again. The voice of 'Joey' was heanl fnin ami full as wc turned nff the 
 light. It was sinuiltaneous with the darkness. After a little conversation we were allowed a faint 
 light. Mrs. Nichols held both Willie's hands in her right hand ; all the other hands were juined. 
 
 In this position, a hand appeared near to Willie, and went over to Lieutenant I , and touched 
 
 him in many places ; the musical box was opened, and a large slate was brought frcjm a distant 
 part o( the room, and thrown heavily upon the table, by the spirit hand. 
 
 " When tlie musical box was being played, and stopped, as wc requested, Mrs. Nichuls was 
 anxious to know how it was done. I suggested that 'Joey' stopped it, as one of us might have 
 done, with his finger. 'Joey' said that on this occasion he did so; but he said that when the 
 power was full, it was stopped by a wave of a force under his control, and could be done as well 
 when the box was shut as when open. We have now seen various test phenomena. In addition 
 to the above, in a brilliant light, and in the presence of another competent witness, we have had 
 slate-writing in the usual way, and wi'itiiig done under the table-cover upon the table. This 
 writing was in Clreek, Italian, anil French. Of these the medium knows only a little school I'^ench. 
 Hands have been formed in tnir sight, when all our hands have been joined, and we have 
 had gentle taps and hard blows from them. 'Joey' has played a good deal on a mouth organ, 
 and the music is very line, and would be creditable to any performer on this little instrument. 
 Though Willie Eglinton's health is not yet restored, he is much better, and in a reasonable 
 time we may hope to see him well. As it is, the manifestations could hardly be more satisfactor}', 
 though the seances are necessarily short. Mrs. Nichols is making careful records, and from time 
 to time Willie's friends shall hear of his progress in health, and of the resulting phenomena. The 
 pure air of Malvern seems to be as favourable to producing the phenomena, as it is to the health of 
 invalids. The very genial character of those who have taken part in the seances, their fairness, 
 and freedom from theories and preconceived opinions, and their obedience to the directions given 
 by the .spirits, all have conduced, we are told by 'Joey,' to our having the most satisfactory results. 
 I he tests we have used, the character of the phenomena, and the nature of the communications 
 have, I believe, perfectly satisfied all the six persons who have attended these seances of the perfect 
 good lailh of the medium, and the verity and importance of the manifestations." 
 
 Mrs. Nichols continues the narrative in the following letter published in the Spirilnalist : — 
 
 "The first materialisation seance that I ever attended was held in Malvern, with Willie 
 Eglinton as medium. A cabinet was improvised by hanging two shawls before a window recess. 
 Behind these Willie sat in an arm-chair. We had the light of one candle, shaded a little by 
 Dr. Nichols' hand. Our number was seven, including the medium— Dr. Nichols, Mrs. Nichols, 
 and four of our students, the eldest of whom was fifty-three, and the youngest twenty-five. All 
 seemed to possess the true requisites lor honest and careful inquiry. Our relation to cr.ch otiier 
 was especially harmonious. 
 
 "The first person who appeared was an infant, apparently about two years old. The 
 curtains formed from the shawls were apart, and the child stood in front of Willie, and very 
 near him. This form soon disappeared, and another came and walked firmly before the curtains, 
 which were now closed. This was a young Indian girl, who seemed about thirteen years old ; 
 she is called 'Daisy,' and is as well-known to Willie Kglinton and his friends as 'Joey' and
 
 Rcuiatkablc Scamcs at i^falvcru. 23 
 
 ' Lnicst.' 1 said, 'I wish slic would cinnc tci mc' I was silting on a sofa, a iittlt: rcniuvcd 
 from the wail. Siic cnnn- to the back of the s(pra, and stood there, a profusion of white drapery 
 lalling around her. She took my hand and audibly kissed it ; the hand was warm and soj't ; 
 she said in a low, hut distinct voice, ' 1 love you. I love the hand that gives.' 
 
 " Ilcr face was broad, and her features were those of the Red Indian of my country, many 
 of whom 1 have seen. 'I'lic draperj' had a hard feeling, though it was in appearance diaphanous 
 muslin ; 1 felt it as distinctly as possible. When Daisy disappeared, we were rcqucstctl to 
 extinguish the light. We did so, and soon we saw the head of a man, liglited up by a lamp, 
 held under the chin ; we saw nothing of the form, except tiie head, and a rather long, grey 
 beard. J'hc head came close to my face, and the dark eyes looked steadily into mine. I was 
 awed and distressed by a sight so strange, and I begged the person to go away from me. I'he 
 head went to a lad\- on the other side of the room, and kissed her forehead; she said it 
 belonged to her Inistiand, who had been four years deceased. After this wc were again allowed 
 our candle ; it lighted the room pretty well. Presently the head appeared again on a solid- 
 seeming form. The man was clothed in close-fitting white trousers and jacket, with no drapery; 
 he went to a centre table and moved it forward, as if to show that he could do so, and he 
 remained standing with his hands upon it. His wife sat on one side of the room, and 1 on 
 the other. He again came to me and looketi into my eyes, with his face very near to mine; 
 his e}es seemed to pierce mc. I begged him to go away. He went over to his wife at my 
 re<|ii. st, and again kissed her. After some miinitcs he went to the cabinet, put aside the 
 I Ml tains, entered, and we saw him no more. 
 
 "A day or two after this seance I was in Willie's room, when I heard raps on the 
 fnniitin-c. I put my hand on a small table near Willie, on which he laid his hand. i'lie 
 raps called for the alphabet, and 1 was told that Dr. J. B. Ferguson wished to hold a seance 
 with Willie and me, when he would materialise. In his earth-life he was our very dear and 
 intimate friend. We arranged a seance as before, with two shawls for a cabinet opening 
 as I in tains. 
 
 " I had said, after the first seance, that I wished to sec tin- medium and one of the forms 
 togetlH r. It was daytime, and we excluded the light, so that the room was |)ietly dai k ; we 
 could -ee forms distinctly, i)ut not features. Soon a tall man ajipi^ned. One ol the ladies 
 who sat beside me said she thought it was her husband, who was three inches over si.\ feet 
 in height in his lifetime. She had never seen materialisations, and the dim light made her 
 uneertain of the identity, though the form was like. On the expression of her doubt, the 
 form riossed the room to a front window; he raised the curtain, and let the light of day fall 
 full ni' 111 him ; the wife recognised him perfectly, and we were all entirely satisfied. After 
 thus showing himself, and bowing gracefully several times, he stood in front of us, and slowly 
 dematerialiscd, till there remained about twelve inches above his feet ; this seemed to snap 
 out at once, and all was gone. 
 
 "We were now allowed light enough to see the forms well. There was a heavy centre 
 table and easy chair before the sofa on which I sat, between two ladies. My friend, Di". 
 Ferguson, now ajtpeared, in exactly his own form and maimer — a tall, broad-chested man, 
 very erect and quick, and forcible in movement. He took up a large musical box, wouml 
 it up, and laid it d<iwii heavily ; he then moved the very heavy table away from before the
 
 24 'Tu'ixf Ti.'o Worlds. 
 
 sofa, aiui tlivw a licaxy arm-chair up in fruiit of me. He sat down in it, so near that he 
 ahiiost tdiiched nic. Every inoveiiieiU was in iiis own old manner. He has been in the 
 sjiirit woiKI six 3'ears. He t('(ii< my iiaiui, imt 1 felt sure he could not speak. He was 
 the dear friend of our daugiiler, who passed away nearly twelve years since, when he was in this 
 country with the Davenport Brothers and Mr. Fay. 
 
 " I said, ' Dr. Ferguson, is Willie here ? ' (our daughter's name was Wilhelmina, but 
 we always called her Willie). He rose, and went towards the cabinet, rapped three times, and 
 disappeared. Our daughter came forward from the place where he disappeared, a slight girl 
 clothed in white, her golden hair flowing over her shoulders. She crossed the room, came close 
 to me, anti knelt before me; she took my hand, and audibly kissed it. She remained a little 
 time kncL'ling, tlun rose, antl went towards the cabinet and disappeared. 
 
 "'joe3',' now came, and took a musical box and wound it up; he niade it go, and stop, 
 at the Wdid of Command. He talked volubly; he put the musical box in my lap, and kissed 
 the top of ui}' head ; he passed from one to another, with cheerful words for all. After a time 
 the jKAver became less, from the swinging open of the curtains of the improvised cabinet. 
 'Joey' said, "l want a pin.' He looked about the room, and found a box of pins on the 
 mantel-shelf; he took one, remarking that he might not have power to pin the shawls 
 together ; he, however, succeeded, still holding the box of pins in his hand. ' I must put 
 this back again,' he said ; ' a place for everything, and everything in its place. I like 
 to see things tidy.' He crossed the room, and laid the pin-box on the mantel-shelf. He then 
 disappeared, and the sonorous voice of ' Ernest ' was heard saying, ' Mrs. Nichols, you said 
 you would like to see a form and our medium at the same time.' ' I did say so,' I replied, 
 ' but 1 have seen enough not to need such a test.' ' But we wish to give it,' said ' Ernest.' 
 After a brief interval the medium came from behind the curtains, and stood before us, 
 with a slight girl form beside him, that we were told v/as the young Indian girl 'Daisy.' 
 This was the last manifestation of the evening." 
 
 The next two letters are by Dr. Nichols : — 
 
 "As the health of Willie Eglinton improves, the 'power' for manifestations seems to 
 increase. But, until his health is iirmly established, his 'guides' firmly refuse to enlarge the 
 circle, and rarely admit any one outside our family, even of the inmates of Aldvvyn Tower, 
 without due probation and preparation. ' Joey ' is peremptory. He watches over the diet, 
 regimen, treatment, morals, and manners of those under his charge with fidelity and discretion. 
 
 " .\ll our seances are under test conditions. They are held in a small upper room in 
 my own house, with its one door locked, and its one window, thirty feet from the ground, 
 fastened. The number of persons present never exceeds six, all of whom I know intimately. 
 I know pretty accurately what can be done by sleight of hand, ventriloquism, ' palmistry or 
 otherwise.' 
 
 "It is clear that darkness is not dark to 'Joey.' To prove this, he proposed that I 
 should draw something on paper for him to cut out. I drew on a small piece of paper an 
 obelisk on its pedestal, and wrote on it, 'Sacred to the Memory of "Joey,"' and placed it, with 
 a pair of scissors, on the mantelpiece. While all hands were joined, we heard him by the 
 fire-place cutting with the scissors. He said, 'There, I have partly cut out my monument; 
 I will finish it some other time.' In the perfect darkness he had followed the outline about
 
 M 
 
 Z cr
 
 kcmarkahlc Si'aiuts a/ .i/a/icni. 2^ 
 
 l\\u-iliii,|s ,,( 111, way. Il was left .'ii tin- inaiitt-l|iii.'ir. Last ni.^hl lie said, ' Nnw, doctor, 
 I will liiiisli my inominii lit.' 'Hut llu ic aru no scissor.s in the ronm,' -;aid si-iiu; one. 'Never 
 i"iii'l.' ""li'l ' .|oi y.' '1 will lind a [lair.' After a W w inoinent.s I li. ard the <lirkiiig of scissors; 
 then he eaine, and alter pressing my hand two oi- tiiree times witli iiis lingeis, lie put the 
 little paper, and a iar.i^e j'air of seisstrs, into my hand. When ue i;ot a lij;ht 1 found the whole 
 outline ntatly cut out ; the pieei's of pa|ier cut olT were lyini; on the earpc t four fttt in front 
 ol ni}- ehaii', and the scissors were a pair kept in a ho.x in a Ixdrooin on the same Ih'ijr. 
 I cannot ahsohitely aflirm that the scissors were not in tin; room ; hut theie is no clonht 
 that the cuttini; out of the uiomnnent was done in perfect ilarkness, for I h:ul seen it on 
 the mantrlpieee pai tly done, just iufore the liyht was extinguished. It is certain also that 
 the paper and scissors had been placed in my hand. 
 
 1 he story e.l the ring is more satisfactory in one way than that of the nioniiment. 
 I\Irs. Nichols has among her keepsakes a large gold ring in which is st t a icd cross, about 
 hall an inch long. I'his ring was placed in a Httle clcjsc-lltting drawer in her secretaire, 
 which drawer I carefully fastened with gummed paper, on which Mrs. Nichols had written 
 her name for itlentificatioii. Could 'joey' take the ring from the drawt'r and bring it to 
 us in the little locked rooui upstairs? We asked him at two srmio's, hut he was e\asive, 
 saying oidy that he would attend to it. About tliis time Willie Lglinton made a (lying visit 
 to his father, near London, and took the opportunity to call upon Mi-. Lli.-tc-her, at 14, 
 Soulhampton Ro\s-. Naturally a srann' was proposed, and Mr. and Mrs. k'letchei-, their son, 
 and Kglinton, sat roimd a table holding hands in the dark. The voice of 'joey' said, 'I can 
 only stay a moment, but I want to give you a manifestation,' and Mrs. Nichols' I'ing was 
 dropi cd on the tabk', and Willie I''glinton ]nit it in his pocket and brought it back to Malvern. 
 Ihere we carefully examined the fastening of the little di'awcr in which the ring had been 
 placed. It was intact, firm, and had not been tampered with. I tore it ol1', and opened the 
 drawer. No ring was there. Thr ring, which probably coukl not be matched in l''ngland, 
 was on the owner's finfjei', but in the tliawcr was a wooden card-box holding a ]iack of 
 cards, for which we had hunted over the house. Had the drawci- been locked one miL;ht 
 suspect some trick. Fastened as it was I have no doubt. 
 
 "And 1 have no doubt of the perfect genuineness of a manifestation we had a few days 
 ago, involving the .same kind of power over matter. Five pi-rsons, including the midiuui, 
 were sitting in the dark, holding each other's hands. While the hands were .so held 
 'joey' was heard talking, playing the mouth-organ (which requires a hand), opening and 
 winding-up the music-box, and making it stop and go on at command. riieii he s;iid 
 imperatively to the lady holding the right hand of the medium, 'Ih'ld his hand lirmly 
 now; all hold tight; don't let go for a moment. I will try to give you a manifestation.' 
 In a moment more he said — ' Now, Dr. Nichols, give us a light. All the rest keep hold 
 of hands.' 
 
 " I lighted the gas. Mrs. Wilkes was firmly holding the right hand of the medium 
 with her left; both were standing, and the cane-bottomed chair of the medium was hanging 
 on Mr-;. Wilkes's left arm, halfway between her wrist and elbow, hanging by the usual opining 
 in the back of such chairs, like a needle on its thread. 
 
 "It may be difficult to believe such a fact upon any testiuKOiy ; but, a(t( r what 1 have Men
 
 2b 'Th'ixl Two ll'oritls. 
 
 for Iwciit}' years, and witli my knowledge of the witness, I cannot doubt her i)eitect good 
 faitli. I sliall, however, try and get tliis manifestation under absokite test conditions. 
 
 " Tlic dillicuhies of mediumship have some ilkistration even in our small circles here. I 
 believe there is never any hitch at tiie Egyptian Hall, but the most successful mediums 1 
 have known have been liable to frequent disappointments and failures, and those under 
 inconceivable circumstances had they been impostors. The other night we had the trial of 
 tw(j sceptics. Both came from a distance ; both were honest inquirers after the truth. One 
 was a pupil of Robert Owen, but he did not follow him into Spiritualism. The other is a 
 disciple of Mr. Bradlaugh. The Owenite had been somewhat shaken in his views of matter 
 by taking his own book-slate to Dr. Slade, and having it written in under his eyes, we 
 heard, while he was touched, and pushed, with his chair, back from the table, by some force 
 invisible. At nur scaiu'c the ri_)om and the mcdimn were examined by the sceptics. When 
 we were sitting with all hantls joined we had the tests of our musical bo.xes being wound 
 up and mo\ing about lis like winged creatures, being stopped, set going, and made to play 
 fast or slow at request. Later, in a good light, a spirit fjrm, full}' draped in white, 
 came before the curtain eleven seconds after the medium went behind it. Another tall and 
 fully draped form dematerialised before our eyes, gradually shrinking from a good six feet high 
 — a head taller than the medium — to a pigmy size, then melting into the air, leaving only a 
 mass of gauzy drapery, which was held up and shaken before us to show that the form 
 had vanished. The door and window were securely fastened. There were no such forms, and 
 no such draperies, in tlie room. There were no means for producing optical illusions. Our 
 two sceptics were very much puzzled, but they were not convinced. It is not easy to get 
 out of the habits of a lifetime. And the contest of their unbelief, in spile of their good 
 inlenticins, made the seance painful and very exhausting to the medium, and also, it seemed, 
 diflicult and aggravating to the controlling spirits. My Owenite friend returned to London 
 Jiext morniiig. lie has thought it over, and is coming again. Fhe lady who admires Mr. 
 Bratllaugh sat in another seance, and got such close, tangible, personal evidence as left no 
 room for doubt. Whilst her own hands perfectly isolated the works of a musical box, it 
 stopped, went un, and answered her questions, and she was puzzled ; but when, all hands 
 being fn ml}' held, her hands and face were touched by ' Joey,' who was talking with her 
 all the while, and arguing every point of the previous seance, pointing out test after test, 
 and when, fmally, her cap was taken off and put on the head of a lady opposite, and that 
 lady's put upon her head, , and both nicely adjusted, what could she do but surrender ? 1 
 have mentioned the lights brought by the spirits to enable us to see them in the dark 
 seances. We had the opportunity a few nights ago to examine these very closely. First, at 
 a distance of ten feet, crosses of intense white light, like starlight, were shown. The forms then 
 came <|uile near, hoUling the crosses of light, so that they illuminated their faces, but were 
 not visible t.. us. Then 'Joey' brought one and held it within a foot of my face. It was 
 on a thick, l)i,,wni.-,h card, abnut the size of a conunun playing-canl, the cross of light 
 ocvupying thre,:-fourths .if the surface. The light-giving matter was even with the dark 
 l>:.rtinn, and the whole surface, dark and light, was a little rough, like blotting paper. There 
 ^^■•'^ "" "■'""■■ ''^ ^\'^'i plin^pliorus, and no odnLu'. It was held and rubbed against m 
 cheek, and also before the eyes and against the cheeks of every person present, ulio describee
 
 Rciiiarkiihic St'aiifcs al Malvcni. 
 
 o 
 
 the fcclini; as vc-lvcty. The lii^lit appeared nnd (lisa|iiii-an(l l)cfni(_- our (•3-08, at the (•(iinmaiul 
 (il tin- very intelligent ii'ulividual wlm hroiiijlit it for our cxaniinatiiMi. Later 'joey,' and /;/.s- 
 cnnfcderate ' Kniest,' l)roiit;lit (|uite elose, Imt not iieai- 1 noiinl, i,, toneli us, masses ol" light of 
 a i^Iolndar lurni, llatteiicd gl()!)es, sliining ail through the mass, which was enveloped in folds 
 f gauzy drapery. 'Joey' brushed the folds aside with his lingers to show us the sliining 
 sulistance. It was as if a gem~a tunjuoise or a pearl- -three inches across, had become 
 iucaudesc( lit, full of light, so as to illuminate about a yard round. This light also we .saw 
 come and go. '.I<iey' allowed his larger light to go almost dark, and then revived it to its 
 former brilliancy. I need hardly say that all the chemists of I'.urope could not, tuider these 
 conditions, produce such ])lienoinena, if, indeed, they could undir any; aud yet our Tyndalls 
 and Iluxliys thiidc them cpiite unworthy of their notic(-, and mu- I.aidccsters prosecute at Piow 
 Street fo|- 'palmistry oi' r>thcr\vise.' In respect to the gold ring taken from a fastt.-ned tlrawer 
 at l\Talvern, and dropped u]ioii a table in London, I can only say that I carefully examined 
 the fastening, and that 'to the best of my knowledge and belief it bad not been tampered 
 with. lUit I do not expect my testimony will convince any one of the reality of what the}' 
 consider impossible. For that, they must have the evidence of their own senses, and fir many, 
 even that is not sufficient." 
 
 The last letter was from the pen of Mrs. Nichols, and was published in the Spin'/iin/i'st 
 for October 26th : — 
 
 "On the 14th instant I sat with our circle, after an interval of some weeks, as I had 
 been travelling in one direction, and Mr. Eglinton in another. I have been told that his 
 sanuri^ in Wales and elsewhere were very remarkable, but I only write of what I see. 
 
 "'Joey' appeared as soon as we were settled. lie seemed very glad to see me, and 
 patted my bead kindly, talking familiarly of our separation and of other matters. Twelve 
 3'ears ago I was told, in a sf'aiicc, that the spirits would be able in the future to materialise 
 gold and gems. Last summer 'Joey' told us the same. There were live of us in circle, 
 besides the medium. 'Joey' said — 'Remember that I now tell you we shall by-and-by 
 be able to materialise gems and gold. Do not mention what I say, but remember.' At a 
 subsequent .wince I spoke to him of what he had said, and he replied — ' Forbidden subject, 
 niannna.' 
 
 "At our si'ninr on the 14th instant 'Joey' said — 'I am now going to keep my promise to 
 materialise gold and gems.' Lie played his musical instrument and conversed with us nearly 
 an hour, when 'Ernest' greeted us and asked that the medium should rest. We sat with 
 Willie outside the curtain, with the light of our lamp. Willie seemed partially entranced, 
 but sometimes spoke. Lie sat near the black curtains that are suspended before the sofa, 
 on which be reclines, and which form the only cabinet we ever use. A tall female form, 
 robed in white, put aside the curtains, and Willie seemed drawn to her. She did not take 
 hold of him, but he moved to her, just as a somnambulist follows tho mcsmcriser. For a 
 little time they stood together before us, in a good light ; then Willie lay down on the 
 sofa, and she stood alone. Soon she retired ; the curtains fell together ; but quickly the 
 one-armed spirit, 'Abd-u-lah,' came forward. We were directed to have niore light. VVc 
 turned on the gas, so as to have sufiicient. He came very near, and allowed us to 
 examine his jewels, which were amazingly rich. In my earnestness to see, and examine closely,
 
 28 'Twixl Tzoo Worlds. 
 
 I presseil against his solid form, and said—' I beg your pardon,' as I would say to any 
 gentleman. Twice I pressed against tlie form of this man. lie gave cacji one of us tlie 
 pri\ilege of examining his jewels, (jne in crescent form, tlie otiier like a star. lie wears 
 diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. After him came 'Joey,' in a very becoming dress, which 
 we had never seen him wear. lie had a kind of hood upon his head. He sat at table, 
 and asked for paper and a book, which were given him. 
 
 " For some time he moved his hands as if gathering something from the atmosphere, just 
 as when he makes muslin. After some minutes he dropped on the table a massive diamond 
 ring. lie said, 'Now you may all take the ring, and you may put it on, and hold it wiiile 
 
 you can count twelve.' Miss M took it, and iield it under tlie gaslight. It was a heavy 
 
 gold ring, with a diamond that appeared much like one worn by a friend of mine worth 
 
 ;{J'l,000. 'j"ey' saitl the value of this was 900 guineas. Mr. W examined it as we had 
 
 done. Ill' now made, as it seemetl, and as he said, from the atmosphere, twn diamoiKJs, very 
 clear and beautiful, about tlie size of half a large pea. He gave them into our hands on a 
 piece of paper. We examined them, as we had the others. He laid the ring and diamonds 
 on the table belore him, and there next appeared a wonderful cluster of rubies, set with a 
 large ruby about half-an-inch in diameter in the centre. These wc all handled as we had 
 the others. Last there came a cross, about four inches in length, having twenty luagnilicent 
 diamonds set in it; this we held in our hands, and examined as closely as we liked. 'Joey' 
 took them all, and put tliem in paper and jingled them. He said, ' I might leave the ring 
 as a keepsake for Willie, but it might make him selfish.' 
 
 "He told us that the market value of the gems was ^25,000. lie remarked, 'I could 
 make Willie the richest man in the world ; but it would not be the best thing, antl might 
 be the worst.' He now took the jewels in front of him, and seemed to dissipate them, as 
 one might melt hailstones in heat, until they entirely disappeared. He talked all the evening, 
 and some of his remarks went to my heart. I was begging, as I often have, fcjr a piece 
 of drapery that I could keep, and I said almost petulantly, 'You do nothing special for me.' 
 'Mamma, mamma!' cried 'Joey,' 'for what did "Ernest" come to you yesterday?' The fact 
 was that 111.- day birfore ' Kriiest ' had, unasked and unsought, given me information and counsel 
 in a matter, the importance of which could not be expressed; as we say, it was emphatically 
 a case of life or death. I was rebuked, as 1 deserved, and 1 said to 'Joey,' 'What "Ernest" 
 told me ye.sterday was worth infmitely more than all the gold and gems in the world.' 
 'What do I come for?' said 'Joey,' and the tli.night pierced me that he had watched over 
 our children and friends, that he had been the means of saving lite, and of preparing souls 
 for a holier and happier existence hereafter. How could I value gold and gems, or a paltry 
 piece of drapery, when eternal interests are at stake? How poor we should be if our hea\-enly 
 Father did not pity our weakness and f...lly, and send ministering spirits to help us. One 
 featiu-e ..f this ^auue was, that at the close 'Joey' brought Willie forward, and they stood 
 -side by side, Willie in deep trance, 'Joey' said, 'Now you see me with Willie.' We all 
 responded that we saw both him and Willie. 'Well, perhaps you are a'.l biologised,' said 
 he. Many jursons think that the medium pers,,nates the .spirits dressed in nuislin made in 
 Manchester, and imported into the ,sr<f«(v-room by occult or usual means. A few think the 
 muslin is of spirit manuiarture, but that there is no materialisation of forms. Four times \
 
 Remarkable Si'ai/crs a/ Malvern. 
 
 liave seen a whitr-roln-il Immii staiulini; hy Willie Ki^lintuii. I have sci-ii 'Jm-S'' iiialiL- yaids 
 (if muslin. I have seen him -landing hrsidc his nicdiinii, and 1 have heard him speak in a 
 hrilliantly' lighted rncim, when Mr. I'!glinti>n was with us, and nn mm-c entianccd than the 
 rest of us. I have seen hands, and arms, and the face <iidy, and 1 ha\-e seen full furms 
 appear and disappear. I have seen a tall man a]ipear, antl after many minutes with us, and 
 in a good light, I have seen him gradually siid< down and heeome invisible, all but a few 
 inehcs of form, and then that sccinrd to snap out. I ha\'c seen a full fnini dissnKc, and 
 leave the drapery susjiended as if held up by a hand ; and I have .seen the form shrink 
 away to nothing visible, and leave the garments lying along tiie floor. Those not lung after 
 disapjieared. All this and uuieh un'ie 1 have seen, and exrept fm- their use in eon verting 
 people to a belief in immortality, all physical piicnumena are to me insignificant as time 
 compared to eternity, beside the spiritual truths given us from the invisible world, and which 
 involve the everlasting destiny of the human soul." 
 
 These narratives need no addition of mine : they speak for themseh'es. Staitling as were 
 the facts recorded, they were, however, only the precursors of even more Wdiiderful phenomena, 
 and a giadual devclo]imcnt may be traced in the strength and quality of Mr. Eglintun's medium- 
 ship. 
 
 I'jefore closing this chaptei-, however, 1 must relate a somewhat amusing inciiknt which 
 Mr. Egliuton has told in reference to his sojoui'n at Malvern. I give it in his own words: — 
 " During the Slade trial a most amusing incident occurred on my journey from M.alvern to 
 Lonilon. I was reading a comic journal in which poor Slade was cartooned. My only fellow- 
 traveller offered to exchange his paper for mine, which I did. Upon seeing the subject of the 
 cartoon, he turned to me and said, 'Have you ever seen anything of this humbug?' referring 
 to Spiritualism generally. 'Yes,' replied I, ' a good deal.' lie said, 'There is a man by the 
 name of Eglinton at Malvern, who is creating a great stir in the town by his seances.' I asked 
 if he had ever seen him. ' Yes,' he replied, ' I have often been at his se'iniers, and he is as 
 deserving of punishment as this man' (referring to Slade). I asked what Kglinton was like. 
 'Well,' said he, 'he is a man about forty years of age, very clever, and ac(|uaintcd with all 
 the subtle powers latent in man.' 1 knew of course that the man was lying, f.r not only did 
 he not know me, but 1 had never met him at any of my sittings. 1 tbeicupon took a keen 
 delight in drawing him out to the fullest extent ; and we had an e.xtremely jileasant journey 
 up to town. Wheri we got to I'addington he asked to (xchange caids ; and as I drove ofV, 
 amidst his protestations of friendshii) and his desire' to meet me again, I (N-uight sight of his face 
 as he read my name ! I afterwards met him on more than one occasion in Malvern, but he 
 fled from me as though he had a mad dog behind him. Such is the ignorance of some who 
 aspire to act as judges ! "
 
 CIlAPri'R \'i. 
 
 I'Nir.iii: sk.ixcics -l\i> .^I'IRIii'.u.ism ai home. 
 
 iV??'- 1\- ICC'.l.lNTON now found himself fully ofcupitd. lie received invitations from 
 various parts of the country. These, as far as his London appointments 
 would allow, he readily responded to, and in due course made ar.other \'isit 
 to Cardiff proceeding from thence to Worcester on his way back to London. 
 i\l the llist-namcd place he had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Rees Lewis, 
 who cordially invited him to attend a scaucc with Mr. George Spriggs, an 
 excellent medium, who has since made such a reputation for himsejf at the Antipodes. 
 
 On his retuin to Lontinn he gave a seance {Spiritualist, December 7th, 1877) to Mr. .Mfred 
 Russel Wallace, the distinguished naturalist, Mr. William Tebb, and Mr. W. W. Clark, 
 of Dorking, all of whom were very much pleased with what they saw, and united in describing 
 the seance as perfectly satisfactory. Mrs. Anna Wilkes, the friend of Mrs. Nichols, also supple- 
 mented her previous testimony to the phenomena by another account of equally wonderful 
 marvels she had seen. 
 
 A good case of direct writing is related as having occurred about this time by Dr. Nichols, 
 who had removed from Malvern to 32, Fopstone Road, Earl's Court, S.W. It occurred on the 
 Qth September. '' At a seaiiee last night, in the presence of three other persons and Mr. 
 Eglinton, the materialised form of 'joey' made in our presence about twenty }'ards of white 
 drapery, which certainly never saw a Manchester loom. The matter of which it was formed 
 was visibly gathered from the atmosphere, and later melted into invisible air. I have seen at 
 least a hundred yards so manufactured. Then 'Joey' said, 'Dr. .Nichols, I have got into a 
 great row about that Greek, which you transcribed imperfectly.' He then selected two small 
 slates from a pile of new ones lying on the mantel-shelf, and handed them to me to be cleaned. I 
 rubbed them both thoroughly, and so did each of the three others — one of them using a wet cloth. 
 'Joey' then borrowed my knife, whittled a piece of slate pencil, bit off a piece of it, and placed 
 it between the two slates, and then carefully wrapped up both in a piece of newspaper. This 
 was all done in the centre of the small room, quite away from the medium, and in plain sight 
 of all. Then, at his request, 1 moveil my chair forward, and sitting facing 'Joey' Ik Id one 
 corner of the slates willi my h ft hantl, as he did the other corner with his ri'dit and 1 laid 
 the lingers of my right hand on the fingers of his left. Instantly we heard the sound of writing 
 on the slates. In a few moments three little raps told us the writing was done, and 1 pushed
 
 Pnralc St'aincs and S/>irifita/isiii al IFoinc. 3 1 
 
 back int., my place, holding lli : slates. At the end of the Aanr we r.iinul mh ,,ne slate a 
 message for Mrs. Nicliols from the late Dr. Ferguson, sigiie 1 wit;i his name in hi^ \veli-kn.)\vn 
 liandwriting, and on the other, in a very neat and delicate hand, each letter almost sr|,araVly 
 written, the following :—■ Ihe message in Greek has been imperfectly transcribed by yoii. 
 Iranslate as written below, and you jiave the proverb in its correct and original meaning: - 
 
 Tile fifth word is underscored, as you will see on the slate 1 leave for your inspection.' Now, 
 one fact, ior what it is worth, is as good as a million. Here is a Greek sentence twice written 
 under abs ilute test conditions, in the presence of several persons, by some invisible intelligence, 
 between two slates closely b >und and lirmly held together. The medium was not near the 
 slates. 1 liey were prepaied by a lumian form, which was not that of any one of the live 
 persons in the room. Not one of those five persons could write the shortest sentt nci' in Greek. 
 Not one ol tiiem knew that there was such a proverb in that language." 
 
 A remarkably successful seance given to the Bri.\ton I'.sychological Sjcictj", reported In- Mr. 
 W. Newton, F.R.G.S., in the Spiritualist for December 2 1st, and a Hying visit to Brighton, for 
 sittings in the house of a well-known lady of title resident there, com|)leted this year's work. 
 
 On New Year's Eve, I.878, a scaiicc of a most touching and sacred character was held at the 
 house of Mrs. Macdougal Gregory, of 21, Green .Street, Grosvenor Square. This saiiicc, when 
 described to Mr. Eglinton, was regarded by him as a must unusual one; but I have reason to 
 believe that, given the same harmonious and sympathetic conditions as prevailed at that time, 
 such sweet communion with the dead woukl become an ever^'-day occurrence. 1 have m^sell' 
 had like experiences ; anti under the seal o| confidence 1 have been told ol similar instances, 
 most of them of such a private and sacred nature as to preclude any account reaching 
 the outside world. With many of these even Mr. Eglinton himself is unacquainted. These 
 inner experiences, occurring exclusively in private families, constitute the (to neophytes) almost 
 inexplicable strength of Spiritualism. It is the secret of the tenacity with which, in spite of 
 fraudulent practices, and so-called "exposures," those who have penetrated the intricacies and 
 mysteries of the outer fringe of the subject, hold fast to their belief in the reality of spirit 
 communion. 
 
 rile events of this seance on New Year's Eve will give a faint idea of what is possible 
 under the highest and best conditions, the result of long continued experiment, and of iViendship, 
 trust, and appreciation on the part of those engaging in spirit comnuniion. 
 
 There were eight or ten persons present. The manifestations at the preliminaiy dark 
 seance were more powerful and instructive than usual. Afterwards the medium took his seat in 
 the back drawing-room, being separated from the sitters by a heavy curtain, which was after- 
 wards drawn aside. The gas was turned on until the room was pervaded by a dim religious 
 light, when slowly the curtains opened, and from the cabinet came one, dearly loved, long 
 
 known, and always treasured by the hostess — Lady G , wiilow of the late I'^ield-Marshal Sir 
 
 VV. G . The form was no dummy dressed up to represent life, or Mr. Eghnton trans- 
 figured, which will be best evidenced by Mrs. Gregory's own words:- -"I have no hesitation in 
 giving mv testimony to the wonderful power and satisfactory n.iluie of your mediumship. 
 Indeed, I, personally, ha\e never seen it surjiassed. With many others, 1 have scrutinised
 
 ^2 ^ Tzuixt Tivo Worlds. 
 
 it t-aivlully wlu-ii it > ccuncd in 1113' liousc, and \\c liavc all liccn batisiicd with its Irntli. Seven 
 
 dilllivnt limes my friend I.niy (i appeared to me fully materialised, when you were lying 
 
 apparently in a tiaiiee on my sofa in the drawing-room, visible to live or six ol my Iriends who 
 were v. ith me at the time." 
 
 What could be more beautifully impressive than this midnight scene on New Year's night? 
 The spirit, after requesting cake and wine to be brought, tasted the cake, touched the wnie, and 
 then handed it t.i each of the sitters, that they might partake of this holy conmiunion with her. 
 After this those present were requested to kneel, and, in their midst, the spii it with bendeil 
 knee jjoured forth a soleiini invocation, asking Almighty Cod to bless each friend present, and 
 to make the New Yeai' one li>ng to be remembered. 
 
 When Mr. ICglintim recovered consciousness, he was persuaded that the scana' had been 
 a faihne, so rested and p( acclnl was his condition, and mH until he saw the tcarlul eyes ol his 
 friends, and recei\cd their giatehd thanks, did he fully realise this memorable event. 
 
 For some time the question had been discussed, as to whether "spirits" had the power to 
 penetrate a locked and sealed box, and the Research Committee of the British National 
 Association of Spiritualists, composed of professional and other gentlemen, under the presidency 
 of Mr. Desmond Fitzgei-ald, had been sitting patiently at many seances for tlie development 
 of the power to produce manifestations inside a nailed box placed near the medium. The 
 conditions arc thus describeil in the Spiiitualisl of Jaiuiary l8th, 1878: — "The box is 
 nailed to the inside of a cabinet, and has no aperture whatever inside the cabinet. It has 
 an opening outside, in full view of the observers, but a board is screwed over that opening. 
 Inside the box is an ordinary electro-magnet with its armature, and the depression of the 
 armature completes an electrical circuit, and causes an electrical bell to ring in the usual way. 
 The object to be achieved was, that the spirits should pass power enough through the wood to 
 depress the armature. The connecting wires to the electric apparatus arc all outside the 
 cabinet, and in full view. Inside the cabinet with the medium, there is nothing but the smooth 
 wooden outside of the box." 
 
 Under these conditions the bell was made to ring at will at two seances, held by Mr. 
 Eglinton with the Research Committee. More force than necessary to depress the armature was 
 used inside the box, for a spring was strained and an electro-magnet disarranged. As the 
 recorder remarks, this was a valuable manifestation. Although not new, yet the con^litions 
 under which it was observed were exceptionally good. At this time a series of seances was given 
 to the Psychological Society, of which the late Serjeant Cox was president. The results were, 
 however, poor. 
 
 In the course of a seance held at Mrs. Macdougal Gregory's, in March, 1878, Mr. Eglinton 
 was, at the request of Serjeant Cox, who was present, under strictly test conditions, carried out 
 of a closed room into one on the floor above. This case of levitation is paralleled by others in 
 the history of modern Spiritualism as well as by ancient church legends. On the occasion in 
 question all [iresent were satisfied that the phenomenon was genuine. 
 
 One of the Universities was the next stronghold to be stormed, and in March, 1878, Mr. 
 Eglinton went \.o Cambridge, and had several really line seances, which were attended by a 
 great many undergraduates. This, therefore, seems a lilting place to introduce the following 
 evidence of Mr. J. W. Campbell, then student of Jesus College.
 
 Prii'alc Scaiucs ami Spiritiialisin al I luiiic. _^ \ 
 
 "A ,s-(YN/r(' was licKl (ui lluirHda)' uvciiiii!;, March 2 1st. TIk.ti.: weir in all clu'Vcn prisuiis 
 IMcsLiit, (if wlioiii i-ight were iindcrgrndLialLS. Mr. Kylinlcm was the mi< .hum. An cl.i-lric 
 hell was h\ed iMi the wall, a yard fKiiii the nudinin's seat, one whe heing conneeted with the 
 hell; the other hung ..ver a nail lixed in the wall within ahout a fnnt nf the hell itself. 
 After sitting for half an hour tir more, faint raps were heard on the lloor, and places were 
 arranged hy ' Joey,' the medium being tightly held by two mulergradiiates, one on either hand, 
 they also resting their knees against his. The light was then extinguished, and in ahout a 
 quaiter of an hour the mediiun was controlled by ' Daisy,' who told us to be very careful 
 ahout conditions, esiiecially the holding of hands, aiul presently 'Joey' gi'eeted us in his 
 pleasant little voice. lie tli'ii rang the electric bell violently, took it up and carried it about 
 for a few seconds in tlie air, ringing it at intervals, thus showing that he liekl hill and 
 connecting wire in his two hands. lie then laid it on the table, tapped out a little time 
 With it, still ringing the bell, and answered several ([uestions upon it. Afterwai'ds, he look 
 it oil the table, and laid it on the mantelpiece, below the nail from which he had at lirst 
 taken it. A very heavy musical box was next vvovnul up, and placed <.)ii the heads of several 
 sitters ; bells, tambourines, and tubes moved about freely, and spirit hands wei'e felt by 
 several of the sitters, ' Joey ' out of gratitude to the one who had brought the bell, patting 
 him on the head, hands, and knees, again and again. Both ' Joey ' and ' Ernest ' spoke to us 
 several times. Then a heavy sofa-cushion was taken from the corner of the I'oom behind 
 the medium, and laid across the table on the hands of those sitting tipposite ; the femler was 
 taken out and placed against the table, between two of the sitters ; the sofa was turned 
 over, four chairs were taken away, including the medium's, and one was laid on the top of 
 the sofa-cushion on the table. The sitting was most convincing and satisfactory to those 
 present. It ended shortly after ten, the actual manifestations having lasted under forty minutes." 
 The subjoined attestation accompanied this letter : — " We, the undersigned, do solennily, 
 on our word of honour, declare that the hands of Mr. Eglinton w^ere lirmly Ik Id hy us, and 
 that oin' knees rested against his duriiig tlu' whole of the semicc liekl at lo. King's I'araile, 
 on Thursday, March 2lst, 1878. — A. IIunteu, Jesus College; A. Ki:i(;uri,i;v, Pembroke College." 
 
 On the night of April 7th, 187S, at the house of Dr. Nichols, 32, Fopstone Road, ICarl's 
 Court, in the presence of six persons. Professor Zollner's expeiiment nf tying knots iu a cord, 
 the ends of which were tied and sealed together, was repeated. Dr. Nichols still possesses 
 the knotted cord, of which I give an illustration. What occurred is thus described by 
 Dr. Nichols: — "I then cut four yards of common brown twine, such as I use for large 
 book packets, from -a fresh ball. 1 examined it carefully, tied the two ends together by a 
 single knot (which included both ends of the twine), then passed each end through a hole 
 in one of my visiting cards, tied another sc[uare knot, and firndy sealed this knot to the cart!. 
 1 then asked a gentleman to seal it with his signet ring. On the card I also put my 
 signature and the date. Six persons sat roimd a small table (in the dayliglitj ; the sealed 
 card was placed upon the centre of the table, and the fingers of each person present placed 
 upon it, while the loop hung down upon the floor. This position was maintained for a nu'nute, 
 when raps were heard, and I examined the string. The enils were (irmly fastened, antl 
 sealed as before, and five single knots weie tied upon it about a foot apart — on the single 
 endless string, oljserve ! the perfect fastenings of whiih had ni\er lelt my sight wlurc ihiy 
 
 5
 
 34 
 
 /i^'i.vl J'ict) li'or/i/s. 
 
 now are." Dr. Nichols justly remarks :^" It is certain that no mortal man could have tied 
 these knots — ceiually certain that all the philosophers and all the 'magicians' of Europe cannot 
 now untie tlieni unciei" the same conditions. Mere is a tact which can be proven in any court 
 of justice, and l^r which any conceivable number of dimensions of space cannot account." 
 
 On April I /til occurred a phenomenon which, viewed as a contribution to the evidence 
 for spirit identity, is valuable. It was observed and recorded by Mr. J. F. ColHngwood, 
 formerly Secretary of tlie Anthropological Institute : — " At a members' seance held at the 
 rooms of the IJritish National Association of Spiritualists, on April i/tli, 1877, Mr. Eglinton 
 was in the cabinet free, and ten persons formed the circle, among whom were Florence 
 Mariyat, Mr. Cornelius Pearson, Mrs. L — ■ — , and myself After the appearance of two or three 
 
 Fig. 
 
 Knots tied UM an lijiclluss Cold. 
 
 forms that usually manifest through this me.lium, a face which was quite new to all the 
 sitters was seen at the aperture, and drew forth spontaneous remarks from the circle generally 
 to that effect. The face presented itself, full, to the middle of the circle where Mr. Collingwood 
 was seated. lie noticed the short hair on the head, the stubbly beard and short cut 
 moustache, the cadaverous and worn appearance of the features, the sunken eyes; but the 
 face was not recognised then. It gazed for a second or two at Mr. Collingwood, tlien slowly 
 turned the head to sweep the circle, and the instant that the profile was presented Mr. Colling- 
 wood recogni.sed the likeness to a friend, Mr. 1 lannnond, deceased eighteen months pieviously. 
 
 At oue .ud ol the fow of sitters was Mrs. L , lIanun„.Krs sisler-in-law. The lace retreated 
 
 nnnieliately it hati, ai.parently, seen Mrs. L -'s, and it re-appeared within half a minute,
 
 /'unrfc S('tri!rcs and S/^yrihia/ism a/ Hvnic. 3^ 
 
 (Ir.-nviii- ;isi<lc the riirtniii at the (.iid of the cahiiut nearest to lirr. A hand was hclil out, aii<l 
 h'cl;cin( ,1 witli the fdnlinRrr in that direction. Sonic of the sitleis said, ' 'I"iic lady at the end 
 
 is lie(i;nii((l.' Mrs. \, l,;i,l Iiy that time rccogni.sed the face as iier i)r()tiier-in-la\v, and the 
 
 niniinn d the lhit;(r as liis liahitiial ninde of calling any inenilx r i.f his frunih'. She went n]i 
 eles(- to the face, and exclaimed, 'Yen are Hammond.' 'l"he head bowed, and the face smiled. 
 The likeness was complete; and when the smile was expressed bj- the tcnsinn of shin over hollow 
 and bony cheeks, the recognition appeared almost absolute. /// life Mr. Hiinnnoinl had U^M his 
 left eye ; in this inmge 0/ the living viaii the right eye jvas ivantiiig. It has been said that I did 
 not recognise a likeness until the profile was presented. I was not then aware that in his last 
 illness Mr. Hamniend had his mnustache and beard cut very short. That, witii the wasted 
 fealni-es, prevented an earlier recognition. In profile the featiu'es were more pronounced, and 
 were accordingly at once recognised by mc. This appearance was the fulfilment of a jiromiso 
 
 given to Mrs. I, during Mr. Hammond's last illness, to 'come if it were possible.'" 
 
 On the 19th April, Mr. Eglinton started on his second visit to the Hague. The se'aitcea, 
 reported at the time b}' Mr, A. J. Riko, were eminently successful, and were attended !))■ 
 persons of the highest s'lci.il I'ank. Ihere, as almost evei'y where, ho gave the fullest 
 satisfaction. 
 
 As an instance of tlie estimate in which his medinmship was held at that time, 1 may here 
 fjuote an extract from thi- I'ourth Annual Report of the B.N.;\.S., issued in May, 1S78: — 
 "Turning now to the work of the Sr'aiice Committee, we find that the inquirers' circles have been 
 continued throughout the year with the desired results; that is to say, under strict test 
 conditions, subject to the scrutiny and expressed approval of the strangers present, and held in a 
 moderate degree of liglit, certain simple physical manifestations have been produced, giiierally of the 
 most satisfactory and convincing nature. The medium has been Mr. W. Eglinton, who has always 
 shown the ntmost willingness to submit to any test which has been proposed, and has, we believe, 
 in all cases left the impression of his perfect good faith, and of the genuineness of the manifesta- 
 tions produced in his presence, on the mind of all witnesses. These seaiurx have been attended by 
 one bundled and thirty-five strangers, besides about the same number of members." 
 
 In May, i.'^".'^, he received a cordial invitation from Dr. B. T. Hutchinson, of Cape Town, South 
 Afiica, to pay him a visit. He had already decided to make a tour of the world, and as this 
 seemed a fitting opportunity to carry out the plan, he accepted l>r. 1 liitrhinson's invitation. I'rior 
 to leaving England, he went to Malvern for a short rest, and while there marvellous phenomena 
 occurred, amongst which was the materialisation of spirits in the open air. 
 
 The recorder is Mr. A. Ilildreth, LL.B., son of the American histoiian, and some time 
 American Ct>nsul at Trieste. I quote his narratives in r.ytrnso. 
 
 I. 
 
 On juiir loth, 1S78, at about ten o'clock, p.m., I was sitting with a friend of mine (Mr. Eglinton) 
 and an<.ther gentleman, in the drawing-ro..m <.f Aldwyn Tower, Malvern, the then residence of 
 Dr. an.l Mrs. Nich<;ls. R.ips ,;,uie in dilV, n nt | arts of the room, and the nu ssage was spelled 
 Watch and wait." lb' medium became < iitrano .1 :um] walked the room with . ncrgy. 
 
 out
 
 36 'Tzvixt Tzco IVorlds. 
 
 We saw in the twiliglit a wliitc mist}' appearance accompanying him on the side away from us. 
 " There is a niatcriahsation," said the control, who gave the name of " Dr. Richards ; " " we 
 siiall try to take tlie mt-dium into tiie garden and cause the materiaUscd spirit to go beside him. 
 Follow at a rcspLctful distance, and place your chairs in the middle of the lawn." The voice 
 that spoke to us had the tone and some of the peculiarities of articulation belonging to the medium's 
 natural voice, l>ut there was a distinct quality unfamiliar to us, partly consisting of deliberation, 
 precision, and authority. The spirit doctor now gave the signal for the descent into the garden. 
 "Protect your lungs well," said he; "it is chilly." The medium crossed the room, unfastened one 
 valve of the window, and stepped out upon the verandah. We each took a chair and followed, 
 but were delayed at the window by having to open the other valve to admit the chaiis, so that when 
 we reached the vc-randah, tin: medium had already descended the stone steps and was in the garden. 
 No form ajipcared besitle iiim. We placed our chairs on tlie lawn as directed, while the 
 medium took his seat upon the garden bench ; but in a few seconds he came towards us, and, 
 speaking in the now familiar voice of " Dr. Richards,"' directed us to change our position to a point 
 where our line of vision towards the bench was interrupted by some bushes, which thus would 
 serve instead of a curtain. The medium retraced his steps, and the clear small voice of a spirit 
 known as "Joey" came from the direction of the bench, saying, according to his custom, "Holloa, 
 Arthur ! " Then all was silent. We presently heard the medium breathing heavily, and a mass of 
 white drapery, such as is commonly seen at seances, emerged from behind one of the hushes to our 
 right. It came further into view, and we distinguished two forms standing side by side, draped to 
 the feet, and with conical caps on their heads. They remained half a minute, and then disappeared. 
 White drapery again protruded, and remained quiet, projecting a little beyond the bush. I'he medium 
 crossed over without speaking, and stood before us. Placing his fists together in front of him, he 
 separated them laterally with a spasmodic jerk, and, after other movements, turned and walked 
 away, absorbing the white drapery as he passed round the bush. This seemed to be an attempt, only 
 partiall}' successful, to show the form and the medium at the same time. 
 
 After a short interval, another form appeared on the left. This figure turned its profile, and 
 showed that it was not surrmmded by a skirt, but merely held a white gauze apron bef(L)re it, two 
 dark legs being visible. The form having retired, the medium again came towards us. " I 
 do not tliink it wise," saiil the voice of "Dr. Richards," "to continue the materialisations longer ; 
 we must have darker nights. Follow the medium." We did so, and returned to the drawing-room. 
 We thanked the spirit for our unexpected pleasure. "The thanks are not due," lie answered ; " on 
 the other hand, we have to thank you for giving your attention ; it was an experiment for our own 
 satisfaction; we have been preparing this seance for two days past." lie informed us that 
 manifestations required thought, experiment, and perseverance on the part of spirits, and that not 
 merely a few, but myriads, were associated to produce them. They liked to have their labours 
 appreciated. Drapery .served tn pn,teet the materialised form ficni tin; effects of light and of the 
 human ( ye. lie said he cnld expl.iin the source from which the drapery was obtainetl, but did not 
 think il wise. 
 
 II. 
 
 On anotln r evening, when the medium was seated at the piano in the twilight, the instrument 
 walked'' out fn.m the wall, and hats and other light objects Icapetl ab.uit the n.-un. These
 
 Pn'iur/c Si'aurrs nud Sf^irilualisui at IIoiiic. ■^y 
 
 ellcL-ts wdv :Utril)nlcil Im "Ji'iy." Aftonvnrds tin- inciliuiu liccanic CMiilinlU'd l>y " I >r. Riclianls." 
 lie saiil 111' liki tl these little cenvcrsntions, and would answer mir ([uestinns as well as he could, 
 trnniniellc c| as he was I))- a " luiman ease." lie tjavc an iiiipressive account of his passage into tlie 
 otiier World ; how, hronj^iit np in old oi tlmdox views, lie lay on his hed of sickness a prey to 
 horrible anxiety ; how, at the moment of his death, he seemed to he passing up llirough an 
 interminahle mist, still siillei ing mental agony, till the cloud.s parted, and he saw a group of spirits 
 of exceeding beauty waiting to receive him. lie found, however, that these spirits, who seemcil to 
 him so line, were only of the lower order. He passed from sphere to sphere luitil he reached the 
 fifth, where he now is. The various spheres might be compared to the ages of a man's life, except 
 that a higher grade was reached by voluntary eflbrt, not by mere growth. Me said that the motives 
 of spirits in comnumicatiiig with mortals were mainly of a bene\'olent natui'e. Ihey desired to 
 elevate the minds of mankind by assuring them of their future destiny, and instilling into their minds 
 some of the quiet harmony of their own existence ; nevertheless, this intercourse largely hcnciits 
 the spiiits themselves,, and tends to raise them to a higher sphere. As to human nature, it was 
 substantially the same in the next world as in this, but the sentiment of malevolence, instigating us 
 to indict pain on others, which plays so large a part in this world, even with the most benevolent, 
 grows weak in the other w'orld, and finall}' disappears for want of use, because the causes exciting 
 it do not exist to the same extent there as here. It was impossible for the highest spirits to 
 communicate personally with those still in the body. The control spoke on many other subjects, 
 sometimes showing great energy and warmth, at others becoming very ironical, especially when he 
 spoke of our "poverty-stricken world," as he called it, and of our religious squabbles, "when the 
 whole matter lies in a nut-shell." 
 
 111. 
 
 On Imic i6th a twilight i^raucr was held in the house. A female figure came from the 
 cabinet. .She passed close to the sitters, the drapery making a low incessant rustling. She 
 passed behind one gentleman, placed her hands on his shoulders, and bending down, touched 
 the side of her liead affectionately against his. The face was not distinct. 
 
 " joey," now preparing to mateiialisc, talked constantly behind the curtain. Somebody 
 crept up to listen outside the saiiiir room. "Joey" gave the door a heavy thump, and told 
 us with glee of other instances when he had thus scared away eavesdroppers. lb kn<'w of 
 their approach, not by sight, but by feeling their magnetism, which was dillirent in every 
 person. ".loey" now appearetl materialised, seated himself in a chair, and eonverseil upon 
 spiritual physics. Spirits, he believed, would hereafter attain the powei' of materialising in lull 
 daylight, but they were prevented at present by the mental condition of mankind. If the eyes 
 of the sitters were blindfolded they could even now come in daylight. No arrangement of 
 mirrors for reflecting the spirit, instead of viewing it directly, would answer. If ink or 
 other colouring matter were squirted into the face of a strongly materialised spirit, the marks 
 would afterwards be seen on the medium's face, and would be no test whatever of dishonesty. 
 If a sitter rushed at a materialised spirit and struck it, the magnetism of the former would 
 instantly dissolve the form, which would return to the medium, carrying the blow with it. 
 The medium would sulTer as much as though struck directly. " Dut," said "Joey," and here 
 his tone was unusually fierce, " if anyone should attempt such a thing, I should not scruple,
 
 'Tioixi Two Worlds . 
 
 v.liilc tlic power roniaincrl, to snntrli up the imisic-box and maim liim before he cuuld injure 
 tile meilium;" and "Joey" yave tlie great music-box a swing. "Could a spirit materialise 
 througli a cage?" 1 asl^ed. "I've got a good idea," said "Joey," "a very good idea— 
 an excellent idea. Pet the niedinni in a hen-coop; one of those long ones." In conclusion, 
 he invited mv iuiiind the curtain. 1 felt the medium's head, and took both his hands 
 in mine. They were (juivering like leaves. The spirit meanwhile stood beside me, seen by 
 all the sitters. 
 
 IV. 
 
 On June 19th a seance was held in the garden. Having no hen-coop with which to 
 follow out the suggestion of "Joey," we constructed a cage out of materials at hand. Two 
 wooden frames hinged togetlier were set upon the garden bench in tiie shape of a gable roof. 
 Stout wire network was stretched over the two frames and spiked to it. [A portion only of 
 this wire network is shown in Fig. 2.] A strong cord, without knot or splice, was wound 
 round and round the frame-work, at each revolution passing through a mesh of the 
 net. Thus every mesh which touched the frame was bound tightly down to it. The two 
 
 Fig. 2.— a Novel Test. 
 
 ends of the cord wire finally made to meet <n the top of the frame (C), were tied 
 togi iher, and sealed. Over one end of the cage (A) was spread another piece of netting, 
 partly overlapping the first pieces, and bound firmly to the frame in the same manner, the 
 eiuls of the cord being sealed together near the other seal (C)- I he otiier end of the cage 
 was left open for tiie medium to enter. The contrivance was then fastened firmly to the 
 bench. The test-fastenings, whicli alone will be described, consisted of four cords passing 
 iVom the frame on each side (£, Q, I, J) to spikes driven into the legs of the bench (as 
 ■'t F, H)i •■'"'^1 sealed to the wood. The netting which covered the end of the cage (A) was, 
 moreover, nailed to the timber (K), each nail being scaled. Rugs and a pillow being placed 
 in the cage, the medium, clad in his overcoat, crawled in, and tiie open end was closed by a 
 fourth piece of netting, secured to the frame by another cord, the ends of which were sealed 
 together at D- This netting was not nailed to the bench at B, hut could not be raised more 
 than two inches without violence t(j the wirework. 
 
 I'lie modes of escape finu) this e.ige were as follows: — I. Creak through the neltiug. 
 2. Make an aperture between the netting and the frame ■.—(a) liy untying the sealed knot, 
 muavellin.L; the cnrd fi.iui the niesiies, and raising tiie netting from tiie spikes ; (//) liy breaking
 
 Private Si'aiiccs and Spirit ita Usui at tfoinc. ^9 
 
 tlic Cord, uiiiavrlling it, ami raisins; tin- nrtting ; I') l>_v imtwistiiii; the wire imsli.s, aiui lluis 
 freeing tlniu frciiii tiir CMrd. In doing tliis, liowrver, tiii' cualinn nf /inc piil i<\\ in tin: 
 galvanising process, and wliicli lillrd tlie crevices nl ill'- twi-^l'd win-, must jje lirnisiii. 
 3. Lift the cage from tiie hencli : — [ii) ijy brcaiiing some cords; (A) liy disturi)ing the i^nots 
 sealed to the spikes in the beiicli-iiosts. As a last precaution Hour was sprinkled on the 
 groinid for a coiisitlerable distance in front i>f the cage. 
 
 The medium was fastened in at ten o'clock, p.m., and we t(jok oiu' scats as in Mii- fnst 
 garden sramc. After a short time a man's lorm, draped in white, appeared from behind tlie 
 biislies, and bowed many times. A female figure afterwards approached us from the (itiu-r side, 
 lieaxily drapi-il. These familiar manifestations were receivetl with a muruun' cf pleasure. 
 Upon e.Namining the cage, the network was found intact; all the seals and ccjrds were unbroken; 
 none of the meshes had been tnitwisted ; no tracks were in the llour. From the nature of 
 the position a confederate could not have entered the garden undetected. This ^aiinc was 
 a perfect test that the medium, in that instance, was not useil, but it is chielly interesting 
 for a point of siiirit physics, viz., that a wire network forms no obstacle to a materialisation. 
 The spirits only complained of the wooden frame. A more commodious cage on a simpler 
 plan without a clumsy wooden frame would thus seem one of the best tests for proselytising 
 purposes. 
 
 V. 
 
 On June 22nd, a farewell seance with Mr. Eglinton was held in the garden of Aldwyu 
 Tower, Malvern, the residence of Dr. T. L. Nichols. Mrs. Nichols took a .seat in the 
 balcony (A), a position commanding a bird's-eye view of the whole field of operation. The 
 rest of the party descended to the lawn, and at 10.45 P'"- '' was jutiged suHicieiitly dark 
 to begin. 
 
 Mr. Eglinton reclined on the bench ( Bj, and was covered with a rug. lie was presently 
 contr-oUed by "Dr. Richards," a spirit, wlio has often spoken tlnnugh him of late, and 
 who gave minute directions as to our conduct. "An experiment," he said, "is aljout to be 
 tried regarding the distance from the medium to which a inateriali.sed spirit can attain. Spirits 
 desire to experiment as well as you. It is, however, a matter of danger. A spirit will try to 
 go up into the balcony where Mrs. Nichols is sitting. The far-ther he departs the more 
 he must draw from tlie medium, whose safety depends upon the orderly return I'f tlie 
 spirit, and hence upon the strictness with which you keep the conditions." He their 
 indicated the place for our seats, and r-equested us to join hands as soon as seated. When 
 the spirit had passed us we were scrupulously to refrain from turning our heads to view it, for 
 the magnetism from the eyes has a strong tendency to dissolve a materialised firm, as heat 
 melts a snow man, and hence the spirit might not be able to r-eaclr his destination. Above 
 all, we were to show no signs of alarm, as this would throw the spirit suddenly back and 
 harnr the medium. These directions were made known tn the sitter's, and w^c took our seats 
 at C, a point distant about n feet from the bench, which was directly befire oiu- eyes. 
 Where we sat the light was suflrcient to enable us to reatl the figures on a white-faced watch. 
 The corner where the bench stood, being shaded by trees, was much darker. Imrirediateiy after
 
 40 
 
 ' 7li'/.\/ 1\'0 W 01 Ids. 
 
 taking our suats \vi- dbsiivini a thin, wliitish cloud forming over the spot where tlie medium 
 lay. This cloud grew larger, was taller than broad, but exhibited no more deiinite shape. 
 Presently, moving to the right, om" view of it was cut oiV by a bush (i). Fifteen minutes 
 had elapsed from the time the cloud first appeared, when a black-bearded figuie, clothed from 
 head to foot in snow-white drapery, stepped out from behind the bush (i). He retired, came 
 forth, and retired again. Suddenly, when the white appeared a third time, and we were expecting 
 the same ligurc, the shrill and well-known voice of "Joey" broke on our ears. " Holloa, 
 Arthur! Holloa, Doctor! I'm coming. Don't you want to see me ?" He then emerged 
 from behind the bush (i), and stood manufacturing drapery by shaking it in a nudtitude of 
 waves, a custom conmion with him. He was distant from the bench 25 feet, and from us 
 12 ieet. He gambolled about, Went back, and we heard him calling for help, sa3'ing he was 
 caught in the bush and could not get out. He now informed us that our eyes injured the 
 medium, and we must retire to the position D, so that a bush would intercept our view. 
 
 
 
 L A \V 
 
 N . 
 
 
 
 Rose Bush 
 
 
 
 S* 
 
 
 
 
 
 F 
 D -■ 
 Bush * 2 
 
 
 Bush 
 
 Bush * 3 
 
 Bush * I 
 
 
 *4 
 
 
 
 Path. 
 
 o t3 
 
 E ^5 5 
 
 cq 
 
 Flower Beils. 
 
 
 Wall. 
 
 I'IG. 3.— Plan of the Garden Scaticc. 
 
 This being accomplished, we heard "Joey's" voice drawing near. "The birdies among 
 the leaves won't keep still," he said, and appeared at F, about 7 feet from us, having come 
 25 feet from his first position. Here he stood, strongly materialised, with arms akimbo, against 
 the dark background, and the folds of his garment clearly visible. 
 
 " Don't take cold, Joey," said one of the sitters. " If I do the medium will," replied he 
 ''And your Ieet are bare, are they not?" "Of course they are," said "Joey." He retreated 
 belnnd the bush, but still we heard his voice. " Did you see us fornnng ? " he asked " I 
 saw a wlnte cloud," I answered, " if that was what you wished me to see." " I did not 
 ^vant you to see more than the others; don't be conceited," shouted he sharply. He now 
 informed us that he was going back to the mediun, for n,ore power, and that the next 
 spint we saw would be the one who would nu.ke the attempt tu reach the balcony We 
 were so absorbed in watching tins astonishing act, that we became silent " |.,.y •' cdled
 
 Pn'ra/c St'ai/rcs and Spiritualisvi at IFomc. 41 
 
 out to us to kcop up the conversation, and wc discussed the stars, which were shining plentifully 
 overhead. In returning to the medium, "Joey" must have traversed 34 feet. He next 
 apix-arc.l fmm li,t\veen tlie hushes (i and 2), passed our right, walked over the lawn hetween 
 bushes 3 and 4, gained the path, and stopped at th(> corner E, having passed over ;5 feet. 
 According to our directions, we did not look after the spirit when he had passed us, but 
 we could judge of his position by his voice, and Mrs. Nichols, from her elevated seat, saw 
 his entire course. Standing under the balcony, the spirit hailed Mrs. Nichols. " Is that 
 you, Joey ? " asked siie. " Yd (yes), of course it is," answered " Joey." Mrs. Nichols 
 then besought him not to tax the medium by advancing further, and the spirit turned, crossed 
 the lawn, constantly repeating, " I'm coming, I'm coming," passed close behind our chairs 
 (D), grabbed the stove-pipe hat from Dr. Nichols, placed it upon his own head, and danced 
 backwards till he disappeared behind the bush (2) amid the laughter and clapping of the 
 spectators. The spirit then returned to the medium, having traversed 99 feet from the 
 corner (E). He appeared again at F (34 feet), saying he must bring back the hat, passed 
 behind our chairs (20 feet), replaced the hat on Dr. Niciiols's head, and crossed on the 
 grass to the rose bush 5 (15 feet). We heard him plucking stems. He returned, and 
 passing again behind us, placed a rose on the shoulder of each sitter, and once more 
 disappeared behind the shrub in front of us. " Now," he said, " stand up and see me go 
 back to the medium." Looking over the bush, we saw " Joey's " form change to a shapeless 
 cloud, grow thinner, and finally disappear before our eyes. He had come from the rose 
 bush 69 feet. The voice of the control, " Dr. Richards," called me to the side of the 
 medium. He spoke in a gasping manner. " 1 congratulate you," he said, " u]ion the success 
 of tills experiment, a manifestation surpassing any we have hitherto attempted. We have 
 greatly exhausted the medium. Take care that he does not sit in the garden after he 
 awakes. Good night." The seance had lasted about half an hour. Mr. Eglinton awoke in 
 a very weak condition — every garment soaked with perspiration. We conducted him to the 
 house. The ground under the rose busii where the spirit had been at work was covered 
 with petals. This seance is remarkable— first, for the novelty of being in the open air ; 
 secondly, for the absolute test it afforded of the medium's sincerity, since he was under our 
 eyes until the spirit appeared, while the witness from the balcony had him constantly in 
 view as well as the bnundai'ies of the garden, rendering appai'cnt the approach of a 
 confederate, even if such a person could have come over the wall, and through the thick 
 hedges without a sound, when even the movement of a bird in the branches was audible ; 
 thirdly, from tine ab.sence of a cabinet, the materialisation being, nevertheless, as strong as 
 that obtained in a room, though at the expense of a greater draught upon the mrdiuni ; 
 fourthly, from the fact that the fonnalion and disappearance of the figure took place before 
 our eyes ; fifthly, on account of the distance from the medium attained by the materialised 
 spirit, being GG feet in a direct line ; sixthly, because of the long journey accomplished by 
 the spiiit, who traversed some 400 feet froin the time he first left the medium to his final 
 retuin.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCES. 
 
 AVING decided to visit the Cape, Mr. Eglinton made the necessary arrange- 
 ments, and left London on July 5th, 1878, eii route for Dartmouth. This 
 was thought to be a fitting occasion on which to present him witii a 
 testimonial, in slight recognition of the esteem in which he was held by all 
 who had had relations with him, and of the value of his services for the 
 cause of Spiritualism. A meeting was therefore held at the Beethoven Rooms, 
 Harley Street, on July 2nd, and a large and fashionable audience assembled to do him 
 honour. A handsome testimonial, in the shape of a purse of money, was presented to him ; 
 and in the course of the evening, Miss Emily Kislingbury, secretary of the B.N.A.S., 
 observed that she would be omitting a great duty if she allowed the opportunity to pass 
 without giving her testimony to the work Mr. Eglinton had achieved. Though not 
 speaking officially, she wished to give public testimony to Mr. Eglinton's integrity. Spiritual 
 phenomena had been observed through his mediumship under the most trying and unfavourable 
 circumstances ; she alluded to the many seances which had been given at the rooms of the 
 National Association, when Mr. Eglinton had been put under the most severe tests, varying 
 every week, a certain proportion of the sitters being either strangers or inquirers into the subject. 
 In these respects Mr. Eglinton had given the most perfect satisfaction and had borne all 
 the very trying remarks and difficult tests with perfect good humour. From time to time 
 most striking proofs had been afforded of the agency of unseen powers, and a great number 
 of persons had been convinced through the opportunities thus afforded. In concluding her 
 remarks, Miss Kislingbury said : " I have much pleasure in tendering my personal thanks 
 for the very kind manner in which Mr. Eglinton has acted on private and other occasions." 
 
 A large company of friends assembled at Paddington on the morning of the 5th luly, 
 to bid him " God speed." He went to Torquay, en route, and was the guest of an old 
 friend, Mr. W. T. Rossiter, who reported a few seances in the Spirilualist of July 19th. On 
 the occasion in question, he was entertained by the Mayor of Dartmoutli, who very kindly 
 accompanied him on board the Balmoral Castle. 
 
 Cheered by the presence of several West of England friends, he left England on the 
 morning of tlie 12th July. The voyage was a very eventful one for him, there being on board 
 a man who had had a sitting with him in London, and who prejudiced his fellow-passengers 
 against him by spreading rumours that were absolutely untrue. Madeira was reached on the
 
 South African ExpcrieuceL \% 
 
 l6tli, and arter the customary call of a few hours, the voyage was resumed, Cape Town being 
 reached on tlic Sunday morning. He was met on boaid by Dr. Ilutdiinson and Mr. and 
 Mrs. Marshall. 
 
 Mr. Egliiiton went to the Cape as the guest of Dr. Hutchinson, and solely at his expense. 
 The devotion of this gentleman to the cause of Spiritualism, and the self-sacrilice he has 
 displayed in many ways to extend a knowledge of its truths, is beyond praise. Mr. Kglinton 
 writing after his visit says : " I owe to Dr. Hutcliinson, to Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, and to Mr. 
 and Mrs. Darter much that was pleasant during my stay at the Cape ; and my acknowledg- 
 ments are due also to many other kind and considerate friends." 
 
 Dr. Hutchinson kept copious notes of all that occurred during the nine months Mr. 
 Eglinton was his guest, and prepared a very careful summary of them, which I shall presently 
 give. The daily press freely criticised his advent in a half-bantering tone, and expressed a hope 
 that he would not "fail to give a few public performances of his so-called superhuman skill." 
 
 This was not to be, however. Mr. Eglinton, fortunately, was in judicious hands. At no 
 time did he give professional seances. Dr. Hutchinson's idea was rather that he should sit 
 for the Cape Town Psychological Society. After a few seances, however, this plan was 
 abandoned owing to dissensions ; and Dr. Hutchinson thereupon decided to study tiie pheno- 
 mena under his own roof, inviting such guests as he saw proper. 
 
 In the meantime, having little or nothing to do, Mr. Eglinton studied ckntistry under 
 Dr. Hutchinson, and was enrolled on his return to England in 1879 as a duly qualified 
 practitioner. 
 
 The seances were very remarkable. One in particular bears off the palm for originality, 
 as having taken place with his friend, Mr. Marshall, on the top of Table Mountain. 1 now 
 give Dr. Hutchinson's narrative. 
 
 When in England in 1877, 1 heard a great deal about Mr. Eglinton's psychical powers, 
 but although I endeavoured on several occasions to see him 1 failed to do so. When, however, 
 I returned to Cape Town, I did not rest until I had induced him to make a special visit to 
 South Africa in order to afford my friends and myself an opportunity of investigation. 
 
 He arrived in Cape Town in August 1S78, and took up his quarters at my house, where 
 for more than nine months I saw him daily. I had every opportunity for careful study, and 
 was able to watch and scrutinise all his actions, until 1 had witnessed such astounding manifes- 
 tations as none but a fool or a prejudiced bigot could ignore. 
 
 The excellent results 1 obtained are, I believe, clearly traceable to the harmony existing 
 between us, and to reciprocal feeelings of friendship and esteem ; also because he felt himself 
 thoroughly at ease and at home in the presence of myself and family. 
 
 Having proved my friend an honourable, just, and upright man, and of good report, he 
 was, at his request, proposed for initiation in the Good Hope Lodge of Masons, and in 
 due time was crafted, raised, and finally turned out a brother of the mystic tie— a step, I 
 believe, he has never, regretted. 
 
 Often in the presence of brother Masons, I have heard him declare solenuily and sincerely, 
 that as a man and a master Mason he was innocent of any guilty comi-licity in producing 

 
 44 
 
 ' Tztnlxi Two Worlds. 
 
 the pliciioincnn, and many Masons are also able to testify having seen, felt, and conversed with 
 materialised Masonic spirits. 
 
 I will now describe some of the phenomena I have observed in his presence. Some three 
 years previously I prepared an instrument for spirits to work, but not having a good physical 
 medium was compelled to put it on one side until a favourable opportunity occurred. Mr. 
 Eglinton having come to the Cape, he gave me an opportunity of trying my apparatus. A disk 
 made of galvanised sheet iron, eighteen inches in diameter, had white paper pasted over the 
 upper part, and around the edge were arranged the letters of the alphabet, together with the 
 words " Yes " and " No." (Fig. 4). In the centre a small round hole, about half an inch in 
 diameter, was cut, and a pin about three inches long by one-eighth of an inch thick put through ; 
 on the U)\) of this was a wooden pointer, arrow-shaped, fi.xed on so that by having a small cross- 
 piece of wooil fi.Kcd to the under part, a materialised spirit hand could move the arrow round 
 
 Fig. 4. — Dr. Hutchinson's Dial. 
 
 to any letter. In the centre of my seance table I had cut out a small circular piece (which 
 I leave in when not wanted), so that spirits might project their hands; the space immediately 
 beneath the wood of the table made a sort of camera, which prevented the light falling on 
 the spirit hands, and thereby dissipating the material molecules collected over them. Having 
 taken out the circular piece of wood, I placed the circular disk over the hole, and then fixed 
 the cross-piece to the portion of the pin that was beneath the table. The apparatus looks 
 very much like a telegraphic instrument I have seen, where the operator moves the key 
 round to the different letters. Having first reduced the light fairly low, for the purpose of 
 strengthening the power, the invisible spirit operator told us, by raps, that he wanted the 
 light turned up, which I at once did. It was only two or three feet above the table The 
 room was now quite light, and with nine persons present, besides the medium, we had every 
 opportunity of closely watching his hands and feet, but in order to leave not a shadow of 
 doubt that the sensitive was only a passive agent in the matter, I decided that it would 
 enhance the value of the experiment if both his hands and feet were securely held, a proposal 
 in which he readily acquiesced. 
 
 Mr. Eglinton was grasped firmly by both hands by an investigator on each side, with
 
 South African Experiences. 45 
 
 one of their feet over each of liis feet ; all their hands and feet weie in full view. After 
 sitting for a sliort time, ail the other sitters having their hands, palm downwards, flat cm the 
 table, ami their feet drawn muler their chairs, tiie tnediuin began to tremble and shiver, owing 
 to power or heat being extracted from his body, causing the temperatme of his bixly to decrease 
 considerably (as experiments have shown). He then became partly entranced. 
 
 At this stage we were told by the spirit that he would try to comnnniieate, if jxissible, in 
 full light, b}' means of the dial. The arrow of the dial began to oscillate and revolve alternately, 
 first one way and then the other, and finally becoming steady, it [)ointed to the following letters: 
 " GodundcvslaiuhilovcyonaUjocyisuntJiyon " — " God understands. I /ot'c you all. Joey is wi'/li yon." 
 This proved to our minds that the same intelligence who spoke to us bj' means of the raps was 
 the invisible operator, as no blintl force could act on tin- apiKuatus, anil make it spell out 
 intelligent messages ; and we could not come to any other conclusion than that the spiritual 
 hypothesis is true. The medium began to show symptoms of great nervous exhaustion, when 
 the arrow moved to the following letters: " Isolaldlicincdinni " — " Isolair llic nicdinni," which 
 I did by letting the friends holding him move away from him about two feet, l)Ut having a 
 full view of his feet and hands. The arrow now began to spin round at a very rapid rate, then 
 stop, and oscillate, and vibrate strongly ; the sensitive shivered, and was much agitated whilst 
 the arrow was in motion-, establishing the statements of the spirits that the power used for 
 producing the manifestation was extracted from the body of their medium, as in the case of 
 full form materialisation, during which the weight of the medium varies whilst materialised 
 forms arc in view. 
 
 Mr. Eglinton then suggested that his eyes should be blindfolded and his hand be allowed 
 to guide the arrow ; and with eyes tightly bandaged, the pointer was guided to these letters : 
 '■ Godnndn-s/andsilovcyonalljocy"—" God undcrslands. I love you all, 'Joey.'" The message was 
 word for word like the one we obtained by the pointer moving without mortal intervention in 
 the previous experiment, except that "is with you" was left out. When the eyes of the medium 
 were unbandaged, I remarked that, speaking from a sceptical point of view, the experiment was 
 not altogether satisfactory, as I thought the bandage did not fit down closi-ly under his eyes 
 owing to the prominence of the no.se, whereupon he solemnly declared that he could not see a 
 ray of light. To leave not a shadow of doubt that he did not see, Mr. Kglinton said he would 
 try for another message blindfolded, but, in addition, somebody should press a finger tightly 
 over each of his eyeballs at the same time, to keep the folds of the handkerchief well under, so 
 that all the sitters in the room could know for themselves. Accordingly, I appointed one of 
 the sitters to place a finger over each eyeball, and at the same time to keep the handkerchief 
 well down ; under these conditions it was simply a physical impossibility for any human being 
 to see anything normally. The medium's hands were then placed on the arrow ; it began to 
 rotate and pointed to these letters : " YounnediHniistrneiloveyouallJoeyisu'itliyon " — " Your medium 
 is true. I love you all. 'Joey' is ivith you." rinis the same intelligence who gave us the former 
 manifestations sent this last message indirectly by mesmerically guiding the hand of the 
 sensitive to the letters. Any practical mesmerist will understand the process. To dispel any 
 doubts which my previous remark might lead the listeners to think I had, the intelligence wrote, 
 "Your medium is true;" and again, for the third time, under dilfereut cemditions, repeated his 
 message, " / love you nil. 'Joey ' is wi/li you."
 
 46 'Twixt Two Worlds. 
 
 The communication itself is neither good, bad, nor indifferent, but simply an experimental 
 message from a spirit, who, at our special request, succeeded in communicating in such a 
 way that no xavanl, conjurer, or other person, could, by trying from now till doomsday, 
 account for the phenomenon on any other than the spiritual hypothesis. Where there was no 
 confederate, scientific mechanism, or a properly arranged platform or apparatus with secret 
 machinery, nothing would make the simple apparatus act as I have stated, except guided by 
 supernatural means. To make the proof even more positive, 1 subsequently had another seance, 
 when I asked " Joey," tlie spirit (who 1 have often seen materialised and speaking to us, with 
 his medium in view of all at tiie same time), if he did it. He told me point blank, with a 
 clear and distinct voice, " IV/iv, certainly I did: ivlio e/se do yon think it zvas ? I did it to 
 convince yon titat spirits can and do conuniinicatc i^ulli mortals, bnt there are other iimys of doing so 
 that do not tax the energies of the uiedinni so niiieh " 
 
 After the experiment with the dial, we had a short sitting for materialisation, during which 
 the spirits materialised as far as the waist, floating all over the room, and coming within a few 
 inches of our faces. The beautiful cross was shown to us all. On several occasions it has been 
 brought and held for some time against the foreheads of different sitters, who have seen spirit 
 forms holding it, one on each side. One lady, who had never before witnessed the spirit forms, 
 became rather alarmed ; and " Ernest " remarked, quite audibly, that if she were afraid, they 
 would refrain from manifesting, but parenthetically added that she need not have the slightest 
 fear, for the cross (alluding to the luminous one we had seen) we had just before been shown 
 was a sufficient passport ; wliere that was borne by spirits no harm would befall any of 
 us. After this the seance went on, and tlie medium on recovering from his trance, remarked 
 that he would rest for a short period and tiien try the dial again, by placing his hand 
 on it in liis normal state, as there were some strange spirits wishing to communicate. This 
 he did, and becoming partially entranced, he directed the arrow to the following letters, 
 which being properly grouped made, "/ am Rosina Anna Phdippa Henrietta. I died 1 6 years 
 
 ago to-night. Your sister Louisa (I leave out surnames, as I have no permission from 
 
 the person wlio read tlie message to make it public), afterwards Mrs. , is ivith inc. 
 
 Do you want tests ? She laid me in my silver and blue coffin ; she is ivitli nie, and though tivo 
 years have elapsed since she died, I have come back to cheer your lonely hours. I Join with her in 
 
 sending dear love, and also to E and C . Cancer cannot kill her non', and her left breast 
 
 is now healed. God is ivith you." Here ended a most useful test message to a lady present, 
 who became greatly agitated, and acknowledged everything said to be literally correct. 
 
 At one improvised sitting, we received several messages by the aid of the dial, the hand 
 of the mediuni directing it. To get messages by direct agency is too trying for the sensitive ; 
 hence, when his hand is used, it greatly economises power. One message ran, "Yes, I 7vill do as 
 I am ret/uested. I Then you write say that there is a probability of his request being carried out. 
 Your state of mind is our first consideration. IVe intend giving spirits opportunity to speak in 
 this simple jvay." Tiiis was understood by one present, who said the message was rele\'ant 
 to certain questions which had been previously put to the controls. Two or tliree other spirits 
 gave full details of their names, ages, and cause of death. 
 
 At another seance, also an improvised one, Mr. Eglinton, two ladies (one a medium), and 
 myself were engaged in a rubber at whist at my house, when, as usual, "Joey" made himself
 
 Soii//i African Expcricnfcs. 
 
 known by raps on the polished drawing-room floor, some distance from the nicdiuni. Whilst 
 we played we kept up a lively conversation with "Joey," who seemed to enjoy selecting, in 
 some mysterious manner, all the best cards for Mr. Rglinton, although I repeatedly endeavoured 
 to thwart him. We had jilayed about an hour, when an arm-chair, jjlaced about five feet 
 from the table, and known as "Joey's" seat, was seen to move. We closely watched it, 
 and found it was first moved one side forward, then the otlier, as if some one was pulling it 
 near the table. Shortly afterwards the influence seemed to have gained suflicient power, and a 
 direct forward movement was given to the chair, and eventually it was run up close to the table. 
 We put it back again, but "Joey" emphatically demanded his seat at the table by again moving 
 it into position. We were naturally deliglited with our good friend "Joey's" jirescnce. Shortly 
 afterwards, as we were taking some refreshment, the table began to rock and bump about in a most 
 curious manner. Mr. Eglinton suggested that we should sit for further manifestati<.>ns. "Joey" 
 hammered out his approval of this, and we cleared for action. We lowered the light a little— it 
 had hitherto been burning brightly — the table was at once taken up, turned over, and evidently 
 handled with the greatest ease by the controls. A fancy cover on one of the chairs at some distance 
 from the table was taken off and thrown in my face, our chairs were grasped and pulled about, 
 and each sitter was touched with hands of different strength and size. Two large volumes of Punch 
 were taken up in the air, and one dropped flat on Mr. Eglinton's head and the other on my hands ; 
 the grips we frequently got were particularly strong, and the hands were larger than those 
 of any one present. Cushions were drawn from our chairs and thrown at us ; a large chair 
 was laid across the table, and, at our request, again taken olV with case and placed in a ilistant part 
 of the room. Indeed, our friends appeared to be having a grand field day of it. The table was 
 now drawn nearer the piano, and also nearer the light, which was still burning sufficiently for 
 us to distinguish each other plainly. I distinctly saw a coated arm and large muscular hand 
 stretched out from the medium's body, and grasp the piano leg and draw it nearer the table ; so [ilain 
 was this that I did not think of materialisation until I felt the medium's hand on my own. I 
 again and again saw the same hand and arm draw the piano until it was quite close to me ; 
 then it flashed across me that the arm which completely intercepted the light of the lamp was 
 not mortal. Mr. Eglinton also saw this arm and hand raised behind the piano; the instrument 
 now began to play, and during the evening "Joey," with single notes, played correctly four 
 or five different tunes. 
 
 When we received the signal to break up, and had turned on the full light, what a chaos 
 the room presented! Portable couches were turned up and doubled into their smallest dimensions; 
 cushions, cards, etc., etc., strewed the floor. We got things ship-shape again, and in the 
 light my pipe was visibly brought across tlie room to me through mid-air, and another object 
 thrown at someone else. Shortly afterwards, going upstairs to view some birds, a pack of cards, 
 which I had left downstairs, was thrown violently against the wall opposite one of the ladies. 
 
 On Tuesday, the 9th December, my wife, mother, niece, and myself had a special sitting 
 in my private seance room, commencing at 8 p.m. After being properly seated, without hands 
 being joined, seven spirit forms showed themselves, three of whom came so near to us 
 that we could distinguish their features. "Abd-u-lah " came within two feet of me, and as the 
 gas was burning in a line with his head close to him, I had a good opportunity of scrutinising 
 his features. His nose was quite different to Mr. Eglinton's, and unlike those of the other
 
 48 ' Tioixt Tzuo Worlds. 
 
 forms, who came to within six inches of my eyes. The latter had tlattish noses, were said 
 to be" Turks, and looked like them. The spirit in question came out, went to the table 
 in front of us, then to the mantelpiece some eight feet from the cabinet, and hurriedly 
 grasping some blank cards 1 had left there, returned to the table, deliberately took a chair, 
 moved it up to the table, sat down, looked at some paper, and finally took one of the blank 
 cards it had brought from the chimney-piece, and began writing something on it with a lead 
 pencil we had left on the table. 
 
 We all saw the motion of the pencil and of the hand guiding it, ami I immediately 
 remarked tliat the noise made by the pencil was exactly like the sound of a telegram being 
 transmitted by the Morse telegraphic code. 1 knew this, as I was connected with the electric 
 telegraph in America some fifteen or twenty 3'ears ago, and was, and still am, able to read messages 
 by what is termed " sound," witjiout the aid of a registering apparatus with paper. The form 
 remained writing sixt}' or ninety seconds — a long time if one watches the minute hand of a 
 watch — then quickly rose up from the chair, turned towards us, bowed, and retired. After 
 it had gone, one of Mr. Eglinton's guides remarked that we had just seen a spirit of a very 
 high order. This was said whilst the second spirit was in front of the cabinet, materialising 
 himself in front of our eyes, and producing out of apparently empty space j^ards of some 
 sort of whitish material. 
 
 1 must here remark that at one time Mr. Eglinton was led into the middle of the room, 
 within two feet of me, by a spirit form, wlio left him sitting on a chair, but who waited at the 
 entrance of the cabinet till he returned, and then took him back. The spirit had white 
 garments, whilst Mr. Eglinton had his ordinary dark-brown clothes on, and both being seen 
 together, left us nothing more to desire as a test. 
 
 After the sc'aiicc had ended, I went up to the table and looked at the card I had seen the 
 form writing on, and to my great surprise I found it filled with characters which I at once 
 recognised as those used in the Morse code of signals when I was in America. There was 
 a cross underneath, in the centre of which, on looking closely, I saw a miniature head. 
 
 Being able to send a telegram at any time, I thought I would compare the transmission 
 with the time tlie spirit did it in. With an improvised "key," at a moderate rate, I did it in 
 one hundred seconds; if I manipulated quickly I could do it in less than sixty; but it would 
 be next to impossible for one without years of practice to do it under these conditions. I 
 know that the form was not Mr. Eglinton, and that he lias no knowledge of telegraphy. 
 I heard the synchronous action of the sound of writing, and the motion of the pencil, and 
 to prove that my sense of hearing and knowledge of telegraphy were not wrong, on examining 
 the card 1 found tiie cjiaracters were not in the code used to-day in England and here, but in 
 that of my time, twenty years ago in America. 
 
 This must suffice, although there is mucii more in Dr. I hitcliinson's narrative I should 
 like to present to the reader. 
 
 Public opinion in Cape Town was much exercised about these seaiias, and no opportunity 
 was lost by opponents to vilify and slander both Mr. Eglinton and his iiost. This feeling 
 culminated in a direct attack upon both men, the chief offenders being the editor of the
 
 itfe. 
 
 1M 
 
 m 
 
 k'm 
 
 'Is--- 
 
 w. 
 
 
 ^J' 
 
 
 ^• 
 
 ^?A«?
 
 SoJitli African Experiences. 49 
 
 Cnpc Tiuu'A, an cx-revcrcnd, and a Mr. Geary, the editor of a satirical paper — tiie Lnnlnii — 
 to wlioni Dr. Hutchinson, honestly courting investigation, had extended an invitation to a series 
 of sc'iiinrs. They repaid this courtesy i^y violating all the usages of civilised society, and the 
 conditions which they had pledged themselves to observe. One of them attempted to simulate 
 th(- phenomena, and, when detected, created a disturbance, in the ciuu-se of wiiich he accused the 
 other members of the circle of imposture. Garbled accounts of the allair were subsequently 
 published in the columns of their respective journals, but the Cape Argus, coming to the defence 
 of Dr. Hutchinson and Mr. Eglinton, thoroughly exposed the discreditable conduct of these men, 
 and further proved the enormity of their oflence by showing that on tlio occasion in question, 
 they were not in a fit state to associate with gentlemen. 
 
 The year 1879 opened very darkly indeed for Spiritualist workers. Tiic state of public 
 opinion against Spiritualism at this time determined Mr. Eglinton, if possible, to abstain from 
 mediumship as a means of living. His projected tour round the world was therefore abandoned, 
 and finding it impossible to remain any longer in South Africa, with any interest to 
 himself, he returned to England in May, 1879,
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE STORY OF A HAUNTING SPIRIT. 
 
 N returning to England he at once gave a series of non-professional sctuiccs at 
 
 the house of his old friend, Mrs. Macdougal Gregory. He adhered to his 
 
 resolution, if possible not to allow himstlf to be drawn again into the arena 
 
 of public work. In this resolve he was very materially helped by a friend, 
 
 r whose kindness and consideration are the same now as then. 
 
 In June, 1S79, business called him to Rouen and Paris, and on his return 
 a seance took place at Mrs. Gregory's, at which the late Serjeant Cox was present. In the 
 presence of Mr. Eglinton and a non-professional medium, two chairs were threaded at the 
 same moment of time upon the arms of two sitters, each of whom was then holding the 
 hand of a medium. Mr. Serjeant Cox was holding the hand of Mr. Eglinton, and the back 
 of the chair passed through his arm, giving him the sensation of a blow against the elbow 
 when it did so. When a light was struck, the chair was seen hanging on Mr. Serjeant 
 Cox's arm, and his hand was still grasping that of Mr. Eglinton. An immediate examination 
 of the chair showed that the back of it was in good condition, with none of the woodwork 
 loose or broken. This is only one instance of a manifestation which has been often repeated, 
 but I mention this as the evidence seems all that can be desired. 
 
 Desiring a change of scene and air, Mr. Eglinton, in July, 1879, accepted an invitation 
 from his friends Colonel and Mrs. Lean ()U''c Florence Marryat) to accompany tliem to Belgium, 
 on a visit to her sister at Bruges. Whilst there an exceedingly novel and interesting 
 experience befell him, the account of which 1 cannot do better than give in Florence Marryat's 
 own words : — 
 
 "Bruges, yu/y 18//-, 1879. 
 "At last the dry bones in this world-renowned old city have commenced to shake. A lady 
 who is resident here, whilst on a visit to England last month invited Mr Eglinton to pass a 
 short time in Bruges whenever it might be most convenient to himself, and he crossed in the 
 same boat with us yesterday (Wednesday). I lis hostess met him at the station and took iiini 
 direct to lu-r luiuse, whilst we came on to tlie one from which I write, which is situated in 
 another part of the town. Our first 'conference,' as they call the seances here (and I think, 
 since the latter term has fallen so much into disrepute, that it would not be a bad idea to 
 introduce the word amongst our English Spiritualists), was held the same evening at the 
 house of Mr. Eglinton's hostess, Mrs. M , where we imagined all our sittings would take
 
 The Slory of a ffaunfiuQ- Spin'f. 51 
 
 place. IJut ill tlic course of it 'Joey' infurmeil us that on the following night we were lo 
 
 sit at the iiouse of Mrs. B , the friend with wiiom we are staying. I must premise that 
 
 this house is so ancient that the date of its original building has been completely lost. A 
 stone let into one of its walls bears an inscription to the elTect that it was restored in the 
 3-ear 1616, and an obsolete plan of the city shows it to have stood in its present condition 
 in 1562. Prior to that period, however, it is supposed, with three houses on either side of it, 
 to have formed a convent ; but no printed record remains of the fact. Beneatli it are 
 subterranean passages, now choked with rubbish, which lead no one can tell whither. I have 
 stayed in this house many times before, and have always felt strange and unpleasant 
 influences from it, especially in a large room on the lower floor, now used as a drawing-room, 
 but which is said originally to have formed the chapel of the convent. Others have felt the 
 influence besides myself, but we have never had reason to believe that there was any particular 
 cause for it. On the evening in question, however, when we expressed curiosity to learn why 
 
 ' Joey ' desired us to hold our next ' conference ' in Mrs. B 's house, he told us that the 
 
 medium had ncit been brought over to Bruges for our pleasure, or even edification, but that 
 there was a great work to be done here, and that Mrs. M — — had been expressly influenced to 
 invite him o\tr, that the purposes of a higher power than his own should be accomplished. 
 
 Consequently on the following evening Mrs. M brought Mr. Eglinton over to our house, 
 
 and 'Joey,' having been asked to choose the room for the 'conference,' selected an cutirsol on 
 tlic upper floor, which leads by two short passages into the bedrooms. The bedroom door 
 being locked, a curtain was liung at the entrance of one of these passages, and 'Joey' declared 
 it was a first-rate cabinet. 
 
 " We then all assembled in the drawing-room for some conversation and music, for the 
 
 time appointed for the 'conference' had not arrived. The party consisted only of Mrs. B 
 
 and Mrs. M , the medium, my husband, and myself. After I had sung a few songs, Mr. 
 
 Eglinton became restless, and moved away from the piano, saying the influence was too strong 
 for him. He began walking up and down the room, and staring fixedly at the door, before 
 which hung a portiere. Several times he exclaimed pointedly, 'What is the matter with tiiat 
 door? There is something very peculiar about it!' Once he approached it quickly; 'Joey's' 
 voice was heard from behind the portiere saying, ' Don't come too near.' Mr. ICglinton then 
 retreated to a sofa, and appeared to be fighting violently with some unpleasant influence. 
 He made the sign of the cross, then extended his fingers towards the door, as though to 
 exorcise it ; fuially he burst into a scornful mocking peal of laughter that lasted for several 
 minutes. As it concluded a diabolical expression came over his face. lie clenched his hands, 
 gnashed his teeth, and commenced to grope in a crouching position towards the door. We 
 concluded he wished to go up to the 'conference' room, and let him have his way. He 
 crawled more tiian walked up the steep turret stairs, but on reaching the top came to himself 
 suddenly and fell back several steps. Luckily my husband was just behind, and saved him 
 from a fall. He comiilained very much of the influence, and of a pain in his head, and we 
 went at once into the 'conference' room, and sat at the tablr. In a few seconds the same 
 spirit had taken possession of him. He left the table and groped his way towards the 
 bedrooms, listening apparently to every sound, and with his hand holding an imaginary knife, 
 which was raised every now and then as though to strike. The expression on Mr. ICglin-
 
 52 'Twixt Two Worlds. 
 
 ton's face duriiig lliis posscsbioii is too horrible to describe. The worst passions were written 
 as legibly there as though they had been labelled. There is a short flight of steps leading 
 from the entresol to the corridor, closed at the head by a padded door, which we had locked 
 for fear of accident. When apparently in pursuit of his object the spirit led Mr. Eglinton 
 up to tiiis door, and he found it fastened ; his moans were terrible. Half a dozen times he 
 made his weary round of the rooms, striving to get downstairs to aL-complish some end, and 
 had to return to us, moaning and baffled. At this juncture the medium was so exhausted 
 that 'Daisy' took control of him and talked with us for some time, during whicii we 
 procured the writing on tiic arm. ' Dai.sy,' having taken olT Mr. Eglinton's coat and bared 
 his arm, asked me to write the name of the friend I loved best in the spirit-world on a 
 piece of paper. I left the table, and not thinking the injunction of much importance, wrote 
 the name of a dear friend now long passed away, but who is much with me, and folded 
 the paper. The medium took it as I gave it, and holding it in the flame of the candle 
 burned it to ashes, whicli he gatiiered and rubbed upon his arm. In another minute there 
 stood out in bold characters the words 'Florence is dearest,'' and which I find was a gentle 
 rebuke from my dead child that I should have written any name but hers upon the paper. 
 
 "We asked 'Daisy' what the spirit was like tiiat had controlled her medium, and she 
 said she did not like him ; he had a very bad face, no hair on the top of his head, and 
 a long black frock. From this we concluded he must have been a monk or a priest. 
 
 "When 'Daisy' had finished talking to us, 'Joey' desired Mr. Eglinton to go into 
 the cabinet, but as soon as he rose the spirit which iiad first controlled him got possession 
 again, and led him grovelling, as before, towards the bedrooms, flis own guides therefore 
 carried him into the cabinet before our eyes. He was levitated far above our heads, his 
 feet touching each of us in turn ; he was tiien carried past the unshaded window, which 
 enabled us to judge of the height he was from the ground, and finally over a large table 
 into the arm-chair in the cabinet. 
 
 "Nothing, however, of consequence occurred, and after a few trials 'Joey' told us lie had 
 been advised to break up the sitting, and we were to take the medium downstairs into the 
 supper-room, which is on the ground floor, divided by a marble corridor from tiie drawing- 
 room before mentioned. 
 
 "We accordingly adjourned there, and during supper Mr. Eglinton appeared to be quite 
 himself. As soon as the meal was over, however, the old restlessness returned on him, and 
 he began pacing up and down the room, walking out every now and then into the corridor. 
 In a few minutes we perceived that tiie uneasy spirit had again controlled him, and we followed 
 him into the corridor. He went steadily towards the drawing-room door, but on finding himself 
 pursued turned back tiiree times and pronounced emphatically tiie word 'Go!' He tiien entered the 
 drawing-room, whicii was in darkness, and closed the door behind him, whilst we waited outside. 
 In a litde while he reopened it, and speaking in quite a different voice, said, ' Bring a light ! 
 I iiave something to say to you!' When we reassembled we found Mr. Eglinton controlled 
 by a new spirit, whom 'Joey' has since told us is one of his highest guides. Motioning 
 us to sit down, he stood before us and said, 'I have been selected from amongst the controls 
 of this medium to tell you the history of the unhappy spirit who has so disturbed you this 
 evening. He is present now, and the confession of his crime through my lips will help him
 
 l^Iic S/ory of a / farm/ i no- Spirit. 53 
 
 to throw o(T tlic carth-bouiul condition to wliirli it lias coiuicmncd him. Many years ago tiic 
 iioiisc ill wliich w'c stand was a convi'nt, ant! nndcrneath it were four sui)tcrraii''aii passa{,'rs 
 iiinniiig north, soutii, east, and west, which comnuinicntcd with all paits of the town.' 
 
 "(I sliould here state tliat Mr. Egiinton liad not previously been infnrmcd of any |)articulars 
 
 relating to the former history of this house, but that Mrs. B has told me since that, 
 
 many years ago, some one said in her hearing that, at one time, there were four passages 
 excavated beneath it.) 
 
 "'In this convent there lived a most beautiful woman — a nun; and in one of the neigh- 
 bouring monasteries a ])riest, who, against the strictest laws of the Church, had <-onceived 
 and nourished a passion for her. He was an Italian, who had been obliged to leave his own 
 country for reasons best known to himself, and nightly he would steal his way to this house 
 by means of one of the subterranean passages, and attempt to overcome the nun's scruples and 
 make her listen to his tale of love; but she, strong in the faith, always resisted iiim. At 
 last, one day, maddened by her repeated refusals and his own guiltj' passion, he hid himself 
 in one of the northern rooms in the upper story of this house.-, and watched there in the 
 dusk for her to pass him on her way from her devotions in the chapel, hut she did not 
 come. Tlien he crept down stairs stealthily with a dagger hid beneath jiis robes, and met 
 her in that hall. lie conjured her again to yield to him, but again she resisted, and he 
 stabbed her within the door, on the very spot where the medium first perceived him. 
 Her pure soul sought immediate consolation in the spirit spheres, but his has been cliained 
 down ever since to the scene of his awful crime. Me dragged her body down the secret stairs 
 (still existent) to the vaults below, and hid it in the subterranean passage. After a few days 
 he sought it again, and buried it. He lived many years after, and committed other crimes, 
 but none so foul as this. It is his unhappy spirit which asks your prayers to help it to 
 progress. It is for this purpose we were brought to this cit}' that we might aid in releasing 
 the miserable soul that cannot rest.' 
 
 "I asked, 'By what name shall we pray for him?' 'Pray "for the distressed being." 
 Call him by no other name.' 'What is your own name?' 'I prefer it to be inikmnvn. 
 May God bless you all and keep you in the way of prayi-r and truth, and from all evil 
 courses, and bring you to everlasting life. Amen.' 
 
 "Mr. Egiinton then walked up to the spot he had indicated as the scene of the murder, 
 and knelt there for some minutes in prayer. If I have failed to impress you with an idea 
 of what a solemn scene this was it is the fault of my pen, for it was the most thrilling 
 manifestation that any of us have ever witnessed. In order that the medium might be rested 
 we did not hold a 'conference' the next day; but as we sat at dinner together loud raps 
 came on the back of his chair, and on our calling the alphabet the name 'Benedetta' was 
 rapped out. We concluded it must have been the 'distressed being' who could not pronounce 
 
 the sacred name. In the evening I sat alone at the table with Mrs. B , where the name 
 
 'Ilortense Dupont' was given us, and the following conversation ensiietl : — ' Wlio are you?' 
 ' I am the nun. I did love him. I couldn't help it. It is such a relief to think that he 
 will be prayed for.' 'When did he murder you?' 'In 149S.' 'What was his name?' 
 ' I cannot tell you.' ' His age ? ' ' Thirty-five.' ' And yours ? ' ' Twenty-three.' ' Are you 
 coming to see us to-morrow ? ' 'I am not sure.'
 
 54 'Twixt Tiuo IVoj'/ds. 
 
 "The next evening, by 'Joey's' orders, we assembled at seven. Mr. Eglinton did not 
 feel the influence in the drawing-room, but directly he entered the 'conference' room he was 
 possessed by the same spirit. His actions were still more graphic than on the first occasion. 
 He watched from the window for the coming of his victim through the courtyard, and then 
 recommenced his crawling stealthy pursuit, coming back each time from the locked door that 
 prevented his egress, with such heartrending moans that no one could have listened to him 
 unmoved. At last his agony was so great as he strove again and again, like some dumb 
 animal, to pass through the walls which divided him from the spot he wished to visit, whilst 
 the perspiration streamed down the medium's face with the struggle, that we attempted to 
 make him speak to us. We implored him in French to tell us his trouble, and believe us 
 to be his friends, but he only pushed us away. At last we felt we must pray for him, 
 
 so Mrs B and Mrs. M , with myself, kneeled down and repeated all the well-known 
 
 Catholic prayers. As we commenced the Dc Proftindis the medium fell prostrate on the earth 
 and seemed to wrestle with his agony. ' At the Saivc Regiita and Ave Maria he lifted his 
 eyes to heaven and clasped his hands, and in the Paternoster he appeared to join. But 
 directly we ceased praying the evil passions returned, and his face became distorted ■^vith the 
 thirst for blood. It was an experience that no one who has seen could ever forget. At 
 
 last I begged Mrs. B to fetch a crucifix, which we placed in his breast. It had not 
 
 been there many seconds before a different expression came over his face, and he seized it 
 in both hands, straining it to his eyes, lips, and heart — holding it from him at arm's length, 
 then passionately kissing it, as we repeated the Aniina Christi. Finally, he held the crucifix 
 out for each one of us to kiss — a beautiful smile broke out over the medium's face, and the 
 spirit passed out of him ! Mr. Eglinton awoke terribly exhausted. His face was as white as 
 a sheet, and he trembled violently. His first words were, ' They are doing something to my 
 forehead ; burn a piece of paper and give me the ashes.' 
 
 " He rubbed them between his eyes, when the sign of the cross became distinctly visible, 
 drawn deeply on his brow. The spirits then said that, exhausted as he was, we were to 
 place him in the cabinet, as their work was not yet done. He was accordingly led to the 
 arm-chair behind the curtain, whilst we formed a circle in front of him. In a few seconds 
 the cabinet was illuminated, and a cross of fire appeared outside of it. 
 
 " This manifestation having been twice repeated, the face and shoulders of a nun appeared. 
 Her white coif and chinpiece were pinned just as the rcligienses are in the habit of pinning 
 them, and she seemed very anxious to show herself, coming close to each of us in turn and 
 reappearing more than once. 
 
 "'Joey' said, 'That's the nun; but you'll understand tiiat this is only a preliminary trial, 
 preparatory to a much more perfect materialisation.' 
 
 "I asked her if she were the Ilortense Dupont who had communicated through mc, and 
 she nodded her head several times in acquiescence. She was succeeded by a very perfect 
 materialisatiun that has appeared before through Mr. Eglinton, although we have not yet 
 recognised it. It is the spirit of a dark man, apparently an Indian, with a short black iieard 
 and moustaches, who is said to have come for my husband, and to have been connected witii 
 him in some way when on foreign service. He returned three or four times on this occasion, 
 and made himself distinctly visible to all, seeming to be anxious to be examined and recognised ;
 
 The S/oj-y of a Haunt ins; Spirit. 
 
 but we liavc not yet discovered his name, -and 'Joey' can tell us nothing about him. This 
 
 ended the 'conference,' and I only mention it to show wliat powerful sittings we are having 
 
 here. During this evening a watcli, which had been missed the day befoi'e from Mrs. 
 
 M 's liands, came floating from the ceiling down into her lap; and wc were toucln <1 at 
 
 the same time by materialised hands." 
 
 " July 22nd, 1879. 
 "There is a little band of Spiritualists at Osteiul, who were very aii.Kious to secure Mr. 
 Eglinton's help for their circle, and yesterday' afternoon we went by appointment to hold 
 a 'conference' with them. It was a pelting wet day (for the deluge is not entirely confined 
 to England), and most unfavourable weather for phj'sical manifestations. They had arranged 
 their meeting to take place in the room of an hotel, with three staring unshaded windows. 
 Added to which about twenty good people had been invited, and inidcr such circumstances 
 it is needless to add that it was found impossible to hold a sitting, and it was put oft" to 
 another day, wheiT they should be able to make a better preparation. Wc came back 
 
 together, to Mrs. B- 's house to supper at about ten o'clock. During the meal loud raps 
 
 were heard about the room, and on giving the alphabet 'Joey' ordered us to go upstairs and 
 sit, and to have the door at the head of the staircase (which wc had hitherto locked for fear 
 
 of accident) open, which we accordingly did. (I had remarked privately to Mrs. R the 
 
 day before that I felt sure the spirit of the monk would not feel satisfied until it had enacted 
 the whole of the murder, which he had probably not confessed before his death ; but I had 
 not mentioned my surmises to Mr. Eglinton.) As soon as ever we were seated at the table 
 he became entranced, and the same pantomime, which I have related, was gone through. He 
 watched from the window which looks into the courtyard, and silently groped his way round 
 the room, until he had crawled on his stomach up the stairs which led to the padded door. 
 When he found, however, that the obstacle that had hitherto stood in his way was removed 
 (by its being open), he drew a long breath and started away to the winding turret staircase, 
 crouching at the doors he passed, in order to listen if he were overheard. When he came 
 to the stairs — in descending which we had been so afraid (notwithstanding 'Joey's' assurances 
 to the contrary) that he might hurt himself — he was levitated down them in the most wonderful 
 manner, only placing his hands twice on the balustrades, and being cari-ied as in a flight to the 
 bottom without any noise of footsteps. We had placed a lamp in the luill, so that as wc 
 followed him we could observe all his actions. When he had gained the bottom of the staircase 
 he crawled on his stomach to the door of the drawing-room (originally the chapel), and there 
 waited and listened, darting back into the shadows every time he fancied he heard a sound. 
 Imagine our little party of four in this sombre old house, the only ones waking at that time 
 of night, watching by the ghostly light of a turned-down lamp the acting of this terrible 
 tragedv. Mr. Eglinton's face during the possession was a perfect study, from which Irving 
 might have taken a lesson ; but it was so awful to think that there we actually witnessed the 
 revival of a crime that has held its perpetrator in the continual bondage of sin for four hundred 
 years, that we had no thought for anything but the solemnity of the scene. We held our 
 breaths as the murderer crouched by the chapel door, opening it noiselessly to peep within, 
 and then retreating with the imaginary dagger in his hand, ready to strike as soon as his
 
 S6 'Twixi Tzvo lVo7-lds. 
 
 victim appeared. At last she seemed to come. In an instant he sprang towards her, stabbing 
 her once in a iialf-stooping attitude, and then, apparently finding her not dead, he rose to his 
 ruli Jiciglit, and stabbed her twice straight downwards. For a moment he seemed paralysed 
 at wiiat he had done, starting back with both hands clasped to his forehead. Then he flung 
 himself prostrate on the supposed body, kissing the ground frantically in all directions. Pre- 
 sently he awoke to the fears of detection, and raised the corpse suddenly in his arms. He 
 fell once beneath its weight, but staggering up again he seized and dragged it, slipping on the 
 stone floor as he went to the head of the staircase that leads to the ' cave ' below, whence 
 the mouth of one of the subterranean passages is to be seen. The door at the head of this 
 flight is modern, and he could not undo the lock, and we, believing that if it were advisable 
 for him to descend his controls would open it, thought it best not to interfere. Prevented in 
 dragging the body down the steps, he cast himself again upon it, kissing the stune fluor of 
 the hall and moaning. At last he dragged himself on his knees to the spot of the murder, 
 and commenced to pray. We knelt with him, and as he heard our voices he turned on his 
 knees towards us with outstretched hands. I said, ' He wants the crucifix again ; I will go 
 upstairs and fetcii it.' As soon as I left the hall the medium rose and followed me. I found 
 what I wanted in the ' conference ' room, and returning, met him at the head of the stairs. 
 He seized it from me eagerly, and carrying it to the window whence he had so often watched, 
 fell down again upnn his knees. When he had prayed for some time he tried to speak to us. 
 His lips moved and his tongue protruded, but he was unable to articulate. Suddenly he 
 seized each of our hands in turn in both of his own, and wrung them violently. I fanc}- he 
 tried to bless us, but the words would not come. The same beautiful smile we had seen the 
 night before broke over his countenance ; the crucifix dropped from his hands, and he fell 
 prostrate on the floor. The next moment Mr. Eglinton was asking us where he was, and 
 what had happened to him, as he felt so queer. He declared himself fearfully exhausted, 
 but said he felt that a great calm and peace had come over him, notwithstanding the weakness, 
 and he believed some great good had been accomplished. He was not again entranced, but 
 'Joey' ordered the light to be put out, and spoke to us in the direct voice as follows: — 
 ' I've just come to tell you what I know you'll all be very glad to hear, that through the 
 medium's power, and our power, and the great power of God, the unhappy spirit who has been 
 confessing his crime to you, is freed to-night from the heaviest part of his burden— the being 
 earth-chained to this spot. I don't mean to say that he'll go away at once to the spheres, 
 because he's got a lot to do still to alter the conditions under which he labours ; but the worst 
 is over. This is the special work Mr. Eglinton was brought to Bruges to do; and 'Ernest' 
 and I can truly say that during the whole course of our control of him we have never had to 
 put forth our own powers, nor to ask so earnestly for the help of God, as in the last three 
 days. You have all helped in a good work— to free a poor soul from earth, and to set him 
 on the right road, and we are grateful to you and to the medium as well as he. He will be 
 able to progress rapidly now until he reaches his proper sphere, and hereafter the spirits of 
 himself and the woman he murdered will work together to undo for others the harm they 
 brought ujwn themselves. She is rejoicing in her high sphere at the work we have done for 
 him, and will be the first to help and welcome him upwards. There are many more earth- 
 bound spirits in this house and the surrounding houses who are sufiering as he was, though 
 
 I
 
 Tlic Story of a Haunling Spirit. 57 
 
 not to the same extent, nor tor the same reason. But they all ask for and need your help 
 and yoin- prayers, and tliis is the greatest and noblest end of Spiritualism— to aid poor 
 unhappy spirits to IVcc themselves fnim earth and progress upwards. After a while, when 
 this spirit can control the mcdinni with cahnncss, he will cimic himself and tell you, thiMugh 
 him, all his history, and how he came to fall. Meanwhile, we thank ycui very much for 
 allowing us to tlraw so nuich stix-ngth from you, and helping us with your sympathy ; and 
 I hope I shall see you to-moirow night, and that you will believe me always to remain your 
 loving friend, — Joky.' " 
 
 Such is the touching story of an earth-bound spirit, for whom the hearts of the medium's 
 guides went out in human compassion and sympathy. Shclh '. reliqun- ! rlemcntah ! Such narratives 
 as this, and there are iiundreds on record, give the lie direct to such monstrous perversions of the 
 truth, born in most cases of ignorance. I have often been puzzled to account for the oblic|uity of 
 vision displaj-cd by somC'Thcosophists in face of such unimp< a(-hal)le testimony to the humanity of 
 returning spirits, and only lately has the problem been solved for me. Talking with a prominent 
 Theosophist one da}', I soon discovered that the range of his vision, as regards Spiritualism, did 
 not extend beyond the floating guitars, the musical boxes, and buffoonery of the worst type of 
 seance prevalent in the past. He knew nothing of that higher Spiritualism, of the cherished 
 communion of thousands of private family circles, where of a truth the real fruits of the spirit are 
 seen — in the joy, the love, the happy reunion of soul with soul. I felt I could not disabuse him 
 — he was not prepared. It is this hidden knowledge of the secrets of the Holy of Holies of 
 Spiritualism that forms the real strength of the movement. Theosophists may talk of "shells" 
 and "elementals," and Psychical Researchers of their "unconscious secondary selves," and so-called 
 "scientific" methods, and both may render themselves a laughing-stock alike to the worlil and 
 Spiritualists. But, in the speech of One of old, may we not exclaim that it is "easier for a camel 
 to pass through the eye of a needle" than for those lacking a child-like thirst for knowledg(; and 
 a receptive and sympathetic nn'nd to pass the threshold of the Unseen ?
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION ON THE CONTINENT. 
 
 HOLIDAY visit to Mrs. Nichols followed tlie return from Ostend and Bruges, 
 which was, however, soon curtailed ; the success attending his public work having 
 become the subject of much interesting speculation in scientific circles in Sweden, 
 he received and accepted, shortly after his return, a very pressing and cordial 
 invitation to visit that country. The seances there caused no little sensation 
 amongst the general public, and particularly in scientific circles, the experiments 
 taking place at the houses of the elite in Stockholm. A very cordial welcome was extended to 
 him by, amongst others, M. Pilo, Herr Schildknecht, the Countess Pohlmann, Miss Valerius (an 
 eminent painter), and the Countess Wachmeister. Reports by well-known scientific men, such 
 as Professors Tornebom, Edland, Berlin, and Commander Lindmark, in favour of spiritual 
 phenomena, were communicated to the higher class papers. Nineteen seances were given 
 without any intermission of rest — all of them extremely satisfactory to those who attended them ; the 
 sitters including, besides those already mentioned, many Swedish literary men, artists, and poets. 
 The testimony borne by Professors Tornebom and Edland is especially noteworthy, inasmuch 
 as prior to Mr. Eglinton's visit they were both entirely sceptical as regards spiritual phenomena. 
 Their report appeared in the AJtonblad {Evening Post) of the 30th October, which is one of the 
 best daily papers in Sweden. After calmly and dispassionately pleading for candid inquiry in the 
 matter, and pointing out that although humbug and charlatanry are sometimes associated with 
 the subject through fraudulent mediums, they insist that in spite of the prevalent idea that deceit 
 and hallucination are at the bottom of spiritual phenomena, such hypotheses are not in accord 
 with n judicial survey of all the facts and the circumstances surrounding them. They then pro- 
 ceeded to -substantiate their argument, first, by alluding to the investigations of Wallace, Crookes, 
 and Zollner, and many more. These men, undertaking to examine seriously and without any 
 preconceived opinions these inexplicable facts, which were again and again occurring, had come 
 to the decision that such things really take place. "These investigators," say Professors Tornebom 
 and Edland, " were at last quite convinced that things could happen impossible to be explained by 
 the science of our day, and quite incredible, if there had not been indisputable facts to prove them." 
 Having thus cleared the ground, they then relate the results of their own personal experience:— 
 "'\'\\c se'nncea were given at the house of an honoured family here. The room in wiiich they took 
 place was closely inspected before the beginning of the seance, but nothing unusual was discovered. 
 The circle was composed of ten persons, including the medium. Everybody sat down at the table, 
 the conversation going on all the time, without any mystical preparations whatever. On the table
 
 Scuji/i/ic Iir.'cs/ioa/ioii on the Coiiliiu-iil. z^i.) 
 
 were i.l.urd ;i i;iiit.ii-, a iiiiisiial hux, ami a small hell, all of wliirli hail h. en pnieiind at a imisir 
 sho[) in town. All hands were put upon the tahle so as to form a chain, nobody heing nhle to 
 move a fniger without his neighbour noticing it. The persons sitting next Mr. Kglinton were 
 closely observing his slightest movements. The lights were extinguished, but as the adjuining 
 rooms were lighted up, which could be clearly seen through the crevices of the door, nobody could 
 enter the room that was being used for the sconce without being observed. After waiting for a 
 few moments, the conversation still going on, the things lying on the table began to move 
 about. The guitar was touched, and, to judge by the sounds proceeding from it, was hovering 
 about the room near the ceiling. In returning to its former place, several persons were lightly 
 touched by it. Tlicn the musical box began playing, and was carried over our heads to a 
 corner of the room, till it stopped ; when it came back to the table and began playing again. 
 The key was to be heard winding up the box. At that moment one of the Swedish persons 
 present asked if the musical box woukl stop playing, wiiich it innnediately did. lie then asked 
 it to go on playing at a lively rate, and he was at once obliged, the box playing even much 
 faster than its usual time. After the seance was at an end, it was observed that a large sofa 
 standing near the wall had been moved nearly one yard from its usual place, and, when the 
 candle was lighted, many things had been displaced in the room. During all this time the 
 medium's hands were not let loose for one moment. 
 
 "The great question now is, how are we to explain satisfactorily the strange proceedings 
 here related? The circumstances under wliich they took place wholly exclude all thoughts of 
 conjuring. No conjurer would consent to play his tricks without an assistant, or ajiparatus of 
 any kind, in a room where he had never been able to make any preparations whatever, and with 
 both hands held fast. Some other explanation must be given : probably long and difficult researches 
 are necessary. By people in general it is justly considered a great deal easier to laugii at what 
 one cannot understand than to discover the cause of it; therefore the greater number choose the 
 former way, although it explains nothing. When something strange and inexplicable occurs, the 
 first thing to do is not to find out if it is possible or not, but to get proofs that it really has been 
 done. If we have tangible facts to put forward, everybody must admit the possibility of the thing, 
 although they cannot explain it. Only those deny the reality of spirit phenomena who have 
 never examined them, but profound study alone can explain them. We do not know where we 
 may be led by the discovery of the cause of these, as it seems, trivial occurrences, or to what 
 new spheres of Nature's kingdoms they may open the way; but that they will bring forward 
 important results is already made clear to us by the revelations of natural history in all ages. — 
 
 ToRNEBOM AND EdLAND." 
 
 During his stay in Sweden he visited, professionally, the University of Upsala with marked 
 success; and he was also entertained by the Countess von Platen, at her castle in Orbyhiis, 
 where he gave many sittings. After an extremely eventful series of seances lasting upwards 
 of a month, he left his Swedish friends, from whom he had received nnicli kindness, for Denmark, 
 and at Copenhagen gave one seance, and then, travelling through Germany to Bohemia, he met 
 with a cordial reception at the residence of Ilerr Schmidt, of Annathal, where he stayed for a 
 fortnight or more, giving seances daily to those friends of his host who resided in the vicinity. 
 Some, however, drove thirty and forty miles to be present, so keen was the interest evinced
 
 6o ' Ti^.nxt Tzvo Worlds. 
 
 by tliLin. 1 he records of these seances appeared in the German SpirituaHst paper, Licht Mehr 
 Lichl, then partly edited by Ilerr Christian Reiiiicrs. From Annathal, Mr. EgHnton went on 
 to Prague, where he was the guest of the late Prince Thurn and Taxis, an old Spiritualist. 
 Many excellent results were obtained here. 
 
 From thence, in October, 1879, he travelled to Munich, in Bavaria. Here the seances 
 were given at the residence of Gabriel Max, the eminent painter ; they were attended by 
 many well known in scientific circles. On leaving, a letter, of which the following is a 
 translation, signed by Gabriel Max and fourteen others well known in science, literature, and 
 art, was handed to Mr. Eglinton :—" Munich, October 29th, 1879. We beg to thank Mr. 
 W. Eglinton for his kindness in giving us two seances at the house of the artist Gabriel Max, 
 during his visit to Munich. They were of the highest interest, and convinced us of the 
 genuineness of these wonderful phenomena." 
 
 One incident, the outcome of Mr. Eglinton's seances with Gabriel Max, must be mentioned 
 here. Shortly after his visit to Munich, the celebrated artist published a picture entitled, 
 " Geistesgruss " (Spirit Greeting)— a remarkable addition to the world of art from the study 
 of manifestations of spiritual power. 
 
 This composition discloses a girl verging on womanhood, seated at a piano, on the music 
 desk of which lies open the "Moonlight Sonata," of Beethoven. In the act of playing she 
 has been arrested by " the touch of a vanished hand." This spirit hand, materialised from 
 the wrist, is represented as gently resting on the girl's shoulder. The sad, startled young face, 
 filled with emotion, gazes upwards, evidently seeing what, to the spectator, is invisible. 
 Her hands are clasped together with agitation. Her dark, prophetic eyes dilate ; her childish 
 lips are opening with a cry of surprise. She is listening, all ear, to the spirit's utterances. 
 Astonishment as yet overwhelms her — joy has yet to come. 
 
 A more thoroughly realistic treatment of a Spiritualistic subject — of one of the not 
 infrequent experiences of the believers in "modern spiritual manifestations" — could not be 
 imagined. It is itself a reality. You see before you a young "medium" receiving a 
 coinnuinication. The story is beautifully told, and simple as truth itself. Though a lady, 
 and educated, you sec that this young girl is poor; the extreme simplicity and worn appear- 
 ance of her dress tell you this much. That she is an orphan, its heavy deep mourning 
 suggests to you. She is probably a teacher of music — has to be her own bread-winner. 
 Her face informs you at once that her temperament is that of a "sensitive." The picture 
 is solemnly tender, earnest, and pathetic. Though we behold the spirit hand, there is 
 nothing " sensational " in the picture. A psychological experience is here, with an earnest 
 and sympathetic treatment, set before us by the genius of a great artist. 
 
 From Munich Mr. Eglinton proceeded to Strasburg and Paris, in neither of which cities, 
 however, did he give any seances. In Paris he was cordially received and entertained by 
 M. Leymarie, of the Rcinie Spirile. 
 
 Shortly after iiis return to England, Dr. Robert Friese, a distinguished savant of Breslau, 
 was present at a seance at the house of Dr. Nichols, and an account of the results obtained 
 will be found on page 80. 
 
 One of the many interesting snvices given by him to Florence Mari'yat, was held at that 
 lady's residence on Sunday, January 4th, 1880. On that occasion there were present her
 
 Scientific Investigation on tlic Continent. 6i 
 
 husband (Colonel Lean), George Cruiksliank, George Grossinith, and Knllaiid Harrington. Seated 
 in tlie dim light, with Venetian blinds drawn, Mr. Egliiilon was seen by ail present to ascend 
 and float across the window. 
 
 In January, lcS8o, he was invited to read a paper upon " Mediuiiisiiip," iMfoic tiic Dalston 
 Association of Spiritualists. The Rev. W. Miall took the ciiaii-. The jiaper dealt chiefly 
 with the unsatisfactory relationship then existing between mediums and the S|iiiitualistic 
 public, and a full report appeared in the Spirifua/ist for January l6th, l8So. 
 
 In February of this year (1880) he again went to Cambridge University, and, under the 
 auspices of the Ps3xhoIogicaI Society of tiiat town, gave s('niicr<; at whicii stiiking results were 
 obtained, while he was handcuffed to one person, and held by another. 
 
 It was in this month that Sir George Sitwell and Mr. Carl von Buch "exposed" Mrs. 
 Corner. I need not refer more particularly to this alTair, except to say that the last woi'd 
 of this, as of most other " exposures," has probably not yet been said. Time brings its 
 own revenge in most things, and Spiritualism is no exception to the general rule. It is to be 
 hoped that when maturcr experience has shown these youths the folly of their hasty and 
 precipitate action, and their consequently fallacious conclusions, they will be honourable enough 
 to publicly confess the error into which they, no doubt, unwittingly fell. So much at least 
 is due to the medium most concerned. 
 
 After this affair Mr. Eglinton, in a spirit of loyal devotion to trutli, immediately 
 wrote to the exposers, offering to give them a scamr at the residence of Dr. Nichols, but 
 although they came, nothing was obtained. 
 
 At that time arrangements were being made for a more extended continental trip, and on 
 March 4th he left London, with two friends, for Holland, cii ivnic for Leipsic. Mere he 
 became the guest of Baron von Hoffmann, and was engaged to give srniicrs to Professor Zollner 
 and others connected with the University. Work was commenced on the 8th of March, two 
 scaiurs being given daily, or twenty-five in all. This was his first meeting with Zollner. 
 Writing of this, Mr. Eglinton says :— " I fell in love with him at once, he was .so genial and 
 open-hearted. We had a continuous series of marvellous successes. Zollner had intended 
 writing a volume of his experiments, many of them novel and striking, but death intervened." 
 
 Mr. A. J. Riko, of the Hague, writing in Spiritual No/r^, May, 1 880, says, referring to 
 tiiese sriuiccs in Leipsic: "Zollner has also written to me. He is very satisfied with his 
 experiments with Mr. Eglinton, from which he learned very much— .Sie waren lehrreich — 
 as he says." As a proof of his appreciation and satisfaction, I may say, he and Professor 
 Thiersch— another convert — presented Mr. Eglinton with a handsome cameo jmii, which is one 
 of the most valued of the many pleasant soiivcitirs received by him. Herr G. C. Wittig, editor 
 of Psyschisclic Studicn, gives a long account in that journal of the satisfactory manifestations 
 occurring in the presence of himself and friends during Mr. Eglinton's stay in Leipsic. It 
 is only possible, however, for me to refer to some of these reports. 
 
 On the 22nd March he left Leipsic for Zwickau in Saxony, Professor Zollner coming 
 to the train, and bidding him farewell. The experiments at Zwickau took place at the 
 residence of Dr. Kellner, in the presence of eight or ten scientific men, all of whom were 
 entirely new to the subject. Great interest was taken in the experiments, and many converts 
 made. Dr. Kellner gave an entertaining account of the results in Licht Mchr Licht.
 
 62 'Tzoixt Two Worlds. 
 
 Kmni ZwiiL.iii, wiu-rc he stayed Inr a 'ii^w clays only, he went to Dresden, gave a private 
 sc'aiiir tlieie to a distinguished person, and left on the 25th for Prague, Bohemia. There he 
 held several icdi/cf.^ at the residence of Dr. D. Schubert. They were attended by several 
 literary, medical, and scientific persons, but the results were not, on the whole, satisfactory. 
 On tiie 2nd April he arrived in Vienna, as the guest of Baron HelJenbach, whose fame as 
 a metaphysical author is well known ; he has also written some striking works upon 
 Spiritualism, and kindred subjects, and is a leading member of the aristocracy. Over thirty 
 sc'iiiicrs were given to the highest members of society, including Princess Dietrichstein, Prince 
 and Princess Khevenhuller, Countess Clam-Gallas, Princes Alfred, Louis, and Ileinrich 
 Lichtenstein, Ciunit Zichy, Prince and Princess Batthyany, Professor von Mosetig, the 
 distinguisheti anatomist, T.Il.R. the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland, Count Schonborn 
 Princess Hatzfeld, Count Wilczek, Prince and Princess Metteriiich, Baron Iloftman (Finance 
 Minister), Baron and Baroness Rotiischild, Countess Almassy, Count and Countess Taaffe 
 (Foreign I\1inistrr), Marquis and Marchioness Pallavicini, Prince Berghes, Count Festetich, 
 Colonel Prinn-ose (Military Attache, whom he had met previously in London at the Duke of 
 Cleveland's), Sir Henry Llliot, Prince Hohenlohe, Prince Ratibor, and many others equally 
 noted. The Duchess of Cumberland specially singled out Mr. Eglinton at a reception at 
 Prince Metternich's, and held a conversation with him of over half an hour, during which 
 time he learned much of Spiritualism in Royal circles in England. The seance with the 
 Duke of Cumberland was a very remarkable one, and Mr. Eglinton wrote a full account of 
 it lor an early number of Light, but I regret to say I have to omit it here for want of 
 space. Slade had visited Vienna a short time previously, but his stay was of short duration, 
 the police objecting to his presence. They attempted the same intolerance with Mr. Eglinton, 
 but the latter having powerful friends at his back, they did not succeed. These seances created 
 a great sensation, causing many eminent persons to change their opinions, and Spiritualism 
 from this time took firm hold in the capital of Austria. The sittings were held at the 
 residences of the persons named, and accounts of the phenomena are given in Ilcllenbach's 
 various books, especially in the " Prejudices of Mankind." The following brief extracts from 
 this volimie will show the general nature of the testimony. 
 
 " Eglinton came to Vienna on my invitation, not for my own sake. ... I myself 
 needed no further experiments to convince me of the existence of other kinds of beings. . . . 
 I have held several seances with Eglinton, in which the experiments took place in the 
 I'glit. ... 1 have learned more through Eglinton than anyone, and especially through the 
 unsuccessful seances. The phenomena may be divided into six classes ; the most ordinary 
 occurrence is the floating about of objects, guitars, heavy clocks, glass tubes filled with quick- 
 silver, which through friction are illuminated by their contents, also the moving of distant 
 objects, such as books, pictures, and even chairs and fantcuils. Now as to the explanation of these 
 occurrences I will not enter into a discussion of the ingenious suggestions I have heard offered, 
 as, for instance, lli.it Eglinton makes the instruments float about by the aid of nn india-ridiber 
 hand, or that he, or some confederate, causes the instruments to (ly about like bats among the 
 heads of the company, some of whom they touch, as though through design, etc., and are 
 occasionally even seen under favourable circumstances. 
 
 "On the 4tli April, 18S0, a dark seance took place. It was held in the middle of the
 
 Scicii/ific furcsfi'o-ah'on on /he Conliitcut. 63 
 
 room, hclwieii the stove ami tin; Imrmnniuni, with only live persons ]-)i-escnt. There was a 
 (lilTerence l)et\vecn this srniirc and the preceding ones, in tiie fact that one of the' shutters 
 did not shut closely, and allowed a ray of light to enter Ironi the lighted street outside, 
 which glinnner, though not sufficient to illuminate the apartment, thrt'W a considerahle amount 
 of light over part of the room, especially over the table, and made it possihlc for me and 
 my neighbour not only to hear the guitars floating about, but to see them as well ; besides 
 a clock whicli was moved from one place to another with marvellous rapidity. It, therefore, 
 was certain that Kglinton in order to do all this himself, not only must have been quite 
 flee, but must have ]xissed frequently in front of the ray of light, and uuist have been 
 more visible even than the guitars. Later on, we shall come, as before said, to describe sc'diiccs 
 which took place in a sufficient light. 
 
 " The second kind of experiment was noticeable from the fact that after the sc'hiky the 
 furniture in the room was found moved about, sofas and chairs being upset or placed one 
 U|5on the other. Those who allege, as aforesaid, that Eglinton gets free will lind nothing 
 wonderful in that ; there are even men who go so fai' as to sa)' tluy have seen ICglinton, 
 with both hands held fast, raise with his foot an easy chair at seven feet distance, and 
 passing it above our heads place it on the table, although the room was quite dark and I 
 felt his knees all the time, for it must be imderstood that during the first sntinrs I always 
 managed, when 1 sat ne.\t him, to touch his foot or his knee. 
 
 "The third kind of manifestation is that of a feeling of being touched. Those" who have 
 experienced these contacts, which often occur in the presence of mediinus, know that it is 
 quite a peculiar and distinct sensation, produced as though by the touch of a human hand, on 
 the uncovered skin or through the clothes, generally on the knee ; sometimes it has hajipened 
 that those sitting next the person touched, have likewise felt the sensation and spoktii of it, 
 at the same time asserting that they could sec some sort of form. 
 
 " y\s to the appearance of lights, sparks and points of li.ght were undouhti<ll3' freipiently 
 Seen at an unattainable distance fj-om Mr. I'Iglinton, .besides which on one occasion a bluish cross 
 was seen, though in this case he was standing outside the circl(\ but had he been able to 
 place such a ])hosphorcscent light there, the riddle remains wliy the room should not l)e lit by 
 it. Sulphide of calcium, barium, and strontium illuminate \ery ])ouerlully, and I'mlessor IJalmain 
 has constructed a safety lamp for the use of miners, of this phosphorescent quality, which 
 though thi'owing a weaker light than those in ordinary use, yet gives sufficient for the purpose. 
 This, however, was not the case with this appearance ; the cross, which of itself was much 
 brighter and of a far deeper blue than (piicksilver in an air-exhausted recei\er, which gives 
 sufficient light of itself to show the outline of a hand — notwithstanding which the blue cross 
 gave no light whatever, the room remaining as dark as before. The time of day m.ide it 
 impossible that rays of sunlight shouki by any means penetrate into the room, for the sc'diicc 
 to(jk place at eight o'clock in the evening, and since four o'clock, Eglinton ami I hati been 
 constantly together 
 
 "The valuable results arising from the partly or wholly unsuccessful saiiircs induced me 
 to hold a sitting with him by myself alone, with oidy the comiianionship of a young relative 
 of mine. The i^rancc took place in the library ; Eglinton sat with his back to the bookcase, 
 1 opp;isite him, and to my right m}' yoinig friend. We felt a cool bi-ec7.e over the hacks of
 
 64 'Tioixt Two IVor/ds. 
 
 our hands, and about two minutes after the hghts were put out the musical clock began to 
 play. The objects on the table moved, but did not fly about, and Eglinton said in a low 
 voice that lie iiail an impression tliat we should have the appearance of lights and a materialisation. 
 He asked for a comfortable scat, and received from us an arm-chair. It is clear, that as he 
 was free, though we could hear iiim breathing, he was in a position to do all himself, and 
 only the nature of the manifestations could determine whether they were accomplished through his 
 physical powers or not. One must recognise the fact that we had possibly to do with an artist 
 of the first rank, of iu'gli physical and mental gifts, even leaving out of consideration his youth, 
 kiH)wledge, and individuaiit3'. 
 
 " I saw first a bluish light, by which a human head was illuminated, though indistinctly. 
 Almost directly afterwards the same apparition was repeated, only this time tlie light was 
 so strong that tlie head of an Oriental, with a thin waving beard, white turban and 
 drapery, was distinctly visible, about a foot and a half distant from me and the other spectator. 
 Tliis appearance vanished, and after some time the same head, even more distinct, showed 
 itself, approaching me witliin lour or five inches. The form stood on the table, as though 
 the under jiart of the figure was cut off by the level of the table. I saw this apparition about 
 twenty seconds, and 1 can most emphatically declare that from the likeness and the whole 
 nature of the appearance, it could by no possibility be Eglinton's head. I sought curiously 
 for tile liglit coming from below, by wliich the face and the rich folds of the white drapery 
 were beautifully illuminated, without, however, tiirowing a ray of light into the room, and 
 discovered the blue cross. The cross was then, as it were, absorbed into the drapery, and 
 the figure disappeared, or, to speak more correctly, faded away. As it vanished slowly, the 
 blue cross appeared again, suspended for a short time, after wiiich the seance terminated. 
 My companion was nuicji impressed ; he saw the same as I did, only that he recognised the 
 blue cross at tlie second appearance of the figure and saw the ej'es move, and look steadily 
 at iiim. 
 
 " We will first weigli all tlie circumstances which could account for sucli a manifestation 
 by ordinary physical means, and wiiich, in common parlance, would be described as suspicious. 
 The medium was quite free, and could, without chance of discover^', do many things unseen 
 by us. lie asked us to converse, and the musical box was often playing, although very softly; 
 besides wiiicli we could sometimes hear the rustling of his garments. We will likewise discuss 
 the probability of producing sueh a kind of light and the placing there of sucji a head. 
 Before we examine, however, this dillicult question, we will weigh the obstacles in the way 
 of any deception being practised. 
 
 "The sraiirr was held in my library; any preparations for optical apparatus were therefore 
 impossible, and tliere was nothing tiie least remarkable in Eglinton's dress, either before or after 
 the sraiia: It is inconceivable tiiat any apparatus could have been enclosed in a large cigar 
 case, and the time to perfiirm any such mimicry was very short. He had about five minutes 
 only before the first manifestation took place, and, at the outside, two minutes al'ter the last, 
 to replace everything in order. 
 
 " All this, however, is not decisive. The appearance of the head, and of the clothing, 
 without any preparation, tlie disappearance of all this without a trace being left, incredible 
 as it appears, especially as the work of a young man of three-and-twenty who, except in liis
 
 Scicii/ijic Inz'cstii^aiion on the Coiiiinatt. 65 
 
 sc'auccA, spends little time in physical studies ami pr.ntiee, is imt altdgctlier to he described 
 as absolntely impossible. The crucial tests for the solution of tliis phenomenon lie in the 
 lights and in the head itself. 1 have discussed the question with a practical physicist, 
 who manages a warehouse for scientific apparatus, and who is a great specialist for every 
 kind of optical instrument, with a view to discover if the cITect is due to a cunning arrangement 
 of mirrors. We agree that the presence of sucli a head, or such a figure, is (piite im|iossible 
 without a place where the original could be put, and of a large mirror which could reflect the 
 objects; therefore, as every expert will confess, there can be no thought of that theory, inas- 
 much as the phenomena occurred in a room closely locked, with no other entrance, and where 
 every preparation was impossible. Such optical illusions could therefoi'e by no means be 
 carried out. 
 
 "'file assumiition that l-'glintoii might lia\e such a mask in readiness, and be pro\ideil 
 with means to obtain certain lights, is likewise inadmissible. Such a dummy conid not have 
 living eyes and movements ; there is therefore nothing left to be suggested e.xcept that he himself 
 personates the apparition. I will leave out of the question how Eglinton could illuminate 
 his face so brightly, and yet everything else in the room remain in total darkness, and jilacc 
 before the reader the following questions : — 
 
 " Can the reader believe that I could fail to recognise a face which ajijieared twice very 
 distinctly bef.ire me, and remained for many seconds, only about four inches distant from mine? 
 
 "Can the reader belie\e that a beard, each separate hair of which 1 could see to the routs, 
 could be made away with, t<igether with all the otiiei- paraphernalia, in the space of two 
 minutes ? 
 
 " And can the reader credit that Eglinton, for years, should be able to perform these 
 optical wonders in the presence of such men as Zollncr, and also in that of others, and j-et 
 at other times could not perform them ? 
 
 "These arguments are absolutely unanswerable; not, however, Irom the eiicumstanee that 
 Eglinton was fiee. 1 am not justified in calling that an impossibility, simply because it is 
 utterly beyond my conee]iti(in. In s'j doing 1 should be guilty o| the same I'lror as our 
 scientists. I, therefore, believe the head I saw to be a iJ.sychical apparition lor the folfiwing 
 reasons: — That, in the presence of three different mediums, under the most stiingent test 
 conditions, I have seen and felt hands not mortal, is as certain as that there exist comets and 
 meteoric stones. That Zollner, under the same test conditions, felt the presence of feet, is 
 equally well authenticated. 1 ask, therefore, if hands and feet are thus projected (materialised) 
 why should there not be materialisation of heads? Have such not been observed by Wallace 
 and Crookes under the most rigid test conditions? Is it more difficult to believe that Eglinton 
 is a trickster, or that hands have been materialised under strict test conditions ? There 
 is a scepticism which surpasses in imbecility the obtusencss of a clod-hojiper. 
 
 "A young and gifted friend of mine, who was much interested in obtaining genuine proofs, 
 wished to have a seance with me and my afore-named relative alone. Eglinton himself proposed 
 a light Acamc, such as he bad formerly held, if I am not deceived, with Wall.ice. Eor this 
 purpose two towels were hung over the open door between the middle room and the library, 
 so as to form curtains. Eglinton sat in this doorway on a chair, so that his knees and feet 
 were in one room and the rest of his body in the libr.ny, behind the improvised curtains. 
 
 9
 
 66 'Tiuixt Two Worlds. 
 
 The room in which Eghiitoii sat was quite dark, the other in half light, sufficient, however, 
 for every object to be visible. At Eglinton's expressed wish, botli his hands were sewn 
 together bcliiiid his back, in sucii a manner that the most extraordinary skill could nut dis- 
 engage thcni, or, if disengaged, fasten them together again unaided. Kglinton likewise 
 requested my friend, after the first manifestation, to make sure again that everything was 
 secure. The guitar, musical box, etc., were placed about half a yard from the curtain on the 
 floor, and subsequently even nearer, and on his knees was laid a heavy volume, the curtains 
 being arranged so that the book was quite x'isible. Although this sc'ancc lasted nearly an 
 hour, nothing took place except that the cover and several pages of the book were opened 
 without anyone touching it, and the book itself after some movements was thrown behind 
 Eglinton's chair. Some motion of the curtains was also observed, as though a hand was trying 
 to pull them back. The seance terminated ; my friend took his leave, and we three remained 
 some time longer drinking tea. Suddenly Eglinton drew himself together and asked for paper and 
 pencil, with which, after making several strokes, he began to write in English from right to left. 
 We had to place it before a mirror to read it, and there we found written that we might see 
 still further manifestations at that time, only that the medium should be allowed to move about. 
 We were overjoyed and much surprised, and occupied the time in the following experiments : — 
 Eglinton placed himself on four strong drinking glasses on the top of the closed piano, and 
 requested us to ask for certain raps in rotation. These were correctly given as though they 
 were strtick from under the lid of the piano. Eglinton then descended from the piano and 
 asked that the knockings should be repeated on the floor, and under the thick Persian 
 carpet. This also was accomplished. Eglinton then made us sew his hands together behind 
 his back, and everything was arranged as it had been before. The table stood this time only 
 a foot distant from his knees, and we placed ourselves from five to six feet from the table, 
 one to the right the other to the left. I sat on an easy chair by the window ; my relative 
 stood by the piano so that we could see everything both above and below. Scarcely had 
 we taken oui' places than the book sprang violently from the table, and opened as it had done 
 belore, the guitar was taken by an unseen hand from the table, flung through the curtains 
 int.] the next room, where it floated about playing (at least so it sounded) ; a violin which 
 1 had purp().sely [ilaced behind Eglinton in the dark room flew through the curtains at my 
 feet ; the guitar, alter it had audibly manifested its presence in the dark room, sometimes by 
 playing, somdiines by knocking against things, returned to its place on the table, and a long 
 and large hand tu(,k the musical box from the table and carried it into tiie next room, where 
 it connnenced playing. All this happened at the outside in five minutes, at the expiration of 
 which tmie I entered the dark room to convince myself of the security of the sewing. But 
 admitted as it must be that it would be perfectly impossible for the sleeves of a coat which 
 were securely sewn together behind the back to be unsewn and resewn in so short a space of 
 time, the disappearance of the guitar without hands, the removal from the table e.f the book 
 which was visibly lying nn it, and lastly, the long form of the hand and arm, must be perfectly 
 convincing proofs for anyone of common understanding that there could be no question of 
 ordinary physical phenomena or of jugglery. 
 
 " Ihe .second of this kind of saiiiccs took place in the presence oi' a lady and two gciitle- 
 meu, besides myself and Eglinton. The same manifestations were repeated, oJily rather more
 
 Scientific Investigation on the Continent. Cfj 
 
 quietly. Tlic unly new thing was that not cm!) were Eglinton's liands sewn togetlier behind 
 his back, but his coat was likewise securely sewn up in fidnt, so tiiat his getting out nf it was 
 a matter of utter impossibility ; he likewise allowed one of tlie spertatm-s to |ilace his hand 
 on his liead so that lie could, in close proximit}', observe the book opening of itscU'. We must 
 likewise remark that at one time ICglinton's knee was buckled to his chair, and at annthei- 
 was held by a band fastened to it by my sceptical friend, 
 
 " Ihe third and last sraiicr took ])1ace one forenoon at my Imuse, in tlu.' presence of a 
 gentleman and lady, at which there was this variation, vi/.., that a small greyish hand apjieared 
 through the curtains, without, Imwever, taking hold of aiuthing, and that tlu' small talile near 
 the ill Kir, on which sonic albums were placed, was drawn suddenly towards the door. 
 
 " 1 imagined that the two albums might be carried into the next room in the same way as 
 the blink, therefore, while sitting in the arm-chair, I kept my eyes fixed on the albums; anfl, 
 in fact, one of the albiniis slowly raised itself fiom the table, and a|i|)arentl3' c.n"iied itself 
 through the curtains, fur not the shadow of a hand was to be seen, and I found it, later on, 
 with the heavy book, on the writing table in the library. Both the folding doors behind 
 Eglinton were pushed to, and without rising from his seat he could not possibly have reached 
 them. 
 
 " It gave me particular satisfaction that this same lady and my young relative should have 
 been present at a light scaurr, because they both, after some dark sr'dijccs, declared that they 
 had seen Eglinton's hand on the table. Mad they been persons of less good breeding they 
 might have professed to have unmasked an imposture. I ex])lained ti> them that the fact of 
 their seeing a hand on the table did not prove that the hand was Eglinton's. It is, indeed, 
 a hand that performs all these movements, only it is not n/wnys visible to rvciyoiir. I can 
 assert this with confidence, because, while sitting with Slade in full liglit, 1 have both seen 
 and felt hands which could not possibly be those of Slade, as the latter w('re too far otf, 
 Ijcsides being visible to me. These two sceptics were obliged to confess afti-r the light sraiicrs 
 that they had arrived at a false conclusion. Still I repeat once more, it is not a question of 
 my subjective opinion as to the character and honesty of Eglinton, but solely one of facts." 
 
 As usual, the extraordinary success attending his mediumship excited ire and jealousy. It 
 appears that after the series of successful srnt/ccs described by Baron Hellenbach had 
 terminated, Mr. Eglinton went a second time to Munich, where he had engaged to give Uwhc 
 sc'aiia-!^, and it was at the eleventh that a cniilnii'iiip^ occurred, which hail an unfortunate 
 issue for him. Ten scatirrs had been given with great success, in the presence of many 
 eminent persons of the University and others, hut the eleventh ended in a dilTerent manner. 
 He was sitting as usual with both hands held. At the termination of the sramr a mechanical 
 frog was discovered in the corner of the room, but no one owned to having brought it. 
 When he got back to his hotel, he discovered, to his surprise, black upon his face and hands, 
 but suspecting nothing, he went to the twelfth sconce, lieing called for as usual by a person 
 who professed great esteem for him. When he got into the room, instead of the usual 
 circle, he found fifteen or sixteen persons, some t>f whom were strangers. Oiu- man acted 
 as spokesman. He said Mr. Eglinton was a fraud, desired him to take £2$ (his Ice was 
 sixty guineas), and leave the city at once, or take the consequences. Mr. Eglinton demanded 
 an explanation, but could get none other than that the mechanical frog had been used by
 
 68 
 
 ' Twixl Two Worlds. 
 
 him li.r soiiu- ]iiir|i(isc (n- ntlicr, and that the iiuisical iiistniniciits liavinj^- been lilai-kcncd, ami 
 black Iia\ini;' been funml ni»in liim, In,- mnst necessarily' be a Iraiid. He wished tn be allnwrd 
 ti) yi\c rnrther Si'diurs, but all his oflers were rejected ; and they in turn again insisted nn 
 the conditions wliich they liad settled on beforehand. He refused the twenty-five pounds, feeling 
 it would be blood-money if lie took it, and returned to his hutel. Having two ladies uiulcr 
 his charge, he decided not to run the risk of any unpleasantness, and left the city the next 
 da}'. Rumours spread ; some got hold of one tale, some of another, but all agreed that he was 
 "exposed" and "smashed up." To show how everything was distorted, the London Globe, 
 with its usual mendacit}', described him as an " acrobat " caught in his performances ; but 
 opinion was unanimous that " niechaniches werks " (poor inanimate frog I) had been discovered 
 upon his person. It was not until three months after the events narrated, that Ilerr Levey, 
 director of the Royal Opera House (who was present \\hen Mr. Eglinton was accused of 
 ha\ing u?-ed the frog at his seances), confessed to having br'iught it himself to the sitting in 
 cjuestion to see if anything would be done with it ! 
 
 This injustice quite unnerved him for a time, and he returned to Paris, when after a 
 long stay there, for rest, he came to London, and did not give any seances until November. 
 Professor Zcjllner took up his cause warmly, and in a letter to one of the principal persons 
 connected with this shameful treatment of Mr. Eglinton, he " warns him of the fallacies 
 of evidence against a pmivd medium;" and the Psve/iisr/ie Stiidien said, "There appears to be 
 a genei'al feeling among German Spiritualists that the Munich imestigators acted pi'ecipitately 
 and on insullicient grounds." Baron du Prel told him recently (in 1SS5), that only ln'o out 
 ol the large mnnber of persons attending the twelve seances, and who swa^'cd the remainder, 
 lulieved him guiltw 
 
 He ga\e no more pit liessional seances that yeai', but a great nundier of nn st astounding 
 sittings took place at the residence of Dr. Nichols. These the latter gentleman published 
 at various limes in the spiritual press; but he recently c illected, revised, and re-published 
 them in the Spiritual Record.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 DRAUINGS AND IVRITLXGS PRODUCED BY ABNORMAL MEANS. 
 CASTS FROM MATERIALISED HANDS. 
 
 :at±- _ __ 
 
 OME of the best results of Mr. Eglinton's mediiimsliip during tlic period 
 with wiiicJi I am now concerned, were obtained in the privacy of Iionic life. 
 For a long period he was living en fniiiillc with Dr. and Mrs. Nichols, 
 and under exceptionally favourable circumstances for practical and S3^stematic 
 rescarrli. Dr. Nichols has jircparcd a connected account of his e.xpcricnce, 
 antl I cannot do better than give his testimony first hand. Ilnw' careful an 
 investigator he was, and injw little prone to be led away b^' mere sentiment, the following 
 collection of facts will siiow. 
 
 Ni) kind (if spirit manifestations seems to me more satisfactory and convincing than direct 
 writings and drawings, whetlier done on slates nr im ]iaper, if under test conditions, or 
 when tests in themselves. Of course we nuist be certain tiiat the writing nr drawing 
 was not d(Tne by an}' pers m "in tiie body;" we must take precautions as in either cases, 
 against the possibility nf fraud or delusion ; and wlu-n we have done this, the esiclence is 
 of a very striking and permanent character. '' Ilie written word remains." 
 
 1 iiave in a drawer nf my writing-desk a collectinu cif .-ihout twenty examples of direct 
 spirit-writings and drawings, which I have shown tn many persons, who, wiien ai)le to accept 
 testimony as to the conditions under which they were pi-oduced, have found them most 
 convincing documents. Of course it comes, like all other testimony, to be a question of 
 personal veracity. In every case 1 can sujiport my own testimony by that of three or 
 four witnesses, who could swear to the documents and the mode of tiieir jiroduction. Two 
 witnesses are required to a will which may dispose of millions. I shall state no fact 
 which cannot be as well proven as a will. The documents were all drawn and 
 written in my own hiiise, in my presence, and in that of members of my family, and the 
 operation of writing or drawing was generally heard, and was done on my own note pajK'r, 
 initialled for identification, or on blank cards, with a toru-<j[r corner in luy poi-ket, afterwards 
 so applied as to give perfect assurance of identity. The handwriting of some <if the 
 
 manu.scripts, and of the signature to all the drawings, is as familiar to me as my own. 
 
 In every instance the work has been done either in obscurity, as in a dark corner of
 
 ' Twixt Tzvo Worlds. 
 
 the room, nr in total darkness— on the table with the gas turned oft", in a closed box, in 
 the space between two slates, or between the leaves of a closed book — always in positions 
 and conditions where writing or drawing seems to us impossible, and in a space of time to 
 be counted in seconds rather than minutes— an elaborate drawing and letter of more than a 
 page being produced in certainly less than two minutes, and I believe less than one. 
 
 Fig. 5 is an imperfect representation of a pencil drawing made upon a blank card, the 
 roughly torn-off" corner of which was in my pocket. It was done in a small room of my 
 house, used as a seance room. The door was locked, and the key in my pocket. The 
 four or five persons present, including the medium, were members of my family. The card 
 was laid upon the centre of the table with a lead pencil. I turned oft" the gas, and we all 
 sat hnlding hands in silence, hearing the rapid ticks <if tlie pencil upon the card fur 
 perhaps half a miiuite. Then came three distinct raps, the signal fu" a light. I turned on 
 the gas, and found the drawing on the card, which 1 at once identified by the tdrn-oft" 
 
 Fig. 5. -A Direct Drawing. 
 
 corner in my pocket. It is very certain that no mortal hand could ha\e ilone it in the dark, 
 nor in the time occupied in its production. The sound of the pencil u|5on the card was like 
 that of very rapid machinery. 
 
 Then four lines of German verse, signed "Goethe," were produced under somewhat 
 different conditions. It was in the same room, and upon a blank card, selected from a 
 number lying on the table, a corner being torn oft" to identify the card, which was dropped 
 into a small empty work-box, about lo'' x 6" x 3", with a bit of lead pencil. We 
 sat in the full light, with my hands upon the cover of the box. I was then asked by the 
 nu-dium, sitting opposite me at the table, with his hands held by two ladies, what I wished 
 to have written on the card. I said, "We have had writing in Knglish, Latin, Greek, 
 French, Italian; 1 should like something in German." In a moment 1 heard tile sound of 
 writing— that is, of a pencil on hard paper, inside the little box under my hands. Then 
 three little raps. 1 opened the box, and found the card, with four boldly written lines, and 
 the name of the great poet. I am ashamed to confess that I only know German by sight.
 
 Drawings and Wri/ings Produced by A/moniial jl/cai/s. 
 
 71 
 
 No one present could read it. Yet there it was, written under my hands, and in my hearing, 
 in a closed wooden box. The fact is certain, and it is stupendous !• No theory l)ut one 
 will account for it, and the reader is forced to one of two conclusions : either 1 am 
 writinL,^ deiihei'atc lies, or these f<iur lines were written in that closed, dark box by spirit- 
 power. No other hypothesis will explain it. "Electricity" does many curious things, but 
 it cannot of itself write German. Whatever tlie iorce employed, it was dirrctcd by mind. 
 And it was not tiie mind of any visible body tlien present. Not one of tlii'm could 
 even read tlie wi'iting. No tlieory of chemical writing, invisible ink, etc., will do, because 
 the original card lying before me, with its corner torn off, is written upon with a Mic/^ Imd 
 fifiicil. And until I asked for German, after the box was closed and under my hands, liow 
 could any one know wjiat would be required ? Does any one believe tliat Maskelync and 
 Cooke, or all the so-called conjurers in tiie world, could produce such a writing under identical 
 condetions ? 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 Fig. 6.— Wiitiiig with Ink on .1 Card Inside a Closed and WciglUed llnck. 
 
 The third example of spirit-writing is, perhaps, more wonderful, ni-re impossible than 
 either of the preceding. The drawing (Fig. 5) was done in total darkness, but upon tlie 
 centre of tiie table, where action was free. The German writing was done in a small closed 
 box, in a confined space, as well as total darkness, and in a language entirely unknown to 
 any' one visibly present. The bold writing of Fig. 6 was done in the same room as tlie 
 others, in presence of the same medium, and with nearly, if not precisely, the same circle. 
 As in' tiie other cases, a blank card was taken at random from a quantity lying on the 
 table, and then placed between the leaves of a thick book, wliicii chanced to be lying on 
 the sofa. It was a copy of a translation of the "Decameron," of Boccacio, fmm the Grosvenor 
 Library. The card, first examined by all present, was placed in tlie centre of tlie bor.k ; then 
 a heavy cut-glass inkstand, which weighs about two pounds, was placed up.m tiie book, and 
 beside it was laid a steel pen. The room was well lighted, a.id, of course, the book carefully 
 watched while wc held each other's hands nuind the table. In about a mi.mte signal raps
 
 /-' 
 
 ' Twixt Tivo Worlds. 
 
 were heard, the inkstand and pen were removed, and the card taken out of the book, when 
 we found written upon it tiie words : — 
 
 "Happy soti/s / to cud bulk their loves and their lives on the same day. More happy still if 
 they went together to the same place. — {Line 13, p. 245.) 
 
 Turning to page 245, where I suppose tiie card had liappened to be phiced, and counting 
 down to hue 13, I found the passage, which had been accurately copied in fresh ink on the 
 card — tile closing words of one of the cujious mediaeval stories whose beautiful style is said to 
 have perfected the most melodious of European languages. I narrowly examined the two leaves 
 to see if tliere was any stain of ink, and did not find a trace. Carefully watching in a good light 
 no movement was seen of book, pen, or inkstand. 
 
 Who can explain it? No doubt it seems wildly "impossible" — Init it is, nr\'i-rthelcss, 
 ahsolul<ly true. Tlic writing lies before me — and l"ig. 6 is a good pliotographic lacsimiic I iiave 
 several examples of writing in closed and weighted books with bits of lead pencil l)ut with 
 ink ! It is an astonishing manifestation of an almost inconceivable power. All 1 can do is to 
 descrlLie accurately the conditions. I cannot explain the way in which spirits deal with matter, 
 which is evidently quite a difterent thing to them, from what it is to us, so that their operations 
 are, as Bow Street magistrates and philosophers alike aver, quite " contrary to the well-known 
 laws of Nature." 
 
 The most sceptical can see, hold in their hands, and carefully examine the work of 
 materialised spirits. This work is real, visible, tangible, and not produced by their imagination 
 or by mine. The only question is as to the credibility of the testimony and as to the manner in 
 which it is produced. For both of them there is my statement, which can be conlirmed at need 
 by the testimony of four or five credible persons. The conditions forbid any idea of the 
 possibility of fraud. 
 
 I must explain, in regard to the examples of direct writing, and that of drawing and 
 writing (Figs. 7 and 8) that they have been a little marred in the process of reproduction. 
 In Fig. 7, tlie heading of my note paper, and my initials and date, written in ink, are clearly 
 given ; but all the rest, the four difterent handwritings, not written by the hands of persons 
 living in our wnrld— written by the hands of materialised spirits, were in pencil, and of too 
 light a clour, I feared, to transfer by any process by which they could be printed with type. 
 I therefore took a ^w^ black pencil and carefully deepened the colour of every line. This 
 process has given a little roughness to the writing. It is not as smooth and clear as the 
 original ; but it has not marred the distinctive individuality of each hand, and has made them 
 more legible. 
 
 The same defects have still more marred the combined drawing and wiiting of Fig. 8, 
 which was remarkable for the perfection and delicacy of the seven circles. The words 
 between the circles and the Lord's Prayer in the centre circle were too finely written for me 
 to venture to touch, and they are but imperfectly given, but can, I find, be read with a 
 niagnifymg glass ,,f moderate power. Now for the conditions under which these two examples 
 were produced. In the case of IHg. 7, six persons were sitting round a table in a small, 
 Incked and .hukened room in my l,„use, 32, Fopstone Road, Earl's Court, I.ond..n, S.W., 
 K:l,ruary jud, ,878, These persons were Mr. W. Eglintun, Mr. A., Mrs. Wilkes, Miss 
 Merr.man (a young American lady), Mrs. Nichols, and myself. I turned off the gas lieht.
 
 k^'' 
 
 £ 
 
 y*i 
 
 -P
 
 Driru'iuos and IJ'n'/iiios Produced by Abuoniial Means. 
 
 73 
 
 and \vc were luilding each other's hands, when the spirit tailing himself "Joey" came 
 and saluted us, talked with jis, wound up and started a large musical box, which we soon 
 
 ^ ^p^2,F0PST0NE ROAD,EARL:s COURT, 
 
 7.lJh 
 
 ^ <^j LONDON, S.W. vWv'' 
 
 't. 
 
 ■^y ■^' 
 
 
 
 a.^-'ty. 
 
 
 heard plaj' 
 play fast, 
 machinery 
 
 Fig. 7.— Specimens of Direct Wiitinp. 
 
 ing in the air, and in all parts of the room, and wiiich was made to stop, go 
 or play slow while my hands were on the cover, making physical access to 
 impossible. After a time the spirit "Joey" said, "Dr. Nichols, I want you to 
 
 10 
 
 its 
 get
 
 74 
 
 ' Twixt Two Worlds. 
 
 a sheet of your note paper, and mark it so tliat you will know it, and then lay it with a 
 JL-ad pincil on tiic centre nf the table, and put out the light. We want to do some writing." 
 
 I lighted the gas, got the paper, wrote my initials and the date upon the corner, laid it 
 upon the table, as desired, turned off the gas light, and took the hands of the two persons 
 nearest to me. A moment after I heard the sound of writing witii a pencil on paper, on the 
 centre of the table. This continued for perhaps half a minute. Then there were three raps 
 upon the table, and I lighted the gas, and took up the paper. 
 
 It contains three complete signed messages, a brief one imsigned, and the beginning ot 
 anotJKr left incomplete. The communications are in entirely different handwritings, and were 
 
 UvJXnA/ • 
 
 I'lG. 8. — Direct Drawing and Writing. 
 
 apparently written from different positions relative to the paper. The handwriting of the three 
 that Were signed was instantly recognised. That signed "J. Scott" was recognised by Mr. A. 
 and Mrs. Wilkes ; that signed " Aimee " was recognised by Mr. A. and Mr. Eglinton ; the longest 
 message, signed " Willie," was recognised, beyond all question, by Mrs. Nichols and myself as 
 tiie iiamlwi-itini; of nnr daughter, Mary Wilhelmina Nichols, ulm departed this life in 1865 
 at the age ot fourteen. No one comparing it with her papers preserved by us could question 
 its genuineness; and tlie words in the corntr "There shall be no parting there," are in the 
 familiar hand of our spirit friend "Joey." 
 
 As lar as 1 can .see, thi're could be no more satisfactory test conditions. The sheet of 
 note paper laid blank upon the table, and perfectly identified by the initials ami date. The 
 
 handwriting o| the three signed messages was certainly not upon it before th 
 
 e srinicfi and
 
 Drawings and 'l]'ritings Prodiiicd by Abnormal J\hans. 
 
 75 
 
 certainly coukl not have been written i)y any one bodily present, in total darhiess, and tlic 
 handwritings were identified and cciuld be proven in any court of justice. 
 
 riie example of combined spirit drawing and writing, Fig. 8, was done under [ireciscly similar 
 conditions in my own house, in a small circle of intimate friends sitting round a table holding 
 hands, in total darkness. It is upon a sheet o\' my note paper, initialled like the other for 
 identification, but for economy of space not inckuled in the reproduction. The handwriting of the 
 motto, " I am the light," and of the signature " Willie," a short pet name for " Wilhelmina,' 
 
 
 i ■! 
 
 '#.^ 
 
 Fig. g — A Dirccl Drawing Executed in Total D.ukncss. 
 
 will be recognised at once as the same as that of the longest message in Fig. ~. IIow 
 those circles, originally perfect, but marred, as I have exjilained, by my efforts to make them 
 more distinct for reproduction, could be drawn without instruments, in total darkness, and these 
 and the writing all done in a few seconds, passes comprehension. All I know is that l)oth these 
 examples were done in the time, and under the conditions I have stated. Fliey are ."^olid, 
 permanent facts, and w'onderful evidences of spirit power. 
 
 The wonderful " Ecce Homo" (Fig. 9) was done in my presence, under enndiliuns I 
 wish to describe accurately. I sat opposite Mr. Eglinton at a table in a ro^.m in my "wn
 
 76 ' Twixl 7 wo Pt^or/ufs. 
 
 Imusc, wiih .-ievcral friends. He asked me to select a blank card from a parcel, and examine 
 it. He tore off a large corner, which I put in my waistcoat pocket, and then he laid the card, 
 with a lead penLii, on tlie centre (jf tiie table, and asked me to turn off the gas. We held 
 each other's hands round the table, in total darkness and perfect silence. In a few moments 
 1 heard the sounds of a lead pencil on paper, but moving so rapidly that its strokes resembled 
 the beating of rapid machinery. It was like the rattle one can make in the mouth — the long 
 roll of an ;• when the end of the tongue is free. In about a minute — certainly less than 
 two minutes, and, 1 think, less than one — the sounds ceased, and a light was called for by 
 raps upon the table. I lighted the gas, took up the card, and fitted it to the torn-off corner. 
 Upon it was the " licce Homo" — the head surrounded by a full triple halo, drawn with 
 woiulerful power, antl with a number of pencil strokes and touches impossible to count, and 
 but imperl'ectly indicated in this engraving. Portions of the halo became damaged by careless 
 fingers, but in a good light the three circles of beautiful cones can be made out on the 
 pencil (.Irawiiig; each cone requiring many strokes of the pencil. Considering that the whole 
 was done in about one minute and in tot.il darkness, it seems to me one of the most 
 wonderful things I have ever seen. The engraving shows but one full circle of the middle 
 of the three halos, and a few cones of the outer one; but the original drawing, spoiled as it 
 was before I protected it with a wash of gum tragacanth, has three distinct circles. The 
 signature, "Willie," is the same as the others. 
 
 I do not jjretend for a moment that these are perfect drawings. They are the work 
 ol a seli-taught little girl, who departed this life in her fifteenth year. In her last days she 
 amused herself with drawing trees she could see from her window, and portraits of children 
 she loved. When she became too weak for this exertion, she held the pencil, and her hand, 
 she said, drew of itself, and with no conscious effort on her part, very strange and beautiful 
 things, which she looked at with great interest and enjoyment. They came to her as 
 beautiful poems came in her sleep. Since she left us, she has appeared to cheer us 
 whenever she has had the conditions which have enabled her to do so. With diiferent 
 mediums, and when there has been no one but her father and mother in the room, she has 
 come in her materialised body, so that we have seen, and heard, and felt her, beyond the 
 possibility of dnibt. We cannot be more certain of anything in this world, than we are 
 certain that our child has many times appeared to us in her own bodily form, and made 
 herself evident to us by all the senses with which we usually become conscious of objective 
 realities. We are as certain of her continued existence, and of her occasional visible and 
 tangible presence, as we are of any of the persons and things we daily see, hear, or feel, 
 and in the same way and with the same certainty. 
 
 We can form so little idea of the mode of writing on carefully enveloped slates, or on 
 paper enclosed in the space between them, or on cards laid between the leaves of a' thick 
 book, and while pressed with a heavy weight, that very good testimony is required to make 
 credible such seeming impossibilities; and I never unlock the drawer of my writing-desk to 
 show these evidences of spirit power without the uncomfortable feeling that I raise a question 
 of personal xeracity, and run the risk of being considered-not a fanatic, but a deceiver— a 
 teller of untruths. The hypothesis that 1 have been a victim of deception -fool instead of 
 knave -does not lit the case. The circumstances compel the belief of one of two things.
 
 Draivings and Writings Produced by Abnormal Means. yy 
 
 If I tell the truth, and if the witnesses I can summon are wortliy of belief, here are 
 conxincing evidences of spirit-life antl spirit-power. 
 
 Here, for example, is a case of slate-writing, wliich I will descriiie in detail, luit as 
 briefly as I can. The back-room on the ground-lloor of my house was converted inin a 
 seance room, by closing the shutters and locking the door opening upon the garden, ami 
 drawing a curtain across that end of the room, behind which lay the medium on a conch. 
 The other door, opening into the hall, was locked, and the key in my pocket. My chair 
 was also placed against the locked door. The scats of others present were ranged in the 
 same line, opposite the medium. The gas in the centre of the room was lowered, but it still 
 lighted the room. The medium, Mr. Eglinton, is lying on the couch, behind the curtain. 
 This is drawn aside, and from behind it comes into the centre of the room a man, clothed 
 in white, taller than Mr. Kglinton, more slender, speaking with a different voice, anil in an 
 entirely different manner — a spirit-form, calling himself "Joey," who has many timis, and in 
 many ways, demonstrated his distinct individuality. For example, he has talked with me when 
 the lips of his medium were tightly closed with gummed ]iaper. He has dippetl his finger 
 in purple ink, and I have found the medium's fingers clean. Wiun Mr. Eglinton sat in full 
 sight before the curtain, T have seen "Joey" come from behind it, and lead Iiim to the couch, 
 lie has taken great pains to demonstrate his distinct individuality. 
 
 On this occasion, after saluting the seven persons present, he came near me, and said: "Dr. 
 Nichols, I want two slates." "You will find some slates on the manteliiiece, 'Joey,'" I replied. 
 " They are a rather shabby lot, but you can take your choice." 
 
 " Joey " rattled them over, and picked out two of the same size, which he brought antl placed 
 in my hands, asking me to carefully clean them, which I did by the same process I used when 
 a schoolboy. "Joey" took them, and said: "Now I want a slate-pencil. Who has got a slate- 
 pencil? Floy!" addressing a young lady present, "have you got a pencil?" "Yes, 'Joey;' 
 but it is at the top of the house, in the pocket of my dress. Shall I go and get it?" "Never 
 mind," said "Joey," "I will get it;" and going near the gas-light, he held up one of the slates 
 horizontally higher than his head. We heard the sharp "click" of sonuthing falling on the 
 slate. " joey" took it and held it up for vis to see that it w^is the needed [encil. 
 
 .Slandini; thus ne.ir the light, so that wr roidd all distinctly see him, he |)nt the . n<l of the 
 pencil into his mouth, and we all heard him bite olf a piece of it. At this we nat\nally made 
 some exclamations of wonder, and he deliberately repeated the operation, and then placed one 
 of the bits between the slates. "Now, Doctor, I want some twine," said "Joey." I told him 
 there was some on a shelf, which he found and proceeded, as skilfully as if he had been a 
 shopman, to tie the two slates together, by passing the twine round the ends and sides. As 
 he was doing this he .said : " Dr. Nichols, get ready to lend me your knife." I took out my 
 knife and opened one of the blades. He came to me, took the knilV, cut the twine close to the 
 knot, and returned it into my hand. 
 
 r,ut his wants were not yet satisfied. " Now for a stick of sealing wax," he said. " Who 
 has got some sealing-wax?" "'Joey,'" I answered, "the only stick of sealing-wax 1 know of 
 in the house is in Mrs. Nichols' stutly, on the second Hoor." " I will get it," he n plied, and 
 in a moment he had a stick of red sealing-wax in his hand, of the same size as the one I had 
 seen on the writing-desk two stories above.
 
 78 'Twixi Two Worlds. 
 
 He went to the gas-light, held the sealing wax in it until it caught fire, and filled the room 
 ■with such a blaze of light that we all saw him with great distinctness. Then he carefully sealed 
 the cord witli which the slates were tied, at the end and side — where the red wax still remains. 
 After this deliberate, careful preparation, "Joe}'" said: "Now, Doctor, bring your chair forward 
 toward the centre of the room." I did so, and he brought another chair and sat facing me 
 so that all could see us both. Then he made me take hold of the slates with my left hand, 
 he holding the other end with his right, while I laid my right hand upon his left, with a fold 
 of the thin gauzy drapery between them. 
 
 Sitting thus in the centre of the room, face to face with a materialised spirit, I heard and 
 felt writing guing on between the slates. When it ceased, " Joey " placed them in my hands, 
 saying, " Ilokl them fast until the sc'aiicc is ended; then you can see what is written." 
 
 When "Joey" retired, another, a graver spirit, came and spoke to us. I cannot remember 
 all he said. " Ernest " always had some words of wisdom for us. I have heard him recite one 
 of the most impressive poems in the language with great feeling. What I remember was 
 this. lie said: "We have tried to give you a gcjod manifestation. 1 think yuu will find, on 
 opening the slates, a message in three languages. Good night, and God bless you ! " 
 
 When we heard the three loud raps upon the floor, the signal that the scaiice was over, 
 I turned the gas on full, cut the strings, and examined the slates. On one of them was, and 
 still is, a brief message, signed "J. B. Ferguson," in his own handwriting, exactly as he wrote 
 in life. Never was a more perfect autograph. This was the writing of our old friend, the 
 Dr. Ferguson who came to England with the Brothers Davenport, and who had died, some years 
 before this sc'aucc, in America. 
 
 The inner side of the other slate was found covered with fine, beautiful writing, in an 
 entirely different hand— first a message in English — then a few lines of a quotation in ancient 
 Greek, closing with another quotation from La Rochefoucauld, in French. Thus we had our 
 message in three languages. 
 
 In copying this writing for a newspaper, I made a mistake in one of the Greek wonls 
 (referred to on page 31). At a later scaiice the process I have described was repeated, with 
 the exception that the two slates were wrapped in a newspaper. On one of the slates was 
 written a second message, signed "J. B. Ferguson," and in the same handwriting, and, on the 
 other, after some lines in English, a sentence in Greek, with the word I had imperfectly tran- 
 scribed accurately written and underscored. 
 
 The points to be considered in regard to this seance are :— 
 
 1. That the room in which we sat, a small room in my own house, could not conceal or 
 admit any person unknown to us. 
 
 2. That "Joey" was another and very different person from the medium or any of the 
 sitters. 
 
 3. That the slates were quite new and carefully examined and cleaned, and never out of our 
 sight. 
 
 4. 'i'hat all 1 have described as said and done was said and done in a goc.d light, and 
 satisfactory to all present. 
 
 5. That tl,e messages were such as none of us could have writlen-quite beyond the power 
 of the medium, and free from the least suspicion of any kind of fraud. No one who ever had
 
 Dratviiios and JVri/iuos Produced by Abnormal Means. 79 
 
 a letter from Dr. Ferguson would hesitate to swear to his liaiulwritiii,!,', ami, in regard to tiie 
 wJiole matter, fraud was " impossible." 
 
 In the garden room, used as a scaitce room, 1 was sitting one evening witli Mr. Kgiinton 
 and a 3-oung man wiio was encountering tiic usual diflieulties of tlic beginning of a literary 
 career. Kgiinton took up a blank card from several lying on the table, showed us both sides 
 of it, and then threw it into a corner of the room, under some book shelves, where the light 
 was obscure. With the card, or directly after it, he threw a stump of a lead pencil, and 
 instantly said to me, — "Doctor, please pick up the card!" I sprang and got it. It might 
 have lain two or tliree seconds. On one side of the card we found the following: — • 
 
 " i]fo!is. Hargrove: 
 
 "La bonne fortune et la niaiivaise, sont uc'crssairr a I'hoiitiiic, pour Ir rcinhr habile; 
 rl aiis.<! la patience est aiuerr, inais son fruit est iloux." 
 
 My readers will pardon mc for giving a translation for the benefit of some who may 
 possibly have forgotten their French. It is, — " Good and bad fortune are necessary to man 
 to develop his talents (to make him clever); moreover, patience is bittei-, but its fruit is 
 sweet," — probably- a quotation from "Ernest's" favourite author. La Rochefoucauld. 
 
 On a blank portion of this side was also written the word " renvcrser." Turning over 
 the card, we found ten words in a language none of us knew, even by sight, though I 
 recognised a likeness to some of the Sclavonic tongues, and thought it might be Czech or 
 Hungarian. A German gentleman, who visited me lately, told mc it was lUuigarian, but he 
 could not translate it. 
 
 Of course 1 have no idea why a spirit should occupy two or three seconds in wiiting a 
 few lines of French and Hungarian on a card thrown into a corner of the room, e.\cept to 
 give us a demonstration of spirit-power. No doubt, receiving a message in an unknown 
 tongue, may make it more impressive. I remember an instance. The Countess Wachtmeister was 
 with us one evening and wished to get a message. She was quite familiar with three languages 
 — Swedish, French, and English, and naturally expected one of these. A blank card, which she 
 carefully e.xamined, was laid in the centre of a thick book taken from the shelf ini- the 
 purpose, on which she laid her hands. In a few moments she took out the card, and found 
 it written all over in German, which neither she nor any one present could read. So she 
 was obliged to take it next day to a German friend, or one who understood German, and get 
 it translated. Of course it was all the better as a test, which was, perhaps, what she must 
 needed. 
 
 When a spirit materialises so that we can see him, there must be matter solid enough to 
 reflect the light. When spirits can grasp you by the hand, and hold up a chair or table, 
 exercising, as 1 have seen them, more force than is possessed by ordinary men, they give 
 proof that their bones, muscles and tendons, are as solid as our own. I have calculated that 
 one spirit, whom I have many times seen and felt, has exercised a nmscular power three or 
 four times greater than nij' own. 
 
 A spirit-hand that you can see, and feel, and grasp, can of course be moulded like any 
 other object. The Hon. J. L. O'Sullivan, a well-known American publicist and diplomatist, whom 
 I have known for some thirty years, has given in English and American Spiritualist j')urnals an
 
 8o 'Tzuixi Two Worlds. 
 
 adniirabl}' clear ac-count of casts from spirit-liands, and busts, taken in the seance studio of 
 tiie Count de Bullet at Paris, where I had the pleasure of seeing both the original casts and 
 their phot()grn|)lis. 
 
 My own experience in obtaining casts from spirit-hands is much less remarkable, in some 
 respects, but such as it is, it may be worthy of the attention of candid readers who wish to 
 know the naked facts of spirit-life and spirit-power. While Mr. Eglinton was an inmate 
 of ni}' liouse in South Kensington, we tried the experiment of getting casts from spirit hands. 
 My daughter " Willie," of whose writings and drawings I have given some examples, promised 
 to try and give us a mould from her hand, and we made the requisite preparations. We 
 bought two pounds of solid paraffin, such as is used for making candles, a white waxy 
 substance, but more brittle than wax. I melted it in my study, and poured it into a zinc 
 pail half filled with hot water to keep it liquid. I then filled another pail with cold water. 
 
 We invited a select circle of about twelve persons, tlie only stranger being a German 
 physician interested in Spiritualistic investigations — Dr. Frieze. A curtain was drawn across 
 one end of our seance room, and Mr. Eglinton sat bejiind its centre where the two halves 
 came together, and there in front of him sat the German doctor, holding his hands. The 
 gas was alight — every one fully visible. When all was ready, 1 brought from my study 
 the two pails, one of cold water — one of hot melted paraffin, and set them in the corner of the 
 room, behind the curtain, and about six feet distant from Mr. Eglinton, whose hands, as I have 
 said, were held by tliose of Dr. Frieze, thus — 
 
 OO Pails. Mr. Eglinton. Curtain. 
 
 Dr. Frieze. 
 
 Round the roc mi, and as far as possible from the curtain, sat the invited guests. Every one 
 was di.stinclly \isible ; no one was near the pails of water and paralfin or could approacii them. 
 In a few moments we heard voices from the corner by the pails, and splashes in the -Miter. Then 
 came signal raps, and I went and removed the two pails from behind the curtain. In the cold 
 water floated two masses of solidified paraffin. One resembled a thick white mitten of alabaster 
 —tile other was like it, but much smaller. Taking the larger mass from the water I found 
 it hollow, and saw that it had the form of a human hand. The smaller mass was a mould 
 from the hand of a little child. A lady present recognised a peculiarity, a slight deformity, 
 which belonged to the hand of her daughter, who had been accidentally drowned at the age of 
 five years in South Africa. I carried the two pails to my study, and left the moulds floating 
 in tile water, locking the door, and retaining the key. 
 
 In the morning we got some plaster of Paris, which we mixed and poured into the larger 
 mould. To get a cast this had to be sacrificed. A mould of a human hand, with the fingers 
 all sei'.arattd, would require to be in twenty pieces, and every joining would show on the 
 cast. What 1 did was to let the plaster of Paris set and harden, and tiien sacrificed the 
 mould by mekiiig it off witii iiot water. 
 
 The hrautilul hand of my daughter WiUie, with its long, tapering, artistic lingers, and 
 its graceful pose, just as she held it to dip it into the liot paranin— almost as hot as boiling 
 water— stands now under glass on my mantel. When 1 hold my iiand in tlie same position
 
 DrawivQ^s and IVi-itings Prodjiced by AbroTvial Means. Sj 
 
 tliL- likeness ol the cast, though about a third smaller, strikes every one whn sees it. It 
 is not like the conventional hands of statues. It is a purely natural, anatomical hand, with 
 every hone and tendon, and the finest skin marks distinctly visible, it is the hand 1 knew so 
 well ill its mortal life, and which I have so often seen and felt since when materialised. 
 
 1 he little mould was given to the mother, who had it cast, and she has no doubt that 
 it is the hand of her child. I know as absolutely as I can know any fact, that the cast upon 
 m\' mantel is from a mould formed upon the materialised spirit-hand of my daughter. The 
 whole process was in my hands, and there could not be more stringent test conditions. Had 
 the mould been formed upon any human hand, it could never have been removed. The cir- 
 cumference at the wrist is an inch and a half less than the smallest compass of the palm and 
 thumb. To disengage a hand from such a mould would break it into many pieces. The only 
 explanation that can be given, or that suits the case, is that the hand which formefl the mould 
 must have dissolved, or dematerialiscd, to get out of it. 
 
 On the mantel, under a second glass shade, is another cast of a hand, entirely different. 
 It came from a mould procured under precisely the same conditions at a subsequent seance. 
 It is the broad, square hand of a man, which I think I recognise but cannot identify with the 
 same certainty as in the case of the other. It is like my father's hand. I inherit the form 
 of mine from my mother.- But there it is, a solid human hand, but most certainly not a cast 
 from the hand of any one living in the flesh. The curved lines on the inside of the fingers 
 and the palm are very clearly given. There are hundreds of skilled Italian moulders in 
 plaster of Paris in London, but no one of them can make such a cast of a hand as cither of 
 these, and no one can imagine how these could be done, except in the way they were done. 
 
 There have been speculations about the use of some elastic substance in making the 
 moulds, like india-rubber or glue; but there is no known method of working either — besides, 
 the moulds in which these hands were cast were solid jiaraflin, which I had melted, and were 
 floating in the pail of water 1 had placed to cool the paraflln. The (lidiculty was to produce 
 the mould, and remove the hand when the paraflin was hard and brittle. Only one way to 
 do that is conceivable, which is the partial, if not completi', dematerialisalion, or dissolution, 
 of the hand enclosed within the hard, inflexible mould. 
 
 In the second, as in the first experiment, I found two moulds floating in the pail of water. 
 When I had poured the liquid plaster of Paris into the smaller mould, let it harden, and then 
 melted off the paraffin, I found a curiously deformed little foot. The size is that of a child 
 six months old, but it is cramped, distorted, deformed, as I have never seen in a living child. 
 Yet there it is, in every bone and tendon, and the five cramped little toes, a child's foot. It 
 is not pretty as an object of art, but as a test it is better than the most perfectly formed 
 foot or hand could be. 
 
 This ended our experiments witii moulds and casts. The results arc very solid facts 
 which will trouble any sceptic to explain. When I show my plaster hands to anyone, the more 
 he knows of such work, and the more clever and ingenious he is, the more he is puzzled to 
 account for them. Were I able to pay a thousand pounds, I would offer that reward to any 
 one who would show me how such hands could be produced in any way but that in which 
 they were produced, viz., from moulds in one piece, from the hands of materialised sjiirits. 
 
 II
 
 ' Tzoixt Two Worlds. 
 
 riiLTc is nothing 1 can prolilably add by way of comment to Dr. Nichols' narratives. 
 I iiave, iiowcver, before me a considerable amount of other testimony to similar marvels. I 
 will now quote what is a mere fractional part of the whole. Mr. Blackburn says : — 
 
 "Whilst 1 and my daughter were at Brighton on the 1st of January, I wrote to Mr. 
 Eglinton for a sc'aiicc as we passed througli London. This he kindly granted, although he 
 was not then giving professional sittings. The cards enclosed herein, and numbered i, 2, 3, 
 are in the order in which the operations took place, and I have written exactly how they 
 occurred. I have also submitted them to i\Ir. Crookes, F.R.S., who was surprised at Mr. 
 Eglinton's power. 
 
 "Curd No. I. — On Monday e\ening, January 3rd, 1881, at about eiglit o'clock, at the 
 house dl" Dr. Nichols, of Marl's Court, London, this perfect cartl, undefacecl except by a coiner 
 torn olf lor idcntilication by myself, was placed by Mr. Eglinton, tlie medium, inside a lady's 
 small empty wooden workbox, together with an opened penknife, in the presence of Miss 
 Blackljurn and half-a-dozen others. On shutting down the lid, our hands were instantly 
 placed on its tup. Miss Blackburn was asked by a spirit-voice, in an interval during which 
 the gas was turned out, what figure she would prefer cut on the card — a diamond, triangle, 
 liexagon, or wiiat. She replied, ' Hexagon.' The gas was then ligiited, and after a few 
 convulsi\e shudders on tlie part of tiie medium, whilst pressing iiis hands heavily all the 
 time on ours on the top of the lid, he suddenly stopped, and on opening the box the hexagon 
 was found evenly and neatly cut in the centre of the card." 
 
 " Card No. II. — Again in the full light Mr. Eglinton asked Miss Blackburn to select a clean 
 card out of a number, to place it inside a book lying on the table, and to notice the page; 
 she was also to put a mite or point of lead pencil on the card, and to siiut up the book. She 
 did so, and kept both her hands on the book. The medium came close to her ; and put his 
 hands heavily on hers. After a few convulsions he took away his hands and asked her to 
 look at the card, on wjiicii this writing was found : — 
 
 " ^"'> — ^" ""I despair. Hope is even sweeter ivhen sorrow and pain overtake one : and you, 
 ti'/io have a certain know/edi^e of a g/orioiis iinniorlality, slionld lliercfore allow Hope, and tlie 
 inai;ie attending it, to be uppermost. ' Hope deferred niaket/t the Iteart sick.'—Prov., S. J." 
 
 " Card No. HI. — This card also was perfectly clean, and 1 was asked wheie I would 
 have it secreted with a lead pencil, away from the light of the gas. 1 said, ' Inside the musical 
 box.' This was instantly done, and Mr. Eglinton removed the box, witii its lid shut, to a 
 sofa five feet distant; he turned the box upside down, and came back to the table. Several 
 of us put our hands on by his request ; he then put his hands on ours, and after a few 
 convulsions as before, the blunted pencil was found to have written the following:— 
 
 " The manifestation ice have just produced is, wc think, an ample ansiver to the query. Is 
 there room fur scientific investigation?" 
 
 Aih>tlier remarkable seance is related by Dr. Nichols, and corroborated by Mr. E. Dawson 
 Rogers, .,f Rose Villa, Church End, Finchley, tlie latter remarking, " I have much pleasure 
 m beainig testimony to the perfect genuineness of the manifestations described by Dr. Nichols, 
 and which were given under circumstances peculiarly satisfactory. I am quite familiar with 
 the tricks by wliicJi chosen cards are changed by professional conjurers. But in tlie present 
 instance there was no room for deception. The card which I selected, and which was then
 
 Draivivos and JJ'n'/ino-s Produced by Abnormal Means. S3 
 
 pci-rcctly plain cm h. .tli sides, was certainly the card whirli was placed in a !).■,, i< mulcr my 
 hand, and i.n wln'iji, a few seconds aRerwanls, I f.innd the written message quoted below." 
 
 The circumstances, as pu!)]isiied in Light hy Dr. Nichols, are as follows :—" \VhiI<' the facts 
 are fresh in my mind, I hasten to record for you and your readers the particulars of a very 
 impressive Hi'tvicc held at my residence on Satuiday eve ning, February 5th. Mr. \V. Kglinton, 
 who is to leave us on the 12th for America, wished, or his guides wished, to give us some 
 parting words and manifestations. There were present Mi's. Fletcher, Mr. A. fa graduate of 
 
 Cambridge), Mr. II. Bastian, Mr. E. Dawson Rogers, Mrs. Nichols, and my.self, making, with 
 Mr. Kglinton, seven persons, three or four of whom arc known as powerful mediums. The 
 chief manifestations, however, were recognised as given by the guides of Mr. EgliiUon, aided, 
 no doubt, b}' the united forces of the other mediums. 
 
 " First we sat, just in the order in which we hap|iencd to be standing, around a circular 
 table, when raps came, and in answer to our questions rearranged us. The gas was then turned 
 rifl, and in a moment we luard the deep voice of ' I^riii st,' who spoke to each one present, 
 and then said that with the strong inediumistic power in the circle he hoped they would be 
 able to give some good luanifestations. ' Joey ' followed him with friendly salutations and lively 
 remarks. While all our hands were unittd he wound u]') a large musical box and s<'t it 
 going. Later, while Mr, Dawson Rogers and Mrs. Fletihir pla<'etl their h.-uids upun the 
 glass cover, perfectly excluding all access of luimnn hands to th<; machinery, 'Joey' made 
 the box stop its movement in the midst of a tunt-, go on, play three notes, stop again, etc., 
 etc., at the request of persons in the circle. This is a common, but, as any one acquainted 
 with such instruments will see, a verj' remarkable manifestation. 
 
 "The gas was now lighted, two burners being regul.ited to gi\e a soft but suflicient light. 
 Mr. Kglinton was entranced and possessed by ' Daisy,' who diicited the next ]iroceedings. 
 Thi-cc large blank cards were selected from a parcel lying on the table, by Mr. Dawson 
 Rogers, Mrs. Fletcher, and Mr. A. That selected by Mr. Dawson Rogers was, .at his 
 
 suggestion, placed, with a small bit of black U ad bioken from a ]iencil, in the centre 
 of an octavo \-olnme, which was shut, and then liiiuly |iiess( il down by him u]ion the 
 tabli', Mr. ICglint'ii's hand being laid above his own. In a few seconds the book was 
 opened, and one side of the card was nearly covered with the fil!i>wing message, apparently 
 dictatid b\-, though not in the handwriting of, his helo\-ed daughter: — ■ 
 
 "Dray Pnpn, — / am si> i;/(r// 1 can conic In van. Your hclicf, a/i, haw ghiiiaits il is! 
 /ml ,<;//// more i;h)iioii<i lo Liiow /ho^c yon A),-v arc n'i/h yon. /'/case give my dear loi'c 
 to mamma, ami assure licr I am ever roiiiu/ her, and lei'lh i/iar love for yoiir.v//, I am your 
 spirit-child, K ai iii.ErN . 
 
 " On being asked where she would liave her card ]>Iaced, Mrs. I-'letclur chose to have it 
 put between two slates. It was so placed, but without any bit of iiencil, and the slates 
 were llrnily pressed together by Mrs. Fletcher and Mr. Dawson Rogers. In about the same 
 period as in the former case the card was taken out, and found to contain in a very bold 
 and rapid hand, and in lead pencil characters, the following words : — 
 
 " Afy dear friend, although the 7vor!d condemns, wv. understand. Iloer mnsl comfort yon 
 more than vonr innocence. ' The mind shall hanqiiel though the body pine' 
 
 "The third card, selected, and of course carefully examined by Mr. A., was then thrown,
 
 84 
 
 'Twixi Two Worlds. 
 
 vvitli the piece of lead pencil from whicli tlie [iniiit had been broken for the first experiment, 
 into the fartliest corner of tiie room, about seven feet from tlie nearest person. We kept 
 our scats, with joined hands, but a moment, when Mr. Eglinton, or the spirit through him, 
 asked Mr. A. to go and pick up the card. He found one side of it covered witli a very 
 neatly written message, as follows : — 
 
 "Your wife, ivho is here in spirit, tvill manifest ivhen you make the necessary conditions; but 
 rest assured of her complete happiness and continued existence. 
 
 "After these astonishing and most satisfactory manifestations, we had caressing fingers 
 making, in some cases, I know, and perhaps in all, familiar signs of spirit-presence, and 
 giving as good proofs as we can well have of personal identity. ' Ernest ' talked with 
 us again, and answered questions, and then proposed that they should use the power of so 
 strong and harmonious a circle for some mateiialisations. First we had spirit-lights of great 
 brilliancy — especially a cross of the purest white light, like starligiit. Then a delicate female 
 form came bearing a broad strong light, which made her features visible, wliich were shown 
 in ditferent parts of the room, even as high as the ceiling. We had plenty of evidence 
 that the lights were not made by phosphorated oil, or the materialised forms simulated by 
 masks, false beards, and draperies." 
 
 This closed Mr. Eglinton's series of seances m England for a time, as he was on the 
 point of departure for America on a professional tour. With this I must deal in another 
 chapter.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 AMERICAN EXPERIENCES. 
 
 I R. EGLINTON had for some time contemplated a brief visit to America. 
 This was in response to long standing and pressing invitations from many 
 quarters. He accordingl}- sailed for New York on tiie I2tli Keliruarv, l88r, 
 |. and after a terribly long passage of no less tlian si.xteen days, he arrived 
 in that city. It was not his intention to stay there more than a few 
 hours, and proceeding direct to Boston he was cordially welcoTned by 
 Messrs. Colby and Rich, of the Banner of Light, the oldest established paper in the world 
 connected with Spiritualism. Staying first with his old friends, Mr. and Mrs. Hildreth, for a 
 few days, he finally settled down at the St. James's Hotel, where also resided Mr. Rich of 
 the Banner house. 
 
 I he first impressions of a new-comer in a strange land are ahva3-s of interest, and 
 this is especially the case with a country like America. Mr. Eglinton writes thus : — " I 
 was sadly disappointed with the moral condition of Spiritualism in Boston. On looking 
 over the pages of the Boston Glohc, and other second-class papers for March, anyone may 
 see a whole column devoted to the advertisement of quack ' mediums,' mostly c/ain'ovantes 
 and healers, tiiere being such announcements as, ' Mademoiselle Marguerite, the charming 
 young brunette, is at home daily to give clairvo^'ant descriptions relating to iiiitii, marriage, 
 and deceased friends. Fee, two dollars. Walk up, don't ring.' " 
 
 One need not say what in many cases these announcements mean. Spiritualists arc 
 powerless to prevent the evil so long as the ]niblic press insert sucli advertisements, and so 
 the leprosy is foisted on the movement without any countenance whatevt'r from Spii'itualists 
 tlicmselves. Fortunately, through the strong measures adopted by some of the Spiritualistic 
 press — notably the Religio-Philosophical Journal of Chicago — the evil has now diminished. 
 
 Mr. Eglinton writes of this paper : — " Colonel Bundy deserves tlie most unbounded 
 praise for his untiring efforts for the purification of the movement ; and most, if not all, 
 of the fraudulent practices one reads of in connection with Spiritualism in America are the 
 work of these pseiido mediums, who are gradually being unearthed and exposed." All true 
 Spiritualists and mediums will devoutly pra}' for tjie final consummation of this object. 
 
 The Banner of Light was most kind to Mr. Eglinton. On March 19th, 188 r, the whole 
 of its front page (the Banner is a sheet nearly as large as our Daily News) was 
 devoted to a biographical account of him and his work for S[iiritualism. It also contained 
 an admirable portrait.
 
 86 'Twixi Two Worlds. 
 
 Bearing in mind the enormous amount of testimony witii which I have yet to deal, and 
 tlic manner in wliich I iiavc already largely exceeded the limit of space allotted to nie, I 
 must perforce pass many of the accounts before me of the seances given by him during his 
 stay in the States with a bare notice. Suffice it to say that the phenomena observed 
 differed little in many cases from those already abundantly described in these pages. 
 
 He made many acquaintances, and has still, and will ever have, a lively remembrance of 
 the courtesy shown him by many friends. While in Boston he had a very remarkable seance 
 with Mrs. Thayer, the flower medium, " whose powers," he says, " I consider to be of the 
 highest. In her presence, whole plants, some from six to twelve feet high, with roots and 
 earth attached, flowers, fruits, birds, and animals, are brought into closed rooms in the house 
 ill which she may be invited to give a seance." 
 
 He gave seances in Quincey, Massachusetts, at one of which Mr. Adams, a descendant 
 of President Adams, a Spiritualist of long standing, was present. He was also instrumental 
 in converting tlie celebrated Boston divine, the Rev. J. Minot Savage, although Slade, who 
 visited Boston during his stay there, may fairly claim to have finally removed the reverend 
 gentleman's scepticism. He was not quite free from attack in the United States, an account 
 of which I briefly give. He made an appointment with some men who were not introduced 
 to him, and the seance passed off satisfactorily. They asked for another, which he consented 
 to give. On the day, however, upon which the seance was to take place, he had been speaking 
 at the Paine Memorial Hall, where a large audience had assembled to celebrate the Anniversary 
 of modern Spiritualism, and he afterwards accompanied his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Woods, to 
 their residence. When there he was asked by his guides not to give the seance that evening, 
 as the sitters were an "exposure party." He got Mr. Woods to go to his hotel, and leave a 
 note to say he was unable to give the sitting. On arriving home at 10.30 p.m., and just when 
 he was on the point of undressing, his rooms were invaded by a party of eight or ten men 
 — the previous sitters — and they professed to be indignant at his having falsely represented 
 himself as unwell, and wanted iiim to give them the seance then and there. To this he 
 fihjectcd, and to pacify them, entered into a long conversation upon Spiritualistic matters. To 
 his surprise, the next morning he found himself the object of much curiosity on the part of 
 the visitors at the hotel, and soon discovered the reason of this to be a long article in the 
 Boston C/o/jc, with headings in large type, announcing " Eglinton ! Another Spiritualistic 
 Humbug, Well Ventilated at the West End. The Wonderful English Medium Exposed," etc., 
 etc. The " exposure " consisted in their construing his conversation of the previous night 
 into an attack upon Spiritualists, and their theories as to how the manifestations at the seance 
 had been produced. But as this paper only circulates among the lower classes, it caused no 
 very great interest among the educated public. He afterwards went to Melrose, Massacjuisetts, 
 and was the guest of his honoured friends, Mr. and Mrs. Hildreth, for two weeks, and whilst 
 there had some very remarkable experiences, of which Mr. Hildreth gave a concise account in 
 the Banner 0/ Light for April 30th, 1881. 
 
 He says :— " During the stay of Mr. Eglinton in Melrose a number of very successful 
 seances were held. Some of these were ordinary dark circles, where, the medium's hands 
 being held on both sides, the furniture was violently moved about the room, drawers and other 
 articles being piled on the table, It is the peculiarity of Mr. Eglinton's dark circles that his
 
 A merit ail Experiences. 87 
 
 liands arc held. Any unu uiio voUiiUarily lets go his hand, and, having thus deprived him 
 of the main evidence of his honesty, asserts that the manifi statinns were inoduced by the 
 inedium liimself, is little hi-llcr than a thief 
 
 " At a sitting in the light I took a sheet of writing paper, and |)ierting (.ne er.tl of it u ith 
 a match, gave the match to Mr. Eglinton to hold. His fingers were thus isolalid from 
 the paper, and could be seen by everybody. L'nder these circumstances small hut distinct 
 raps came on the paper, answering questions. On holding the lower part of the paper I could 
 feel the vibrations. 
 
 " Still in the light, the name of a deceased person was written on a paper, which was 
 folded so as to conceal the writing. The paper was given to the meilium, who set fire to it 
 with a candle. When l)ui iied to ashes he took it in the palm of his hand, and sudtlenly rul)bing 
 it on his bare arm there a]i|)caied a short message, signed by the person whose name hail 
 been written on the paper. 
 
 "At another sitting in the light a blank card, the coriu-r being jireviously torn oil" for 
 identification, was jilaced in a Imok, together with an at(>m of lead pencil. The hands of all 
 present being placed upon the book, a peculiar ticking noise was heard proceeding therefrom, 
 and directly afterwards the card was taken out covered with writing, being a message from a 
 relative of mine. The hoiidivritiiii^ was distinctly hers. The ne.xt day I visited a lady, 
 formerly an intimate friend of my relative. This lady is not a S|)iritualist, and was ignorant 
 that Mr. Eglinton was at my house. In the course of conversation 1 took out the card, and 
 covering the signature with a piece of paper, ostensibly to keep her lingers from rubbing 
 the pencil marks, asked if she knew the handwriting. She hail no sooner set eyes on it than 
 she recognised it as that of the person from whom it purportetl to come. 
 
 " Subsequently at a dark circle, after several materialised foinis had appeared, bearing 
 their own lights, the figure of a lady, said to be the same relative who had written the message, 
 approached within a fjot of ni}' face. The light in its liands glowed with more than usual 
 brightness, so tliat 1 was able to obtain a ]ierfectly distinct view. Wliilt' dra|K;ry was over 
 the head, brought round and seemingly held together by the mouth, as is often the case with 
 these figures. Though the mouth was concealed, the forehead, eyes, and nose of the figure, 
 which were of peculiar character, bore the most remarkable resemblance to the person it 
 [HU-ported to be, and not the slightest likeness to Mr. Eglinton." 
 
 From Melrose he went to Phoenix, Rhode Island, and had the most pronounced success. 
 He held four seances, which resulted in the complete satisfaction (though it involved their 
 discomfiture as regards their previously entertained opinions on the subject) of forty sceptics. 
 At Fall River, the next stage, he gave other seances, at one of which, held at the residence 
 of Augustus Chase — a noted mill-owner there — after obtaining a long message from Mr. Chase's 
 son, on a card placed between the leaves of a book in the light, the daughter of Mrs. Lyon, 
 " Phcebe," came out fully materialised and shook her mother's hand. The niother declared 
 she was ready to go into a court of law and swear to this fact. And thus the evi<lence in 
 favour of his powers— and of the verity of the manifestations— daily accumulated. 
 
 He left for New York on the iSth April, at the invitation of Mr. C. I). Lakey, proprietor 
 of several newspapers — the Bui/do- ami IVoodivorkcr, Insurance, etc. — published in that city. 
 Mr. Lakey describes several circles held with him as being very satisfactory, the plicnomena
 
 88 'Twixt Two Worlds. 
 
 consisting of those usually witnessed at Mr. Eglinton's seances, including materialisations. 
 Among various things the fbllovving is narrated : — " Mr. Eglinton suddenly called for a card. 
 While Professor Rice still held the card in his hand, the medium told him to tear off a corner 
 for identification, which he did. Then he seized the torn card, and opened a book, placing the 
 card so that we saw both sides were unwritten on, closed the book, and asked Professor 
 Rice to place his ear on it and listen. 'Do you hear the pencil writing?' 'Yes,' said Rice. 
 On opening the book there was the card written full, signed by a dead friend of Mr. Rice. 
 This all took place under absolutely test conditions." 
 
 On another occasion, writing to the Banner of Light^ Mr. Lakey gives the subjoined 
 account: "This is Sunday night; Mr. Eglinton has been to church, and his invisible attendants 
 rapped assent occasionally to the utterances of the preacher — sometimes dissent. An hour 
 ago we sat in the parlour talking over these wonderful manifestations of the immortal life. 
 The white cambric curtains were drawn, but the blinds were not all closed. From without the 
 gaslight drifted into the room. There were myself, wife, daughter, and this wonderful medium. 
 He sat about eight feet from us, just across a passage of light which came in from the street. 
 We had been talking of our 'dead' Suddenly we heard the quick breathing that indicates trance. 
 In just a moment there was a white cloud around the medium, whose hands and face we could 
 see, as he had no cabinet or curtain of any kind. Then advanced a female form, clad in white 
 robes. She came forward to where the passage of light was ; she seemed self-illuminated. 
 Then she vanished. We sat in silence at the very gateway of the eternal city. In a few 
 moments there came another form, not so tall, marvellously beautiful, for we could see her 
 face in the light. She came close to us, and then vanished. Then ' Daisy,' one of the 
 medium's guides, gave us a beautiful address, and said her good-bye. I should have stated 
 that the second form was draped in glorious white. Here was materialisation truly, beyond 
 any possibility of doubt. 1 cannot write more. I can say, however, that believers must stand 
 by this medium. He has wonderful powers; he is real, he is true." 
 
 Mr. Stephen Massett, the celebrated newspaper correspondent " Jeems Pipes, of Pipesville," 
 gave a long account of some remarkable seances in the Daily Evening Post of New York ; and 
 the same gentleman also introduced him to Madame Anna Bishop, the once celebrated singer, 
 who had long been a Spiritualist. New York friends vied with each other in making his stay 
 a happy one. Amongst these may be specially mentioned Mrs. Upham, the Hon. J. L. 
 O'Sullivan, Miss FitzMaurice, Prof. Kiddle, Judge Cross, and Mrs. Billing, to which charming 
 lady and wonderful medium he owes much. Perhaps what was the most descriptive account 
 of his American seances appeared in the Nciv York Tribune, written by the editor, a critical and 
 persistent investigator. For a daily paper of so much power as the one just mentioned to 
 devote a column and a half to a narration of Spiritualistic phenomena is surely a sign of the 
 times, even for America. 
 
 Calls Irom home on urgent business, however, once again compelled him to say " good- 
 bye " to the many warm friends he had here, as in every quarter of the globe, gathered around 
 him, and he sailed for the Mother Country on May 14th. Many came to the steamer to see 
 him off, and the saloon was one vast flower garden, filled with the choicest offerings of friends 
 known and unknown.
 
 C H y\ P T E R XII. 
 
 J'ISIT TO INDIA. 
 
 T lind long been a clicrished desire on Mr. Eglinton's part to visit Iniiia — the 
 reputed lionie and hiTtlipIare of the rucult sciences. Thcnsripliy and its 
 • alleged marvels were then just coming to the front, and, in conunon with 
 many others, he wished, if possible, to come to some definite conclusion 
 with regard to the subject. The general verdict was then, and for the 
 matter of that is still, the old Scotch one of " Not Proven," but the glamour 
 of mystery thrown around the phenomena, and the unbounded promises which had drawn many 
 into Theosophist circles, did not escape Mr. Eglinton, and he was naturally anxious to find out 
 all he could. His desire for investigation on the spot, seemed likely to be granted when he 
 accepted a pressing invitation from Mr. J. G. Meugens, a wealthy Indian merchant and 
 Spiritualist, to go to Calcutta as his guest. Although, however, he took with him several 
 warm letters of introduction to Colonel Olcott and Madame Blavatsky, they never extended any 
 invitation to him to meet them; and it was not until the summer of 1884, three years after 
 his return from India, that lie met the latter, who, attended by Babu Mohini Chatterjee and 
 Miss i\rundale, had a most wonderful sconce with him. With Colonel Olcott he has never 
 come in contact. 
 
 Several noteworthy private farewell sc'cvicrs were given piior to sailing from England on 
 the I2th October, 1881. At some of these, incidents occurred which conclusively proved the 
 separate individuality of his controls. 
 
 Leaving London on the 1 2th October, 188 1, he proceeded to Liverpool to spen<l a few 
 days with relatives residing in that city. I'he voyage to India turned out an extremely 
 pleasant one, and the calls made at Port Said, Suez, and Colombo, allowed him to s.c a little 
 of those places. Calcutta was reached at noon on the 17th November, when Colonel and Mrs. 
 Gordon, and Mr. Meugens met Mr. Eglinton at the steamer. Little time was lost in getting to 
 work, for on the succeeding evening b.is first sc'tvicc in India was held at the residence of 
 Mr. Cbeetham. At no time during his sojourn in this country was he idle ; the interest was too 
 great to allow of this. Successful sittings were held at the residence of the Maharajah Sir 
 Jotendro Mohun Tagore, K.C.S.I., most of which were reported in the Indian Minor, a daily 
 newspaper, published in the interests of the jiative classes, owned and edited by Pabu Norcndro 
 Nath Sen, a Spiritualist of some standing, .md cousin of the well-Unnwn Keshnb-Clunuler Sen, 
 the founder of the P.rahmn-Soniaj. The following extract from a mass of i-ditorial reports is 
 
 12
 
 90 'Twijct Two Worlds. 
 
 cliaractcristic, and must serve to illustrate the general quality of the testimony thus rendered. 
 It occurs ill that Jcjurnal for January 4th, 1882, and is written by the editor: — "Two slates 
 were |Hit together with a crumb of pencil between tiiem under the table, and holding them, we 
 heard the writing going on within the slates. After the writing had continued for some tiirie, three 
 raps were heard on the slates, which signified that the message was finished. On opening 
 them, we found the following long message written upon one of them: — 'Bless you, my son. 
 
 I am glad I am enabled to communicate. I am your father H -, and I come with many of 
 
 your ancestors. Your uncle B is present, and rejoices that lie can assure so ivotihy a 
 
 nepheiv of his increasing regard. You will remember hozv I prophesied to you, through Mr. 
 Mansfield [/.<>., Mr. Mansfield of New York, a well-known test medium], of the continued prosperity 
 of the undertaking you have in hand ; and I can only tell you again that you have a great ivork 
 to do still. The varying fortunes of your undertaking since you have been engaged in it, may 
 
 noio be sai</ to have ended in a prosperous voyage. I can never be too glad that Captain P 
 
 [our private tutor, now deceased] took you in hand, for you ozue everything to him, aiul to y/ 
 
 [an old European attorney of the late Supreme Court, now no more.] My good friend the 
 
 Maharajah R S is present ivith me, as is your grandfather R . IVe all rejoice 
 
 that /his truth has been brought home to you, and I ivant you to remember that " dunya akhirat ke 
 khcti hai" [written in Bengali], and that the knowledge you noiv possess ivill fit you for the ne.xt 
 imrld. IVe are all very happy, ami give you our benediction. I shall come again some day, 
 and talk more fully to you. Good-bye, my son.' The handwriting of the message was as fine 
 as copper-plate ; the personal allusions in it were correct to the letter, and the Urdu quotation 
 at the end, marked a peculiar trait in the character of the present writer's father, who was an 
 accomplished Urdu scholar, and in the habit of interlarding his conversation now and then 
 with Urdu quotations — facts of which Mr. Eglinton was entirely ignorant. The message was 
 remarkable for the explicitness with which it served to identify the deceased party in his 
 communications with his living son. All the names appearing in the message were given in 
 full. The Urdu quotation means, that what we sow in this world, we shall reap in the next. 
 The Maharajah referred to in the message is a well-known native prince, whose loss has been 
 universally mourned of late, both in India and England." 
 
 About this time he met the veteran Hindoo Spiritualist, Peary Chand Mittra, with whom 
 he enjoyed many quiet hours in discussing the mysteries of spiritual phenomena. Since then 
 Death has solved these problems of the grave for this kind friend. 
 
 The seances, invariably held in private houses, were largely and continuously attended by 
 the e-lite of Indian civil and military society; and, to meet the demand for full reports and 
 information, a fortnightly journal, similar in style to Light, was started. This venture met with 
 considerable success, and continued to be published during the whole of Mr. Eglinton's sojourn 
 in India. 
 
 I do not propose to narrate at length the seances given by Mr. Eglinton during this period. 
 I must perforce confine myself to matters of special value — such for example as the 
 following incidents, related by Mrs. R. H. Cheetham in Psychic Notes for January i6th, 1881. 
 The first is a singularly curious case:— "Two slates were carefully washed and a piece of 
 pencil was laid between them. I was asked to grasp them at the corners of the wooden 
 frame and press them tightly together with one hand, Mr. Eglinton holding the slates in the
 
 I'isii to India. 91 
 
 same way at the opposite cross conicr. Thus held we stretched out our anus as far as we 
 could, lioldiug tlic slate in the full light aivay from the tabic. My right hand and Mr. 
 Eglinton's left still touched the hands of our respective neighbours. At once, wilhiii the slates, 
 the sound of rapid writing was heard, and in a very short time, the usual thiit: small raps 
 were given as a signal for us to look at the result. On the slate were twenty-two lines 
 containing one lumdred and forty-two words signed by the name of a near relative of mine 
 who left this world sonic years ago. Before I glanced at the signature the strong resemblance 
 of the small, close writing to that of my friend amazed me, and when 1 caiuc to read the 
 written lines my astonishment increased. 1 found in tiiem a verbatim quotaticn from a letter 
 written by me and posted to New Zealand the week before, and also a remark relating to my 
 ]irivate affairs which seemed to me to point conclusively to the identity of the writer whose 
 signature was appended. 1 had spoken to no one of what 1 had said in the letter sent many 
 days before, and I am not conscious tiiat it was in my thoughts as I lieKl tin slates. Below 
 
 Fig. 10.— Writing I'roductil iiiukT an Inverted Tuiiil)lLr. 
 
 the letter to me, in a large and quite different handwriting, was a message to my husband, 
 W'ho was not present." 
 
 The next experiment was not less valuable : — " A soda-water tumbler was reversed on the 
 slate over a crumb of pencil, and then pressed the glass up against the under-surface of 
 the table. 'I'hat is to say, Mr. Eglinton put the slate under the taiiie, with the reversed 
 glass upon it, and forced the tumbler hard against the wood by pressing up tlie slate with his 
 hand, the wrist and arm being clearly seen by us. Writing was heard and the three raps 
 were' given for us to look at the slate. Within the circle described by the rim of the glass 
 we found a message in a small hand, quite different from the handwriting of the letter 
 addressed to me." (Fig. 10.) 
 
 It was during this period that a startling phenomenon occurred— no less than the instantaneous 
 transmission of letters between London and Calcutta. 1 say "startling" advisedly. It is 
 assuredly so for the world at large, but Spiritualists, who alone can form any idea ..f the 
 power of spirits over matter, will readily understand tlie phennmrn..n. Tiiis carrying of letters
 
 92 'Twixi Two IVorlds. 
 
 took place on several occasioiis, but a description of the circumstances attending one case 
 must suffice. Mr. Meugens, the narrator, is well known in London and Calcutta mercantile 
 circles as a man of high intelligence and integrity. " Mr. Eglinton and I had been to dine 
 with some friends at the Bengal Club, and returned home at about eleven p.m. My guest asked 
 me to sit with him before retiring to bed, and we sat together in the light. He took a sheet 
 of paper (which I had just previously marked in one corner with my initials and private mark 
 for the purpose of identification), placed it in a bonk, held the book under the table for a 
 few seconds, and then put the book into my hands. I examined it very carefully, but 
 the sheet of paper had disappeared. I retained possession of the book, while Mr. Eglinton (in 
 his normal state) informed me that he saw his spirit leave his body and travel over land and 
 sea until it entered the room t)f a friend of mine in London, and he minutely described my 
 friend and the surroundings in the room, which he asserted was flooded with light. lie 
 saw 'Ernest' standing by my friend while the letter was being written, and his taking 
 the letter when readj'. In a few seconds after this he begged me to open the book (of which 
 I had retained possession the whole time), and there sure enough inside the cover of the book 
 was the self-same sheet of paper, with my initials and private mark upon it, completely filled 
 with a letter in my friend's handwriting, dated that same evening in London, and conunencing 
 with an account of how the room had been suddenly filled with light, how ' Ernest ' had 
 brought the sheet of paper marked by me, and how he stood waiting to bear the letter back." 
 So rich were the numerous seances in phenomena, and so lively was the sensation caused by 
 the publication of details, that Mr. Eglinton began to be looked upon by the native community 
 as a Yogi of the first water, by the Spiritualists as a wonder, and by a sceptical world as a 
 mystery. The press, both native and English, was, on the whole, favourably inclined, though 
 a certain amount of antagonism on the part of individuals was naturally to be expected. One 
 wail which arose from the sceptical ranks, when regarded in the light of subsequent events, is 
 not to be surpassed as showing the irony of fate. Its keynote was that "a conjurer would 
 do just the same manifestations in the clearest daylight and with double the number of 
 
 sitters Convert one, and then," the writer grandiloquently adds, " the ii'or/d is 
 
 at your feet." The whirligig of time was soon to bring its own revenge, and the chosen 
 champion of the shrieking sceptic was destined not to lay the world at the feet of Spiritualism, 
 but simply to exemplify the fact that a prophet is not without honour save in his own country. 
 "An average prestidigitateur" (I quote the qualification as enunciated in the challenge in question) 
 ivas convinced of the truth of Spiritualism, and of the genuineness of its manifestations, but, 
 contrary to the somewhat rash prediction indulged in, he did not become "the St. Paul of the 
 new dispensation," as the sequel will show. 
 
 Mr. Harry Kellar, the well-known conjurer, was then on a visit to Calcutta, and a portion 
 of his entertainment was devoted to an " exposure " of Spiritualism. Urged by some 
 opponents of Spiritualism— clericals, of course— he seized the opportunity, conjurer-like, to make 
 as much capital out of the fact of the sensation caused by Mr. Eglinton's mediumship as he could, 
 and his (Kellar's) performances were given nightly to crowded houses. At that time, however, 
 Kellar was evidently an honest inquirer, if I may judge from a letter published by him on the 
 subject in the Indian Daily Neivs for January 13th. He there confesses that he had followed 
 with nuich interest a correspondence regarding Spiritualism, and more particularly " the accounts of
 
 Visit (0 India. 93 
 
 manifcstatioiiB said tu liavc taken plact; in the presence nf Mr. I^glinlun." lie continues: — " I 
 am far from wisiiing to sni:er or tlirow discredit on what is saiil to have tai<en place, 
 ami which has only reaciieil nic on liearsay. At the same time- I should he j;lad of an 
 opportunity of participaling in a saiiicr, with a view of i;iving an unbiasseil opinion as to 
 whether, in my capacity of a professional prcnlitiigiltitinr, I can give a natural explanation of 
 effects said to he produced by spiritual aid. I trust that my character as a man is a 
 
 sufficient guarantee tiiat I would take no unfair advantage, or violate any of the conditions 
 imposed at a sc'aiu'c to whicii I was invited." 
 
 After such a letter, Mr. Kglinton had what the Yankees call "a had time." 'I'he public 
 were loud in their demands for an answer, and the .Spiritualists begged him to give Kellar 
 a sc'aiia: For a long time no response to these calls was made, and Mr. ICglinton at lirst 
 was obdurate and refused point blank to comply with eithei' lequest. IC.xperience had laut;ht him 
 that conjurers were, as a rule, animated in all they did, as regards Spiritualism, .solely by 
 a desire to make capital out of it, and lie naturally regarded this letter as a clever ruse 
 on Kellar's part to advertise himself at another's expense. Ultimately, however, Mrs. Gordon 
 prevailed on him to meet Kellar, and confident in his own integrity, and the reality of 
 his mediumistic gifts, he did so. With what result, the following extracts from some of 
 the conjurer's letters to ' the liidMii Daily News will show :— -" In your issue of the 13th 
 January I stated that I should be glad of an opportunity of participating in a s/ijwcc with 
 a view of giving an unbiassed opinion as to whether, in my capacity of a professional 
 presluiigiialeur, I could give a natural explanation of effects said to be produced by spiritual 
 aid. I am indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Eglinton, the Spiritualistic medium now in 
 Calcutta, and of his host, Mr. J. Meugens, for affording me the opportunity I craved. It 
 is needless to say I went as a sceptic, but I must own that I came away utterly unable 
 to explain, by any natural means, the phenomena that I witnessed on Tuesday evening. I 
 will give a brief description of what took place." 
 
 After describing several successful experiments, Mr. Kellar proceeds :—" In respect to the 
 above manifestations, I can only say that I do not expect my account of them to gain general 
 credence. Forty-eight hours before I should not have believed anyone who described such 
 manifestations under similar circumstances. I still remain a sceptic as regards Spiritualism, but 
 I repeat my inability to explain or account for what must have been an intelligent force that 
 produced the writing on the slate, which, if my senses are to he relied on, was in no way 
 the result of trickery or sleight of hand." 
 
 On the 30th of the same month Mr. Kellar addressed another letter to the ImUan Daily News, 
 reporting some experiences of another kind with Mr. Eglinton, one of the witnesses beinj 
 Lord William Beiesford, V.C, and regarding which the clever conjurer said :— " In conclusion, 
 let me state that after a most stringent trial and strict scrutiny of these wonderful experiences 
 I can arrive at no other conclusion than that there was no trace of trickery in any form, nor 
 was there in the room any mechanism or machinery by which cnuKl be produced the phenomena 
 which had taken place. The ordinary mode by which Maskelyne ami other conjurers imitate 
 levitation or the (loating test could not possibly be done in the room in which we were 
 assembled." 
 
 Thus once more was a professional conjurer nonplussed when brought face to face with
 
 94 'Twixt Two Worlds. 
 
 spiritual phenomena. Tiie call for testing by prestidigitateurs is, after all, only a parrot's cry 
 on the part of those who, driven from pillar to post to find an excuse for shutting their eyes 
 to facts, refer to conjurers as the Alpha or Omega court of appeal, forgetting that they have, 
 over and over again, tried " to find out the trick," and failed. 
 
 Mediums, who are the instruments of an external agency, have, as I have stated, 
 more tlian once been confronted with conjurers who deceive by sleight of liand ; but in the 
 same manner as no man of science who has thoroughly and fairly investigated tlie phenomena 
 of Spii itualism has failed to become convinced of their reality, so no conjurer who has been con- 
 fronted witli tile same facts has been able to explain their occurrence by prestidigitation. The 
 sensation caused bj' Kellar's conversion was indescribable. Some suggested that the conjurer 
 had been " stjuarcd " by the medium, because both were brotlier Masons; others began to tliinli 
 tiiere was " sometliing in it ; " while the poor sceptic who wanted a convert of a conjurer, 
 never opened his lips again ! It may be interesting to note that Kellar made an ofler on 
 the spot of a very lucrative engagement for six months if Mr. Eglinton would produce the 
 same results on the stage, an offer, it is perhaps unnecessary for me to say, never accepted. 
 
 I see from the American papers (18S5) tliat Kellar has since "ratted." Probably he found 
 out that it pays better to abuse Spiritualism than to endorse it. I fail, however, to see how 
 he can possibly explain away the very explicit statements he made in India, although, as "a 
 matter of business," it may suit him to thus gull a very gullible public. 
 
 The discussion about the instantaneous transmission of letters from London to Calcutta, and 
 vice versa, outshining as they did the alleged phenomena of theosophy, waxed warm and furious, 
 and I\Ir. Meugens determined, if possible, to put the matter to a decisive test at the first opportunity, 
 although as a matter of fact the evidence for the spiritual facts was then, and has ever been, 
 incomparably superior to tiiat adduced for so-called occult phenomena, both in quality and 
 quantity. At no time have the former been so stringently tested, nor have they been 
 examined with such scientific acumen. Returning from Colonel Gordon's late one evening, 
 Mr. Meugens and Mr. Eglinton were sitting, as was their wont, on the verandah, when the 
 latter felt a strong influence come over him, and inquired of his companion whether he 
 would like a manifestation. "Yes," he replied, nothing unwilling. "What shall it be?" asked 
 Mr. Eglinton. Remembering what he liad previously determined upon, Mr. Meugens replied, 
 " Bring me Mrs. Fletcher's wedding ring." Mrs. Fletcher was then in Tothill Fields Prison, 
 and Mr. Meugens was a warm sympathiser, believing that she had been most unjustly convicted. 
 Knowing that slie would be stripped of everything else belonging to her, he tiiought if 
 the wediiing ring were brought from England to Calcutta, some six thousand miles away, 
 the test would be decisive. Mr. Eglinton, under control, asked for a tumbler to be held 
 high above his head. The lamps were burning brightly all the time, and Mr. Eglinton 
 was now reclining on a coucii a little distance off. Suddenly a chink was heard in the glass, 
 and on lowering it for examination a wedding ring was found in it. It was old and worn, 
 and although Mr. Meugens was of course unable to identify it, yet he was naturally immensely 
 pleased at a wedding ring having been brought to him at all under such conditions. There 
 could have been no preparation, as the particular object chosen had been asked for spontaneously, 
 and the chances were many against such an object being in Mr. Eglinton's possession. A 
 few days afterwards a letter, carried by spirit agency (only one of many whicli came to hand
 
 Visit fo Tudia. 05 
 
 in likr niannri), was iccrivcd by I\Ir, M.-ugciis rroni Mrs. Fletcher in lu;i- own liandwriling, 
 tcllini; him she had sent tlir ring in obedience to his request, and hoping he rrcciv(xl it 
 safel}'. He returned to ICnglaiid in time to meet her at tiic prison gates when she was 
 released, and his first question was, " Wlure is your wedding ring?" Siie hehl up her 
 hand, ujion wliicli were the otlier rings which iiad been restored to hiT by tiie prison authorities, 
 but no u'l'tMiiig ring was there, and she explained that she thought he had received it umntlis 
 before ! 
 
 This fact may be beyond the comprehension of many, of all indeed, perhaps, wlio have 
 not had practical personal experience of similar marvels. I carniot, however, emphasise too 
 strongly the fact that Mr. Meugens is a man whose re]iutation is beyond the shadow of 
 reproach, respected and esteemed in commercial circles in England and India, for his sound 
 business qualities. He is, moreover, an experienced investigator, accustomed to weigh evidence ; 
 in short, he is not a man likely to be mistaken or deceived, and his testimony I need hardly 
 say will be accepted by all who know him, as accurate and unvarnished. His opportunities 
 for investigation, too, living as he did in daily contact with Mr. Eglinton, were practically 
 unlimited, and I find it a somewhat onerous task to select isolated cases — and I can do no 
 more — out of the multitude which he and others in India put on record. 
 
 Another satisfactory experience was the following. After relating the circumstances of Mr. 
 Eglinton's arrival in India as his guest, he proceeds:— "I had taken the top floor of a house 
 for the season, into which I had put my own furniture, and as the rest of the house was 
 entirely let out in offices, there was no one residing there except ourselves. Fig. 11 is a 
 sketch showing the situation of the rooms, from which it will be seen that when our doors 
 were locked it was quite impossible for any one to get into our rooms. As is usual in India 
 the rooms were very large, roomy, and lofty, and what is not so usual, the floors were laid 
 in Portland cement, so there could be no possibility of any communication through the doors. 
 The verandah faced south, looking into the road. D is the doorways, from which it will be 
 seen that one door led into the dining-room from the landing, and another into the bedroom. 
 Both these doors were always barred before we retired to bed. The signs M and E represent 
 the relative positions of our resptxtive beds, M being mine, E Eglinton's, and they were a 
 good many feet apart. Each bed is near one of the doorways looking into the dining-room, 
 and I would add that the head of each bed was towards the north. I had not personally known 
 anything whatever of Mr. Eglinton prior to his arrival in India, hut we speedily became 
 great friends, and I had many wonderful manifestations with him in private. One night 
 wc had gone to bed (I would add that each bed was furnished with a mosquito curtain 
 which tucked in under the mattress, so that one had to disturb it if one wanted to get out 
 of bed). Wc always kept a light in the room, a small hanging kerosene lamji, which was 
 turned down, but gave suflicient light to enable me to see anything in the room. As it was 
 rather warm we were both lying in our sleeping suits on the beds (I mean outside the bed 
 clothes), and although the light was dim, and the mosquito curtains made things hazy, we 
 could cither of us see distinctly any movement made by the other. We had bid each other 
 good-night, when 'Daisy' suddenly controlled Eglinton, and said, 'Mr. Meugens, don't go to 
 sleep yet ; watch.' Accordingly, I kept my eyes open, watching Eglinton's bed. After 
 watching for some time I fancied I saw something in the conur marked f, and I sal up
 
 96 
 
 ' Twixt Ttvo Worlds. 
 
 in bed to have a better look. I saw what appeared to be a small cloud of something like 
 nuislin. This gradually developed until I could make out what appeared to be a human 
 form draped in white. A little after, this form began to move, and then glided through the 
 doorway at the foot of my bed, and then seemed to lack strength, for it glided back to the 
 original corner. After a few seconds of interval, the form passed tiirough the doorway again 
 as before, and this time came right up to my bed, and seemed to be gazing at me through 
 the mosquito curtains. I could see that it was the figure of a woman, tall and graceful, but 
 althou"h I tried hard I could not distinguish the features. The feet were bare, and so 
 were the liands and arms beyond the elbows, but tiiere was a veil or what appeared to be 
 
 Soutli 
 
 Verandah 
 
 D 
 
 D D D 
 
 llining Room 
 
 
 n 
 
 D D D 
 
 
 
 
 
 Landing 
 
 u 
 
 M E t 
 
 0) 
 
 Bedroom 
 
 
 n) 
 
 c! 
 
 (/I 
 
 
 Bathroom 
 
 
 North. 
 Fig. II. — Plan of 5i«';a'-room in Calcutta. 
 
 such over the figure's face, and, moreover, the mosquito curtains added to tlie dilTiculty of 
 my seeing distinctly. The iigure rested her hand on the tester of the bed, and when I asked 
 if .siie knew me, slie rapped three times with her hand. 1 tiien asked if it was my 
 motlier, and again three raps. Tlie figure then seemed to try to come closer, and as thougii 
 slie wished to touch uie through the curtains ; this, however, slie did not manage t(j do, 
 but she i>enl her lieaiJ still lower, and 1 heartl distinctly tlie whisjier, 'God bless you.' She 
 then glided hack tu the corner she had started from, and gradually dissolved or fadetl out of 
 view. All this time Egiinton lay perfectly still on the bed, and so far as I could see, for I 
 kept on glancing towards him, remained exactly as 1 have described when ' Daisy ' first controlled 
 him. As soon as the form had quite faded away ' Daisy ' called out ' Well, Mr. Meugens,
 
 PI l\
 
 / 'isif lo Iiuh'd. 
 
 97 
 
 what iln vuii think cif lli.it ri.r.i n al nl(l-rasliiniii<l <;liii^,t ^ ' 'Wh.. was it, "Dai-y".'' I a-^b■<l. 
 ' N'lini- nmilur, cf cmnsc,' slir nnswcml, 'wlin rise rmild it I"?' I may add lliat mv iiU'tlicr 
 died wliiii 1 was a cliild n(" (Ivc i,i- six, and lia\ing nn piirliait cil" Ikt licvdiid a pli(itiii:;rai)li 
 take II iVcmi an old oil |-iaiiitint; l)riiint;in;,' to my fatlu r, it would In- no ( asy math r for nic to 
 idc iitily her, even had 1 sncircdcd in seeing her fcatiifes as distiiiclly as I could ha\-c wislicd. 
 As hearing on this manifestation, I may iTinark that when 1 was at Lake Pleasant, in iSS^, 
 my mother gave me messages through scvi ral mi(li\nns thin-, who wciv strangifs to me, to 
 till' elleet that she had shown herself lo me in Caleutta, and would vet lind opjiortunity of 
 doing so again, still more sueeessfnliy." 
 
 Will II I\Ir. Meiigens n liinied to k'ngjand, Mr. I'~gHuton W( lit lo llowi'.ili ;is the guest of 
 C'oloiK I and Mrs. (ionloii, niiiaining with tin m dining the n <t of his slay in India. it 
 was just hefoie this jieriod lliat Lord William IJercsfoit! heeame interestcxl in, and eoiivertcd 
 to Spiritualism. Mis. Gordon thus relates what took place on one occnsioii : — "A pair of folding 
 slates wei'e hrought hv Lord W'illi.im, who ohtaiiud answers to (|nestions on their inner 
 sides. A name lie asked for was also wiattcii. Two slates were then taki n and washed hy 
 the sitters and a bit of pencil put between them. Lord William hekl the slates at one 
 side, while Mr. Eglinton held them on the other. Writing was distinctly heard, and in a few 
 seconds three raps denoted the completion of the message, and one slate was found full of an 
 admiralily written, earelully ]iunetuated communieatioii, which would lia\'e taken any oni- se\'eral 
 minutes to write." 
 
 Among other persons who visited Mr. Kglinton, may be mentioned Dr. Warden, the 
 Rajah Kumar Singh, Mr. Justice Cunningham, Mr. Iiistiee ■rotteiiham, Mr. Reily, Captain Andrews, 
 Lord and Lady Lawrence, Sir Donald Stewart (eommander-in-ehii I' of Ibr Majesty's forces in 
 India), and Captain and Lady Klizabeth Clough Taylor. 
 
 While staying at Ilowrah Mr. Kglinton received an invitalion to proceed to Madras as 
 the guest of General Morgan, after which it was his intention to go on to Sinil.i, with a 
 view to entering upon the duti< s of private secretary to a gentleman resident there, who had 
 oU'erid him that position ; Init urgent domestic affairs at home decreed otherwise, and he 
 sailetl for I'ngland in April, 18S2. 
 
 It was during the voyage home lliat a letter was carried from Mr. Kglinton while at sea 
 to Mrs. Gordon at Ilowrah. Kor a full account of this incident, which has, erroneously 1 believe, 
 been claimed by 'I'lieosophists as confirming their views, I must refer my readers to "The Occult 
 World," by Mr. A. P. Sinnett. I must here simjily content myself with putting on record the 
 niatni-cr conclusions of Mr. Kglinton with regard to the "appearance" on board the Vcg.'^. He 
 now believes the apparition to have been a spontaneous materialksation, of a somewhat unusual 
 order, of some one who called himself " Koot Hoomi." 
 
 While in India he b.ad not an opportunity of witnessing any genuine mediumshii) amongst 
 the natives except in two cases; in one of which self-inflicted wounds were rapidly healed, 
 and another in which lost property was recovered through the agency of a fakir. The growing 
 of palms, the well-known basket trick, the throwing of a ring into a pond and its reproduction, 
 are all feats whieli no second-rate conjurer would care to introduce in London. He saw one 
 of the best men in India, and although he studied several o'i his iierformances, they were all 
 of a similar character and explainable by natural means. 
 
 13
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE ROYAL FAMILY AND SPIIUTUALISM. PSYCIIOGRAPLIY EXPLAINED. 
 
 the transaction 
 finest being he 
 
 . KGLINTON arrived in London on the 22nd April. The desire he liad 
 long hail to live apart from Spiritualism as a profession seemed now to 
 be on the point of being fulfilled. He entered into partnership with a 
 gentleman in a publishing firm, trading under the name of the Ross Pub- 
 lishing Company ; but although exceedingly prosperous, the erratic conduct of 
 his partner drove him to a dissolution, in August, 1883, a great loser by 
 In the meantime he gave occasional non-professional seances, some of the 
 at the residence of liis friend, Mr. Dawson Rogers, at whose house, Mr. Eglinton 
 writes, " I first had the pleasure of meeting that estimable and remarkable medium, Mrs. 
 Kveritt, whose seances for the direct voice are the best I have ever known." After the dissolu- 
 tion of partnership he was so much broken down by constant cares and worries that he 
 decided to accompany his friends Colonel and Mrs. Lean on a visit to Paris. They staj'cd 
 together in a pension in the Boulevard Haussmann, and in their pleasant society he soon 
 recovered his usual health. He gave one or two private seances to persons of distinction dining 
 his stay in Paris, notably to the Princesse Lucien Buonaparte, Madame Olympe Odouard, Dr. 
 Goyard, and otheis, with excellent success. The return to town occurred in December, 1883, 
 after an absince of five ur six weeks. It becoming known that he was about to give pro- 
 fessional seances in London again, not having done so, with but one or two exceptions, since 
 1878, he was flooded with requests for sittings, and one of the first was given at the residence 
 of Mr. Sam. Ward — the "Uncle Sam" of .American fame, and uncle of clever F. Marion 
 Crawford, the author of "Mr. Isaacs," etc. It was at his house tliat he first had the pleasure of 
 meeting Mr. Sinnett, the Larl of Dunraven, and others. So much has been said about the 
 connection of the Royal family with S|)iritualism, that it may not be out of place here to say, 
 conLcrning the many contradictory reports asserting that II.R.Il. the late Duke of Albany took n,> 
 interest in "Mr. Kglinton's Spiritualism," that there is in existence a letter of imitation fium a 
 w<-ll-knnwn Spiritualist asking him to dinner to meet II.R.Il., thus showing he (//,/ t.ike an 
 interest in Mr. i:gliiiti)n's mediumship. 
 
 At a kitrr period aiiothri' "contradiction" from Sir Henry Poiisonby, tlie jirivate secretary 
 of the Queen, went the round of the papers, whereupon I wrote as follows to the Pa// Ma// 
 Gazette, one of the journals in which the "denial" appeared :—" In your i.ssue of Wednesday, 
 the 25th instant, you copied from the Ade/aide Evening' Jonrim/ a letter purporting to have
 
 TJic Royal Family and Spirilnalism. qq 
 
 iKxn wilu.n by Sir Il.nry Punsrml.y, lu r Majesty's privatc^ scc.vtary, assminj; lliat 'it is not 
 true that tiu: iiicmbcis of tiu- Rcyal I-ainily arc believers in Mr. Kgliiifrn's Spiiitualisni ; ' an.l 
 also a letter from the Hon. Alexander Vnrke, who was equerry tu ihr late l)ul«' of Albany, slatint; 
 that the notorious Braniah-lock <louble slate used by Mr. 1-lintnn was not j^iven tn hhu by bis 
 Royal Highness. As to both these letters, knowing what 1 ,lo, I ean only describe theui as 
 e.xeeedingly diplomatic. Will Sir Henry Ponsonby, leaving out the (|ualincation of 'Mr. Kglinton's 
 S[>iritualism'— whatever that may be— plainly assert that none ..r the members of the Royal 
 Family have ever attended Spiritualistic san/cc.s, or that Ihey have not arrived at a belief in 
 the possibility of communication with the unseen world? And will the Hon. Alexander Vorke 
 kindly inform your readers who it really was who presented the ISramah-lock slate to Mr. 
 Eglinton? 1 happen to be aware that he (Mr. Yorke) knows, and it would be interesting if 
 he \v<juld be ingenuous enough to state the fact. He could do so without any breach of confi- 
 dence. " These questions have never been answered, although care was taken to send copies of 
 the paper to those concerned. Further, 1 learned that the original statement which drew forth 
 Sir Henry Ponsonby's letter, .says nothing about Mr. Kglinton's Sjiiritualism, in fact does 
 not mention his name, so that the denial, if genuine, looks very like an evasion of the question. 
 Readers will draw their own conclusions. Mr. Alexander Yorke, I may here mention, has 
 attended a large number of scd/io's with Mr. F.glinton. 
 
 Mr. K. Dawson Rogers has kiiull}- suppliid me with an account of a piivate sitting with 
 Mr. Eglinton, early in 1883, at the time when he was eng;iged in commercial junsuits. 
 
 " i\ S(Viuc was held at my residence, Rose \'illa, Church 1-Jid, Mncliley, N., <in the evening 
 of the 14th of January, the circle consisting of my wife, two mmis, two daughters, and myself, 
 with Mr. Eglinton as metlium. We sat in the dark and had long conversations with spirits, 
 who spoke with the direct voice. In the course of the sitting one of them asked: ' Have 
 you any private note-paper with printed heading?' 1 replied that he would fnid some in the 
 Davenport. Innnediately afterwards we beard several strong pulls at a side drawer in the Daven- 
 port. This drawer goes very stiflly, and we knew exactly what was being done by the noise 
 made by the drawer in l.ieing ]iulled out. The spiiit had, in f.u I, gune [n the p;\iticular 
 drawer in wliich my stock of nute-]i,aper is kept. .Some quires were at once thrown mi the 
 table, and 1 was innnediately — that is, within two or thret' seconds — requesteil by the 
 voice to light up. Having ilone so, we found on a piece of the paper a message of 
 about eighty words, well and distinctly written in pencil. As soon as this had bein read I 
 put out the light again, and had scarcely done so when light was once moie called lor. As 
 nearly as 1 can judge, not nioie than three seconds had elapsed ; but in that s[)ace of time 
 a pencil sketch (of which Fig. 12 is a /acsimi/c) had been executed on another sheet of 
 my private note-paper. The voice told us that the sketch might be taken as a general 'repre- 
 sentation,' though not exactly a likeness, of m}' daughter Kathleen, who has now been about 
 ten years in the other life. I should add that Mr. Eglinton sat between myself and ni}' wife, 
 and we kniwv that be did not move: from his seat during the aaiiKV." 
 
 Another noteworthy account of a seance from the same pen is the following : — 
 
 "On the 13th of March, 1S83, I attended a seance held at tiu; house of Mr. R. Pearco, 
 Holder's Hill, 1 lendon. The circle comprised Mr. anil Mrs. Piarce, Mr. and Mrs. T. E\iritt, 
 Mr. Frank Everitt, my wife, anil myself; and Mr. I'^glinton as the im dinm. We were sitting
 
 lOO 
 
 ' Tzoixi Tzoo Worlds 
 
 in a room well lighted by a gas chandelier, which hung directly over tlic table, when Mr. 
 Eglinton asked that a piece of paper should be initialled by members of the circle and [jlaced 
 in a book. Mr. I'earce accordingly produced some note-paper, which was initialled at the 
 four corners by Mr. Everitt, Mr. Pearce, and myself — while I also wrote my initials and the 
 date of the sitting at the back. This piece of paper 1, at Mr. Eglinton's request, placed inside 
 a book, which 1 laid jjefore uie on the table, with my left hand upon it. Mr. ICglintmi put 
 
 I'lG. 12. — A Direct Drawing. 
 
 his hand upcm mine for a U:w seconds and then requested me to open the book. I did so and 
 found that the note-paper had disappeared, and in its place was the address card of one of my 
 
 ■i^ .ncssage : — ■' / (//;/ taking care of 
 Frank' was the name of one nf my sons, 
 who was at iiuiiiu ill. We were not then aware how serious his illness was. lie departed 
 this life three days afti rwards. On the other side was the following message purporting to be 
 from a dear friend (a German), wh<i entered the spiiit-wodd in KS74, and from whom we have 
 
 daugliters. On one side of the card was written the following mes 
 Frank, la h'/ioiii I stiid iiiv rojards. Don't be anxious.
 
 Psychography Explained. loi 
 
 liad VLK}- iiuui}' coninuiiiications since : — ' Licbcr Frciind, — Fiir den . liti^iiiblnh bin icli iinlil iiii 
 Staiiilc (til (iiis/iir/i/ir/i sii sc/inibcii, abcr kit wenfr cs in Kni"c //inn. Bchallc tin i^'iitrs Ilcrz nnil, 
 mil Gr/issf an allc, lurblcihc licin livnr li. I'.' Later in the evening, wliile sitting in the dark 
 and lecc-iviiig coniiuuiiications fmm Mr. Eglinton's spirit-attindaiits l)y tlie direct voice, they 
 told us tliat they had fetched tiie card on wiiieii the written messages liad been given, from 
 my house (aijout a mile distant); and as to the initialled note-paper which had disappeared 
 they infoimcd us that it was in their possession, that they had taken it for a special purpose, 
 and that it would be returneil on some future occasion at my own residence. 
 
 "On the evening of the lOth February, 1S84, eleven months afterward,s, Mr. Uglinton paid 
 me a visit at my house in Church End, Finchley, and we had a sitting in the evening — tiie 
 circle comprising (in addition to Mr. Eglinton), Mr. and Mrs. R. Pearce, my wife and myself, 
 and my son and two daughters. It was a dark seance, Mr. Eglinton sitting — not isolated from 
 the circle— but with us at the table between my wife and myself Before the light was put 
 out 1 had laid some paper and a jiencil on the table, in case they luight be ncetlcd. We had 
 the usual manifestations of lights and raps, and touches i)y materialised hands ; anil some pleasant 
 conversation with Mr. Eglinton's siiirit friends, in the direct voice. SuddenI)', while all these 
 were going on, we heard a noise as of the rustling of paper in the air, and a sound like that 
 of writing. The paper fell between my wife and my son, and we were at once directed by 
 the 'voice' to light up. We did so— and then, to our surprise, we fouml that none of the paper 
 which had been placed on the table before the seance commenced had been used, but that the 
 writing had been done on the initialled piece of note-paper which had disappeared eleven months 
 before, and which was now returned to us, as clean, smooth, and uncrumpled as when placed 
 between the leaves of the book held by my own iiand. The message written was as f illows :— 
 ' IVe have been asked to zvri/e this utessage for your son: "Dear Fathn; — Only a tvord wilh 
 difficulty — but a great deal fist now. Take comfort in the fact thai I shall soon be able to write 
 myself Love to all, from your affedionale son, F. Rogers." ' I have only to add that the te.\t of 
 the message was written in a good bold hand, wliieh I do not recognise; but it is certainly 
 not Mr. Eglinloji's, being as unlike his as could possibly be imagined. But the signature, ' F. 
 Rogers,' is e(iually unlike the writing of tiie rest of the message, and is beyond a doubt that of 
 my son, wh.. departed this life, as I have said, three days after the paper originally disappeared, 
 viz., on the l6th of March, 1883. No one who knew his writing could hesitate for a moment 
 to declare that the signature was most certainly his." 
 
 Much was being said at this time about the so-called "thought-reading" of Mr. Irving 
 Bishop, and believing his performances in Liverpool and elsewhere not to be genuine, Mr. Eghn- 
 ton challenged him in the following terms:—"! will place in the liaiuls of the Psychical Society 
 the sum of ^10, and that Society shall choose a committee of six of its members, to mark and 
 hide a pin in a manner similar to that adopted by Mr. Ladyman. Bishop shall allow himself 
 the like conditions of being blindfolded and a copper wire ; and if he, inuler these circumstances, 
 will guide any one of the si.x gentlemen to the spot where the pin is hidden, 1 will forfeit the 
 sum above-named, and will publiMi the n suit in the newspapers. Should the Psychical Society 
 and Mr. Bishop consent to this, and the latter succeed, he will at once see the importance it 
 will give him in having been successful with a committee of scientific gentlemen, whose testimony 
 no one will doubt, besides having clearly demonstrated tiiat his [.ower of thought-reading has stood
 
 I02 'Tzvixt Tzuo Worlds. 
 
 the calm and tlclibcrate test of a body of men who have already satisfied themselves of the 
 existence of such a power." This challenge was never accepted. 
 
 In lanuary, 1884, Mr. Eglinton again came forward as a professional medium. It really 
 seemed as thougii every effort on his part to disengage himself from public life was doomed to 
 failure. In spite of himself, he has been over and over again forced out of private life, and his 
 wonderful gifts placed at the service of his fellow-men. Who will dare to say tiiat there is not an 
 unseen guiding hand in this ? At all events, it would be difficult to gauge the value his medium- 
 ship has been to Spiritualism, especially during the last period of his professional career ; and his 
 success since January, 1884, can be regarded as little less than piienomenal. 
 
 He took up his residence at 12, Old Quebec Street, W., and was visited by the leading 
 celebrities of the day, including some of the highest personages in the land. Mr. Charles Black- 
 burn, always to the fore in his care for, and appreciation of genuine mediums, presented him 
 with a test cabinet, the following being a description of a seance at vvhicii it was used. It was 
 of inch-thick mahogany and exactly the shape of a bath chair without wheels ; instead of a glass 
 window front, it had, for ventilation, copper wire netting, with meshes of about one inch. This 
 wire was stretched from head to foot. The cabinet contained a seat for one person only inside, 
 the long wire door being finally fastened outside with a Chubb's padlock, or by any lock which 
 the sceptic might choose to bring. It was then put together, and the medium entered and sat 
 down. The wire door was shut, fastened with a Chubb's [ladlock — brought by Mr. Black- 
 burn for the purpose — and both keys were retained until the seance was over, when all saw 
 the lock unfastened, and Mr. Eglinton let out, everything being in as perfect order as when 
 he entered. The cabinet was shut off from the circle of sitters by tM?o large, thick curtains, so 
 as to secure darkness round the cabinet during " form manifestations," but the company had 
 about one-fifth of a full jet of gas, and all saw five materialised forms at separate intervals open 
 the curtains, and come boldly up to the investigators. Whilst all could hear the medium groaning 
 in the cabinet, " Abd-Ci-lah," a dark-faced figure with one arm, came, anil, in Oriental fashion, 
 often salaamed. " Ernest," with several others, including a lady, also appeared. 
 
 After emi)liiying this cabinet for some time, its use was discontinued because some of the 
 best and most conclusive results take place when the medium is free and unfettered. This will 
 be clearly seen when I come to deal with apparitions formed with tiie medium in full view. 
 
 As I have said, the year 1884 marked a new era in the history of Spiritualism. Sounder 
 methods of investigation were gradually obtaining, and ' a more sympathetic and appreciative 
 attitude was adopted towards sensitives. Mr. Eglinton contributed not a little to this end by 
 his sound judgment with regard to the phenomena best suited for presentation to inquirers. After 
 due consideration and consultation with his invisible co-workers, he decided that for the most 
 part psychography, or the production of writing by other than normal means, was by i'ar the best 
 phase of spiritual phenomena to present to neophytes ; and he was undoubtedly right, the 
 conditions being so open and satisfactory, and the results more easily obtainable and less 
 exhausting than is the case with many other phases of the phenomena. At any rate, his 
 seances received respectful and marked attention at the hands of most distinguished persons, and 
 convert after convert eminent in all ranks of life was made. 
 
 As psychography from this time has formed the special feature of Mr. Eglinton's mediumship, 
 this seems a fitting place to describe the general conditions under which it ib obtained. This is
 
 Psvr/ios^j-afy/iy Explained . 
 
 '".^ 
 
 the iiiiirc neccss;ii-3' as many persons liave stran'j;i' ami conlusL-d ideas as t<i the manner in wliicli 
 si'tmrrs arc rdiulnctrd, tlicir conception of what lakes place liein.Lj, if anythincr, eviMi more liazy 
 and lii'.nnr. Considering, however, the Ioiie; ]irevalenc(} of niisre|iresenl,ititin nf the subject hy 
 inteiested ]iersons, and the gruesome and garbled pictures drawn for a too confiding puhlic I)y 
 would-be critics, this state of mind is iiardly surprising. In (-ndeavouring to expose Spiiitualisni, 
 these writers and self-constituted authorities have exposed, as I shall show, nothing more than 
 their own ignorance of a subject which, of all others, recpiircs careful and iialitnt handling. 
 And eviMi honest and earnest truth-seekers have sometimes vague and erroneous ideas as to how. 
 
 Window. 
 
 / 
 
 Table. 
 
 Fig. 13.— Groiiiul Plan nl' Mr. E^liiito.i's S.tuia-ronm .it I iM IJii.Ikc Street. 
 
 or under what conditions, the phenomena are presented for observation. On both these grounds, 
 therefore, a plain matter-of-fact explanation of the ino(ln:< <i/>i:rcvii/i of spiritual scniurs may be 
 serviceable as well as interesting. 
 
 One of the most striking characteristics of this abnormal writing is its production, in many 
 instances, within a closed space, access to which by ordinary means is precluded : as, for example, 
 between two slates, exactly paired, fitting accurately one on the top of the other, and 
 secured in position by cord tied in one or more directions round their outer surfaces. Or, it 
 may be obtained when the slate or paper has been put under lock and key, or between two 
 book-slates locked together, and in a variety of other ways.
 
 I04 
 
 ' 7\'ixi Two Worlds. 
 
 'riic room ill which the si'iiiiirs tai<c place in no respect difVers from an ordinary aimrtnunt, 
 nor docs it contain any feature npon which an argument against the reality of tlic phenomena 
 could possibly he based. Any room will do: indeed, many of Mr. Eglinton's l)cst results 
 have been obtained in the private houses of investigators. As, however, a large number of the 
 sittings to be hereafter described, took place at 12, Old Quebec Street, I will describe the 
 chambers occupied by Mr. l'"glinton at that address. The apartment formed the inner of a suite 
 of two flrawing-rooms such as are met with in scores of London houses. I'^ig. 13 is a ground 
 plan of these rooms. As I have said, Mr Eglinton has been as successful at the residences 
 of investigators as at his own rooms. The practice of conducting these experiments at a table 
 is obviously adopted for convenience and comfort, and is not for any reason connected with the 
 production of the writing. Psychography has been obtained (and is, therefore, obtainable) in almost 
 
 I'lG. 14. Tabic Used by Mr. Kglinloii, and Mode of Holding the Slate for Simple Experiments. 
 
 any position in which the medium can be placed — while standing isolated in the centre of a 
 room, or while sitting on the floor. I should not have mentioned this point but for the fact that 
 some persons fancy the table has something to do with the matter. That is nut the ease: the 
 use of a table is by no means absolutely necessary. 
 
 The table used by Mr. Eglinton is shown in Fig. 14. It is what is technically known 
 as a "Pembroke"— a rather old-fashioned make, but one which many will recognise as a 
 very common two-flap table, the flap being supported, when raised, by wooden cross bars fixed 
 in a pivotal screw. Any table, will, however, serve equally well, but a card table is perhaps 
 better than any, as there are no obstacles, such as cross-bars, in the way to prevent the slate 
 from being pressed flat against the under-surfacc of the table, by the fingers and thumbs as shown 
 in Figs. 14 and 15. 
 
 In Fig. 16 the position of the table in front of the mirror is shown (see also Fig. 17). At
 
 Psychop-aphy Explaiucd. 
 
 lO: 
 
 tliis the iiucstigattus take tlicir scats. riusc, g( iicrally, arc two in iiiimljcr, Init on rare occa- 
 sions tiirci' persons arc present, in addition to the medium. Mr. Eglinton usually sits at i\ and, 
 in the repirscntative si'ivhca I have now csixcinliy in min<l, my friends sal at /' and // and I at 
 i,'. B3' comparing Figs. 13 and 16 tlicsc positions will be readily understood. 
 
 As to the light, these ^caiiccs arc held either in broad day, lamp, or gas light ; never in the 
 dark nor in a dim light. Nothing could be more satisfactory than the conditions for perfect 
 observation in this respect. 
 
 The slates used are common school slates, selected in size, so that one will jiair exactly with 
 any other. These are either taken from a struck kept by tiic medium, wlio buys them by the gross ; 
 or, as is frequentlj- tiie case, the sitter takes his own. Book slates, or tliosc fitted with lock and 
 key, can also be used. 
 
 riiosc present take their seats at the table as indicated, Mr. liglinton sitting at c. A 
 
 Fin. 15,— Mitlioil of olitainirii: Writiiipc u lun tlir Sl.Tlr is lul.l liy Mr. F.Rlinlon aiul llii- Sitter. 
 
 slate is taken by one of the company, cleaned, and a piece of ]K'ncil— a mere crumb, 
 about onc-si.xteenth to three-sixteenths of an inch long, which is usually cut fresh from a 
 stick, and marked so as to prove that that identical piece actually produces the writing — placed 
 upon it. The medium then takes the slate, and at once places it in position at the corner of the 
 table between c and / (Fig. 13), keeping it tluere by pressing the under surface of the slate 
 with his lingers, and the table top with his thumb. Figs. 14 and 15 further illustrate this 
 position. It will be seen that a closed space is thus formed between the slate and the 
 table, in which it would not be possible to write by ordinary means. When thus ready, one of 
 the company is desired to ask some question of the " force," " intelligence," or " spirit "—or 
 whatever name the inquirer may give to the agency producing these phenomena. The most 
 frequent in(iuiiy has regard to the presence of personal friends who have passed away. Supposing 
 this has been put, almost innncdiately the sound of writing is heard ; the completion of the 
 
 '4
 
 io6 
 
 ' Twixt Tivo Worlds. 
 
 answer is signilied by three taps with the pencil on the slate; the latter is brought to the 
 top of tiie table, and a pertinent answer to the question is always found written on the side 
 of the slate which has been nearest the under surface of the table. No movement by which 
 it could have been produced has been detected on the part of the medium. The result is 
 probably puzzling, and a second and third and fourth e.xperlment is made, in the course of 
 which internal evidence of the identity of the agency at work is often gained. 
 
 Wliat may be termed the more crucial tests as to the reality of this phenomenon have 
 been very common with Mr. Eglinton. The simple phenomena ivhen seen are perfectly 
 satisfactory, and by means of these alone, an inquirer can learn a great deal witli regard to 
 the subject. The so-called crucial tests, however, are more satisfactory to those who are 
 
 
 Kic;. l6.— Method of obtaining; Writing between Two Slates held over the Table. 
 
 obliged to depend upon tiie testimony of others, inasmuch as tliey siiow tiiat every 
 precaution human ingenuity can devise has been exhausted before ordinary explanations are 
 abandoned for abnormal ones. 
 
 One of the most frequent of these tests is represented in Fig. i6, where the slates 
 placed face to face, are held over the table in full view of all present, the writing being 
 produced while so held. This engraving is an exact representation of what took place at a 
 seance at wh.ch I was present. Two slates, exact pairs, fitting accurately when placed one on 
 top ot the other, were cleaned and securely tied in transverse directions, a crumb of slate 
 pencil havmg been placed between tiie two enclosed surfaces. They never left the sight of 
 the three witnesses the whole time. Held by Mr. Eglinton at ., and the sitter at f (Figs 
 13 and 16), over the table, the sound of writing between the two slates was heard, ending in
 
 Psychography Explained. 
 
 lo: 
 
 less than half a minute with the usual signal of completion. The slates were cut apart, and 
 
 on the inner surface of one of the slates was found a message containing one hundred and 
 thirty words. 
 
 At another time the slates, prepared as aforesaid, were held over llie head of the sitter 
 at / (Figs. 13 and 17). 1 was sitting at g, and another friend at h. Tiie person sitting at 
 /, though unable to sec, in the usual manner, the actions of tiic medium, was, Imwcvcr, 
 enabled to add his testimony to that of the other sitters, inasmucii as he saw every 
 movement reflected in tlie mirror in front of him. 
 
 
 F.r,. ,7.-Mrlho<l of obtaining Writinp when the Slates arc ticO aiul lu-l.l over tl,e Ilea.l of one of the Sitters. 
 
 The actual production of the writing without visible agency has also been witnessed. 
 An ordinary tumbler was inverted on a slate with a crumb of pencil underneath it, and 
 placed in position at the corner of the table, as shown in Fig. 18. The sound of writing 
 being heard, permission was asked to look under the table. This was given, and the 
 pencil was seen tracing a portion of the writing, moving from side to side without any 
 
 visible cause. 
 
 " But " says one, " it is as clear as daylight that tiie writing has been prepared by some 
 chemical means, and 'that the cleaning of the slates beforehand with a damp sponge is allowed 
 only as a blind" My answer is, that although this assertion might be urged against a 
 very few of the experiments now being made, day after day, by intelligent and educated
 
 io8 
 
 ' Twixt Two Worlds. 
 
 people, yet in the vast majority of instances such a theory is utterly untenable. Why ? 
 Because — 
 
 1. In some cases the slates have been washed with all known re-agents for making 
 
 writing with invisible inks visible. 
 
 2. The writing is generally done with slate pencil, and no method is known to 
 
 science whereby the marks of slate pencil can be invisibly transferred to a slate 
 and afterwards made visible. 
 
 3. On many occasions the slates used have never been in the possession of the 
 
 medium, and have not been touched by him until, the seance having conmienced, 
 and the slates having been cleaned and tied together, they are put in position for 
 the production of the writing. 
 
 4. The writing oftentimes takes the form of answers to impromptu questions, on topics 
 
 whicli could not possibly have been thought of beforehand. Arbitrary signs and 
 symbols, words and sentences in English and foreign languages, thought of on 
 the spur of the moment, have been immediately reproduced. 
 
 Fig. 18. —Obtaining. ;Writing under an Inverted Tumble 
 
 5. The .sound of writing is invariably heard, and tlie facet of the pencil is found to 
 
 be worn down after the experiment is complete. 
 
 6. Two, three, or more pieces of differently coloured crayons have been inserted between 
 
 the slates, and only when all was ready has the colour to be used been selected. 
 
 Ihe writing has been done forthwith, and has invariably been found executed in the 
 
 colour chosen. 
 
 if It be asserted that the medium in some way produces the writing with his lingers, 
 
 1 can only answer that the- facts of the case are utterly opposed to this assumption. Even 
 
 supposing, for the sake of argument, that he could elude the vigilance of two, three, or 
 
 more pairs of eyes, this would be improbable. 
 
 " But," I am told, " conjurers produce results seemingly as remarkable by sleight of 
 I'aiHl." 1 nn.st deny tiiis point blank : the conditions are by no means the same. A 
 conjurer would not allow the investigator to bring his own slates, or to secure them, nor 
 would he allow such close pro.ximity to himself Further, he would not be able to 
 reproduce, under the same conditions, any sign or word suggested after all the preparations
 
 Psycho_(^rap/iy Explained. 
 
 109 
 
 were complete ; aiul last, but not least, he could not, by a trick, cause writing to be 
 executed under the same conditions, wiiicli should be, as is often the case witii Mr. Eglinton 
 and other mediums, an exact Jacsimilc of the " liand " written liy some fiiind or relative 
 who has long since passed throvigh the portals of the grave, and of wiiose very name and 
 existence the medium is unaware. I know of many instances in which dates and names have 
 been given quite unknown to any pt rson present, hut which ha\e afterwards been verified. 
 Wiiat conjurer could do this ? 
 
 Another valid reason against the writing being a mere trick is the fact of its extremely 
 rapid production, the speed varying from three to six times the rate at wiiich the quickest 
 penman can write. The limit obtainable under ordinary circumstances is forty words per 
 minute ; the average being tiiirty words. Psychography far exceeds this. I have personally 
 known, more than once, two hundred and eighty-eigjit words per minute to have been 
 written, while there are instances on record where even this remarkable speed has been 
 exceeded. 
 
 .Such are the general features of a psychographic sr'diicc. How far they conform to the 
 truth can be learned by any person choosing to take the necessary trouble to verify my 
 facts ; how far they diverge from the supposed loose and credulous niethod of investigation 
 usually attributed to Spiritualists by some men of science can be readily seen. I have 
 only touched on general conditions, but t/iere are others ivhicli it is quite as necessary the 
 investigator himself should ohserM. Amongst these arc a fearless, candid love of truth wherever 
 it may lead, an openness to conviction, and a spirit of inquiry which will admit that, 
 however mucii is already kiKnvn of tiie laws of Nature, there may be others yet to be 
 unravelled.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 GENERAL TESTIMONY TO PSYCHOGRAPHY. 
 
 SHALL now concern nij'self for tlie most part in dealing with the evidence on 
 record for the realit}' of Psychography. This is abundant, both as regards 
 quantity and quality, and, taken en bloc, forms a difficult nut for the sceptic 
 to crack. I shall leave the reader to decide whether it is probable that 
 all my witnesses are deceived or deceivers, or whether it is more credible 
 that in these matters they have used the same common sense which 
 otherwise regulates their daily lives, and that they record the facts just as they occurred. 
 
 The first case I shall quote is narrated by Mr. A. H. Louis, barrister-at-law : — " A 
 blajik card being placed between two .elates was held b3' Mr. Eglinton and myself, a crumb of 
 lead pencil being placed with the card. After a lapse of, certainlj' not more than half a 
 minute, we found that the card was inscribed with matter of the utmost significance to me 
 relating to the most important part of what I must call the work of my life, as I shall 
 hereafter take an opportunity to show. On the top part of the card was a roughly drawn 
 map of the American and European continents, with a cross surmounting a small sphere. On 
 the lower part was figured two isosceles triangles ; these triangles were filled with minute 
 writing, too minute for deciphering ; a few words, however, could be read, from which the 
 purport of the whole could be gathered, that purport being, that a sign was there intended to 
 be given of mystical import, having reference to labour and motive of Masonic significance. 
 At the foot of the card was the signature of initials, and a date, ' G. W., 1799.' All I can, 
 or may, or will say here is that these initials are those of the name of George Washington, 
 the first of American Masons, and the date was the year of his death." 
 
 Another experience of Mr. Louis' follows naturally on that just stated. Both took place 
 in the full light: "Being alone with Mr. Eglinton, having come for an evening's conversation 
 without any idea of having any experiences, and after we had been more than an hour 
 together, he said that he felt impressed that we were to sit for written communications. 
 Placmg a crumb of slate pencil between two slates and both of us holding these, writing 
 mimediately began. 'Joey' first gave his own name, and, in reply to my earnestly-expressed 
 wish that a dear young friend, ignorant of these experiences, should be brought within this 
 region, 'Joey' wrote that it should be so soon if 'they' could get within his influence. 
 Immediately afterwards he wrote that ' Ernest ' wished to write.' A crumb of pencil was 
 agaui placed between the slates, and we immediately heard writing proceed with great vigour,
 
 General Tcslinioiiy to Psyc/tOi;m/>//y. i i i 
 
 aiui (ii_ci 
 
 cisioii niid rapidity, n slinrp series of raps with tiic pencil l)eing given to signify that 
 the 'message' was finisiied. Il was eoiielud in tlicsc terms: 'My dmr Friend,— ]Vc do vol 
 like to see yon in a condilion hy tvliic/i your iixc/n/mss lo yonrnrlf and others is impaired. 
 Remember tvltot Rousfeaii says, L'iiommk N'rsr jamais moins miskradle qvv. ouand ii. i-arait 
 Di'i'ouRvu \m louT. ]]'e speeially 7vish to enjoin you to bring to the front all the faenllies with 
 which yon are so richly endowed for good active ivorh, and to lake heart in the absohde 
 certainly that we arc aroiiml yon all the lime, and pour npon von Ihc pcrfnnu' of onr 
 sympathy, affeelion, and love. — Ernest.' " 
 
 Miss Fisher, of CHfton, has narrated an experience wiiich may he taken as typical of 
 the simpler piienomena : — "Being in London fur a few days, I took the opportunity of having 
 a private seance with Mr. Eglinton, and the proofs I then received of the tnitli of spirit 
 communion were so convincing that I consider it my duty to bear testimony to tiiat I ruth, 
 which removes the fear of death, and imparts consolation when wc mourn the loss of a dear 
 relation or friend. The seance took place in a small drawing-moni, wherein was a plain, 
 uncovered table, at which the medium and I took our seats. Mr. Eglinton gave me some 
 slates to examine, which I did, and was satisfied that they were pcrfcctlj' clean. I then 
 rubbed them well with a sponge given me for that purpose. Tiie medium, having placed a 
 crumb eif pencil on one of the slates, held my hands in one of his, while with the other 
 he lield the slate under the tabic, not so far but that jiart of the slate and his hand 
 were visible to me. On my inquiring if a relation, who had lately left the earth-life, was 
 present, the pencil was heard writing, and, on the signal being given, Mr. Eglinton withdrew 
 the slate, and 1 saw written there the word 'Yes! This was written on the 'upiier surface, 
 which was held against the table. I asked that a message might be given me by this spirit. 
 Mr. Eglinton for this purpose cleaned two slates, and putting a small piece of pencil on one, he 
 covered it with the other, requesting me to hold them lirnily together, he only touching one 
 side. We held the slates between us, neither on nor under the table, so that it was utterly 
 impossible that the writing could have been produced by any conscious agency on his part. 
 We held them but a few moments before the pencil began to write rapidly inside, and on 
 the signal being given, I removed the top slate, and found on the bottom one a message 
 of half-a-dozen lines, signed bv my brother's name, which was quite unknown to the medium. 
 Had I before entertained the slightest doubt as to the genuineness of the phenomenon, this 
 one fact, that my brother's name, which, as I before stated, was unknown to the medium, 
 was written between closed slates /;/ ///// light, would have proved that my brother was 
 indeed near me, and had given me this message from beyond the grave. I must add, too, 
 that I was a perfect stranger to Mr. Eglinton until that day." 
 
 A good case of direct writing in a language unknown to the medium is recorded by 
 Mr. A. Lillie, F. Asiatic Soc, author of " Buddha and Early Buddhisni," etc : — " We sat in the 
 broad daylight. Two slates were cleaned and then placed on the table. A crumb of slate 
 pencil had been inserted between the slates. Mr. Eglinton held one corner of the slate and 
 I held the other. Soon the sound of writing was heard. This is the message: 'Dear 
 
 Sir, There is sonu-one here ;vho appcois lo lake an interest in yonr Oriental -work, and -wc 
 
 yield up to him the power lo -write the folio-wing.' After this came a verse of Sanskrit pf>etry, 
 written in the r.cngali chaiacter. This is the translation: — '/ {hai-e) neither confusion, nor 
 
 o
 
 112 ' Twixt T'cvo IVorlds. 
 
 ioitbt, nor divisions of ... . (words illegible). / (Jiavc) neither father, nor niulhcr, iiur bride. 
 I have no relations, or Jriends, or teacher, or pupil. I am 'Siva, I am 'Siva ! My form is Joy and 
 Thought.' After the Sanskrit the letter thus continued : — ' Let this be a proof of our pou'er to 
 those who doubt. To those earnestly inclined we are willing to help all in our power, and, not 
 only so, to reveal to them the true principles of so-called Spiritualism.' This is word for 
 word what was written on the slate." 
 
 The testimony of Dr. G. Wyld (M.D., Edin.), of 41, Courtfield Road, South Kensington, 
 is exceptionally clear and to the point. "Last evening, Lady Cranstoun invited me to meet 
 Mr. Eglinton at her house, and the circle of seven, including Mr. J. Campbell, B.A., being all 
 harmonious, we had a pleasant and successful evening. The slates were new and the 
 property of Lady Cranstoun, and Mr. Eglinton, as usual, began by holding a slate, on the 
 surface of which was placed a crumb of slate pencil, below and closely pressed against the 
 under surface of the table. Then, on each one present, in rotation, asking that a name, a 
 word, or certain information should be written, the request was at once and audibly 
 complied with. Eglinton then requested the lady at his right hand to unite with him in 
 pressing the slate close against the under surface of the table, and again our requests for 
 names and words were at once met by writings on the slate. Confidence being thus 
 established, Mr. Eglinton then placed a slate on the upper surface of the table with a 
 fragment of pencil and covered this slate with another ; for the third time our requests 
 were complied with, and names, figures, and sentences were written as dictated by us. The 
 sitters were well-known to each other, and there was a good light on the table all the 
 time, and fraud, even if desired, was impossible." 
 
 Another witness, Mr. J. II. Glcdstanes, a well-known merchant at Bordeaux, says: — 
 " Mr. Eglinton and myself having put a blank card between the leaves of a book 
 upon which we placed our hands, found on taking it out these words written in pencil 
 — ' / am anxious to communicate to (sic) my husband. I see one of his friends heir. — 
 Flora Elizabeth Darvall.' These are the names of an old friend of mine, although I 
 did not know till I inquired, that Elizabeth was one of them. Now, it so happens that 
 this lady's husband had departed this life only one month previously, while the sender of 
 the message, as the medium was correctly informed in some mysterious manner, left us in 
 1879. A week afterwards, at a seance, while Mr. Eglinton's hands were handcuffed behind 
 his back, himself on the dark side of a curtain, a hand and arm came out into full view, 
 and taking up a pencil that was placed on a table with some cards on my side of the curtain, 
 in a partially lighted room, wrote on one with great rapidity. When finished, the card was 
 given to me by this hand, when 1 found written on it : -' My dear Friend,— I have met my 
 husband since I wrote the other day; I did not know that he had Joined us. He is here, and 
 sends you his greeting. I am aware conditions do not ahways serve to enable me to communicate. 
 I do not forget those who take an interest in my spiritual welfare as I do in their material 
 teelfare. I am happier than I was in earth-life. God bless you.—¥. E. Darvall.' 1 gave 
 this card to Captain Darvall, and persuaded him to accompany me to a seance, to see if 
 he could hear from his mother. To his great astonishment, while he and Mr. Eglinton 
 held a double slate between them away from the table, the sound of writing was heard, 
 and upon opening them the whole of one side of a slate was found written upon, and
 
 Ccncial Testimony to Psycliograplty. i i ;^ 
 
 sigiK'd ' CKulbcliall Johnson.' 1 lie message was addressed to Captain Daivall, wlio told us 
 that the name was that of a deceased relative. This was a very inteio';tinK inanifcstatiuii 
 to one who had never seen anything of the kind before, anil my friend did not refuse to 
 believe the evidence of his senses. For the lirst time in his life, he found himself calmly 
 saying to a dead man, ' Well, how are you getting on ? ' I hope that none of the 
 relatives of these friends will blame me for giving the names. I can sec no reason for 
 not publishing them, and one would think that all who had the pleasure of knowing the 
 spirit, who in this life was called Lady Darvall, cannot but rejoice to learn that she is 
 happy, for in these sptmtaiieous communications Axmi unevt)ked sjiirits, may we not be 
 satisfied as to the genuineness of their source ? " 
 
 A clergynian (I am in possession of the real name and address) also wrote testifying 
 to Mr. Eglinton's wonderful powers. "It may be useful to mention a simple and interesting 
 test which I applied at the second of two very successful saviccs which 1 have attended. More 
 than once 1 specially examined the 'crumb' of pencil before it was used. Small, thin pieces, 
 with shar|) edges, are emploj'ed. Immediately after a message or answer had been given 1 
 removed the pencil from the slate, where, as has been noticed by others, it lay against the last 
 word of the communications, and I observed that one of its angles was freshly worn down, 
 exactly as would be the case in writing. This change in its substance, being produced in 
 the \ery short interval during which it was placed on the slate, or between slates, and 
 hidden from view, and being coincident with the production of the writing and the scratching 
 sound as of a pencil on the slate, proves as completely as such a thing can be proved that 
 the pencil was used. This evidence, of course, confutes the suggestion, // // -were tenable on 
 oilier gioiiiids, that the writing is prepared beforehand. That the medium himself handled 
 the tiny fragment of pencil as it thus travelled across the slate in the confined space between 
 slate and table, or between the two slates pressed together, is to those who have watched the 
 occurrence in the clearest light entirely out of the question. It is quite possible for a 
 prejudiced person under the guise of full examination to annoy a nudiuni with uin'easonable 
 requirements. But the candid and thorough inquiry into minute particulars which is necessary 
 in the investigation of such marvels, Mr. Eglinton treats very amiably and indeed asks for. 
 I may suggest that the observation of the slate pencil, as having been actually used when 
 writing appears, has a place in the chain of scientific evidence." 
 
 The handwriting of these messages was often characteristic of "the dead." A good 
 case of this kind is recorded by Dr. Nichols, who is supported in his testimony by three 
 other well-known and responsible persons. 
 
 "We sat in the full daylight round a very plain table for direct writing on slates. 
 There were five persons present— Mr. Charles Blackburn, Mrs. Western, Miss Cook, Mr. Eglinton, 
 and myself." After describing the indisputable conditions under which several small messages 
 were written. Dr. Nichols continues :—" Two slates were cleaned and laid upon the top of the 
 tabic in full sight. A bit of pencil, about a quarter of an inch long, was placed between them. 
 All our hands were joined, and thus holding each other we watched and listened. In a few 
 seconds we heard the sound of rapid writing— then the signal raps. Removing the upper 
 slate we found a message (Fig. 19) of fifteen lines, containing one hundred and twenty-six 
 words, in a handwriting perfectly familiar to me, and totally unlike that of any person present : 
 
 «s
 
 114 
 
 ' Twixt Two Worlds. 
 
 ' My dear Papa— I cannot tell you how rejoiced I am that I am able to send you these words 
 of greeting and love, after so long a period of silence. Silent, however, only in the outward form, 
 for as you and dear, dear Mama know, I am ever with you in spirit. What a blessed boon is this 
 God-given poiver that enables me to tell you this myself/ Dear, dear Mama ! How many hours I 
 have spent in ministering to her [/«] the tenderness of my love, and how futile have been my efforts 
 to free her from pain and suffering. Give her my constant and tender love, and not forgetting your 
 dear self, my oivn Papa, I am yours in the blessed faith. 'tWii.iii-.. 
 
 "It is the handwriting of my daughter, Mary Wilhchuiiia (already referred to in Chapter X,), 
 
 ^ Aw i. ^-^ ^ ^— ^*" ^ V-^ '^ ^ 
 f.A^ V tiw y^-^*r^l^ y-..-^ , V" ^- "'^r^ "^^ '^"'^ ■ 
 
 ^^^^^^ U i— v-u^ tv-i.-/^^-"^ "^^ ^^ ^-^ '^'-^ ^*^ 
 
 ^jvU-C iv^r- ^-^■^'■- ^-^V ^'JV^'^ ^-" V^ ^-"' l--^-^^ 
 
 W-'-ii.^ 'w-_ , ■'^^ "^ \ji-.A^u-^^:^ v,^vv.. (L.io-,. u^_ «^^,-- 
 
 Fig. ig. — Ueduced Kacsimile, of. Recognised Psychograpliic Writing. 
 
 faniiharly called Willie ; I give a specimen of the handwriting ot Mr. Eglinton (Fig. 20), that 
 the reader may judge whether he could have written this letter, as it was written on the slate 
 in not more than one-tenth part of the time it has taken me, a fairly rapid writer, to copy 
 it. No ; we five persons heard every word written ; in the full daylight we saw the two slates 
 lying upon the table before us from which the sound of writing proceeded. When the upper 
 slate was raised from the lower we all saw the work which we had heard. The test was 
 perfect — perfect as to the conditions — perlect as to matter and handwriting." 
 
 To make the account more satisfactory. Dr. Nichols has allowed me to reproduce a 
 portion of his daughter's handwriting, written some years before she left the body (Fig. 2i).
 
 General Tcstimouy to Psychoo^raphy. 
 
 1 1=^ 
 
 A lady, the will- (it a late Mayor of Bolton, after clescril)iii{5 the prudiutioii in less 
 tlian lialf a minute, under tlie ordinary conditions, of a message containing no less than one 
 hundred and twenty-six words, or more than eight times as many words as the swiftest penman 
 could write in the same length of time, goes on to testify that afterwards " wlu-n Imlding tiie 
 
 Fig. 20.— Handwriting of Mr. Eglinton. 
 
 slates at arm's length between us, higher than the table and away from it, in this position I 
 was allowed to ask for any word, and it was written directly. The little pencil was always 
 found at the end of the last letter, and once we saw it hanging there, as a needle would hang 
 on to a magnet. I have not observed that this has been named in any account of the 
 
 
 Fig. 21.— Handwriting of Dr. Nichols" Daughter. 
 
 writing I said I should like something in another language. I chose French, but 1 wish I 
 had chosen some less familiar language. Without delay the words were written : ' Voire am, 
 n'cst pas id. Dim vous benit.' On my new folding slate, whicii was never out of my sight. 
 I bore away four messages in different hands ; one was the familiar formula, ' /.</ //us comnuce
 
 1 1 6 ' Twixt Two Worlds. 
 
 you of our power. — Joiiv. '" She adds, "I was convinced of a power — an intelligent power, 
 an independent power — yet a power connected in some way with the medium. I will end by 
 saying that he seemed in a normal state, except once or twice when the power was vcrj' 
 strong." 
 
 Writing on March 29th, 1SS4, Mr. E. Dawson Rogers says: — "I have lately been present at 
 several sittings with Mr. Eglinton when slate-writing has been produced under the most perfect 
 test conditions, messages being given from departed friends, with names, dates, and otiicr fiicts 
 unknown to tjie sitters at the time, but subsequently verified to the letter. Great as were 
 Dr. Slade's mediumistic powers for obtaining communications in this form, I think they are 
 exceeded by Mr. Eglinton's." 
 
 Mr. Hensleigh Wedgwood, M.A., has been good enough to supply me with an account of 
 a valuable seance: — "In the spring of 1884, just after Mr. Eglinton had been presented with 
 his famous pair of folding slates, locking so closely together as to make the introduction of a 
 piece of paper impossible, I had a morning sitting with him under the conditions so often 
 described — he and I sitting close to each other at the corner of the table in full daylight. 
 Having been shown the folding frame, I expressed a wish to experiment with it, when 
 Mr. Eglinton gave me a blank card which he desired me to mark. I accordingly wrote my 
 initials upon it, together with a small circle, which might easily escape observation, telling him 
 I had written my initials, when the card, together with a nib of black lead, was placed within 
 the frame, which was snapped to and the key given to me. Tiie closed frame was then laid 
 flat on the table, and our hands placed upon it. I do not think it was ever removed from its 
 place, but I cannot now be quite sure that it was not for a time held under the table, as was 
 so frequently done on other occasions, but it was never withdrawn for a moment from my 
 immediate observation. Presently Mr. Eglinton became entranced, and in the name of a control 
 familiar to me, talked to me about the drawing they proposed to execute on the card. In the 
 course of a very few minutes, which I estimated at the time as under ten, the work was done 
 and the frame placed in my hands, with directions to open it as soon as the medium came to 
 himself. Accordingly, as soon as he awoke out of his trance, I unlocked the frame (the key 
 of which I had kept in my pocket), and took out the card which I had put blank into the 
 frame not a quarter of an hour before, and on the same face on which 1 had placed my 
 distinctive mark I found a drawing of a female figure, as if floating in the air, holding back 
 her copious hair with both her hands. It was a well-proportioned figure, in a difficult attitude, 
 with the outline clearly drawn witiiout hesitation (except the legs from the knees downwards, 
 which had evidently been hurried over), the fore-shortened limbs being slightly shaded. It would 
 be absurd, under the circumstances described, to suppose that the frame could have been surrep- 
 titiously withdrawn and opened, and the figure drawn with such rapidity, as to baffle my 
 observation. The only other way of escape from the admission of an occult agency (equally 
 absurd, as it appears to me) is to suppose that I and the scores of other similar witnesses, 
 are unconsciously entranced for as long a time as may be necessary to accomplish the 
 operation in haml." 
 
 Others of Mr. Wedgwood's experiences are also valuable and interesting. The fnliowing 
 evidence was called forth by an unwarrantable attack upon Mr. Eglinton on the part of some 
 members of the Society for Psychical Research. Mr. Wedgwood is one of the Vice-Presidents
 
 (jcmral 7\s/!ii/oiiy lo Psyc/ioi^iurf'/n 
 
 ol that Socitty, nnd he says : " So many have borne witness to the ^,'cniiineiicss of Mr. F.gh"nton's 
 slatf-writiiip; that I liavc thought it needless to add my voice, although my experiences liavc, 
 I tiiink, not been less decisive than any of those previously published. But now 1 am induced 
 to come forward by seeing that stress has been laid on his want of success when sitting with 
 a party of members of the Society for Psychical Research, as if any amount of negative evidence 
 could derogate from the weight of facts solidly established on positive testimony. The Socidv 
 for Psvc/iicnl Rrsrnrch hai'c no patent for accurate obncn'atioii. Their testimony should have just 
 as much and no greater weight than that of any other trustworthy witnesses. The peculiar 
 value of the slate-writing test depends upon the extremely simple conditions under which it is 
 exhibited, so as to render fraud conspicuously impossible in the case of a moderately observant 
 witness. The first e.xperience that I shall notice took place some years ago, when Mr. 
 Eglinton was residing with Dr. Nichols in Fopstone Road. I took with me a pair of my 
 own slates which I had tied up with string passing twice across the long and once across the 
 short side of the slates, sealing them on the edges at the si.x points where they were crossed 
 by the string. We sat in the dark, but on this occasion ditl not succeed in getting anything 
 written on my slates. Two or three months later I took the same slates as I had tied them, 
 and gummed the edges all round with postage paper, so as to exclude the possibility of 
 inserting a tool, however fine, at any point. We now sat under the gas-light with the gas 
 turned low, but with light enough to see each other clearly, as well as the slates laid flat on 
 the table between us and covered by our four hands, Mr. Eglinton's as well as mine, which 
 were never removed from them. After a while, the well-known sound of slate-writing began 
 to be heard, and putting down my ear to the slates and withdrawing it again there could 
 be no doubt that it was from them that the sound proceeded. 1 remarked to Mr. Kglinton 
 on the painful amount of bodily effort he seemed to be exerting, which appeared strange to 
 me, as I thought that whatever influence he could exert in the matter must be purely the 
 result of mental efTort. When the slates were opened, the seals and gunmied paper remained 
 unbroken. Three separate messages were written on both sides, containing seventy-five 
 words in all, in three different hands, neatly written in even lines, witii all the dots and 
 accents correctly placed (one of the messages being in French), and each handwriting kept 
 consistently throughout the message. One sentence was written with soft slate-pencil, the 
 others had the appearance of being written with a blunt metallic jioint. The morsels of 
 slate-pencil that had been put in rawly broken, had plainly been worn as if with writing. 
 One of the sentences seemed to be in answer to my remark on the eff"ort it appeared to cost 
 Mr. Eglinton : ' IVe managed to proiiucc what yon require, hut with great (tiffuulty and stress 
 upon the medium! My next instance is a case of writing between the leaves of a closed 
 book, where the difficulty is carried one degree further than that of writing in the empty 
 space inclosed between the rims of a pair of slates. I was one of a party of eight, sitting 
 round the table, with the gas full on. Mr. Eglinton gave me a blank card, from which 
 I tore ofl^ a corner and kept it in my pocket. He put the card in a book, together with a 
 morsel of black lead, and, turning to a sitter on his right, laid the book on the table, with 
 both their hands on it. As nothing ensued, Mr. Eglinton removed the hook, and laid it between 
 him and me, and we placed our hands on it. Shortly after, having h.id th<- usual notice 
 of three little taps that the writing was accomi)lished, I opened the book, and on the card I
 
 I 1 S ' 'Iwix/ 7 wo Worlds. 
 
 Iiad ])laced ihvw blank a few luiiuites before, I found a short letter addressed to nic in a 
 well-known and very peculiar liniulwritiiig, ' Did yon gel my lelkr?' In fact, I had received 
 the letter alluded to only just before starting from my house for the sitting, and so had it in 
 my pocket to show my fellow-sitters. There could not be a doubt of the identity of the two 
 handwritings and signatures. I had not mentioned or shown the letter to anyone, nor was 
 the person through whose hand it was written (unconsciously as I believe) aware of my 
 intention to sit with Mr. Eglinton. Nor, conversely, did the latter know anything of my 
 communications with my mysterious correspondent. There was no trace whatever of black 
 lead on the page of the book opposite to the card, although, of course, the fragment used 
 in writing (ui the card must have rubbed with equal force on the opposite page. I have still 
 the card with the fragment I tore off; the corner accurately fitted on to it. 
 
 Professor Cassal, a member of the teaching-staflf of University College, and an intimate 
 associate of Victor Hugo in the ctntp d'etat of 1S52, and a partner in the banishment from 
 France of that celebrated poet antl Spiritualist, had a psychographic saiiice with Mr. Eglinton, 
 and his nnrrati\e of the sc'niicc 1 think worthy to be placed before my readers. It is as follows: — 
 " I had long been desirous to witness the fact of direct writing ; at last I found myself 
 able, and went to Mr. Eglinton, accompanied by my son [also holding several public appoint- 
 ments, and a man of critical acumen], purchasing on our way several ordinary framed slates. 
 We found Mr. Eglinton a sj'mpathctic, intelligent, gentlemanly young man, and he received 
 us in a neatly-furnished room, the most striking article in which was a deal table, standing 
 near the window. At this table we took our seats with the medium, ni}' son facing him and 
 I being on his right. After trying my new slates, with feeble results, the medium took one 
 of his own, cleaned it carefully, laid a fragment of pencil on it, and held it witii his left 
 hand — his right being in mine — against the under surface of the table, the slate being partly 
 visible to me. In answer to the question whether a spirit could communicate, we heard 
 the sound of i-encil-writing, then three little taps. We then found written, on the upper 
 surface of the slate, the word ' Yes.' It seemed written from the side opposite to the 
 medium, and it was on the part of the slate remote from his hand. Thinking the ice broken, 
 we returned to my own slates. Here are the results. I. Two were placed together with 
 a moi'sel oi pencil between, loose in tiie space formed by the apposition of their frames. 
 Mr. Eglinton and 1 held them between us, he with his right hand, 1 with my left. I asked if 
 a s|)irit friend was with us. We heard movements of the pencil ; I distinguished the sounds 
 of marking stops and dots, then three taps. On separating the slates I read uixui the upper 
 surface of the under one, 'Madame O.'s guide, Dr. F., is present and salutes you.' Neither 
 the medium nor I had left hold of the slates, and I looked fixedly upon them. Dr. F. 
 was the name of one of our old friends. 2. My son, holding a slate out of sight of the 
 medium and myself, wrote upon it. I then held it against the under surface of the table. 
 After sounds of writing and three taps, I withdrew it, and read, ' Yes, she is here. We regret, 
 however, that she is not able to write. Do yon not /eel her presence ? ' 3. In my turn I wrote 
 upon a slate, using the same precaution, 'Is my friend W. present?' 'Is my father here?' 
 The answers were : ' Yonr friend IV. is not here,' in French ; and in English, ' Your father is 
 here, and many others ivith him.' 4 Upon a fourth slate I wrote, ' Could my father give 
 nie his signature, or a few words of his writing?' The reply was, ' JTe are sorry that
 
 General Tcstvuony to Psychography. \ \ 9 
 
 your father cannot ii'ritc. He null probably be able another time.' Ncitlier llic medium ikji" 
 my sun coukl have seen what I h k1 written. My questions were in French ; tiic replies, 
 as nil wore, except the one about my friend W., in Knglisii. 5. '\'\w medium handed to 
 my son a pair of hinged folding-slates, furnished with luck and key, who wrote, on one 
 of the clean slates, a question, locked the slates together, put the key in his pocket, and laid 
 them on the table. The medium antl I each laid a hand upon the slates; writing was heard, 
 then three taps. On my son unlocking the slates he found an answer apposite to the 
 question he had written, of a private and personal nature. 6. Lastly, the medium placed two 
 large clean slates together upon the table. Then we heard sounds of writing for about a 
 minute. On separating them we found the lower one covered with writing entirely diflerent 
 in character to Mr. Eglinton's. A few concluding lines were above the body of the writing 
 and written inversely to it. It was this : — ' IVe have long desired to have this opportunity. 
 The writing -which you have under your eye is produced tinder conditions 'which, under ordinary 
 circumstances, -would be impossible. It consequently goes to prove the truth of what we are 
 cndeavoiifing to promulgate. What is the agent or acting cause in the phenonuna ? That does 
 not much matter. The fact is here. Certain clever, lynx-eyed persons, -who pretend to explain 
 ivhat they have never seen, will one day have to admit their ignorance. But to those who, like 
 you, enjoy the consolation and advantage of knowing this truth, I say that the knowledge 
 they acquire and are able to impart, should compensate for -what they endure in an unpopular 
 cause. Farewell. — Ernest.' In conclusion, it is needless to sa}' that my sun and 1 took 
 every precauticin which men with their eyes open, seeking for truth, could lake, an<l we 
 anirm th.it deception was simply impossible. All took place in full daylight, and when that 
 began to fade, in the light of a large lamp. I only record irrefragable fact-;. 1 leave others 
 to draw conclusions." 
 
 Mr. James Burns, the editor of the Medium and Daybreak, to whose courtesy' I am 
 indebted for the engraving illustrating the following narrative, also reported the exi)erience 
 of Mrs. Burns, a lady whose competence as a witness cannot be called in (juestion excejit 
 by the ultra-scc|itical. 
 
 "Mrs. Burns and Mrs. Megrue received a kind invitation from Mi', l^glintim to sit 
 privately with him. The sitting took place on Monday, April 28tli, 1884, in the afternoon. 
 Previous to starting, Mrs. Burns bought a couple of slates, that there could be no 
 possibility of their having been written on in any way by Mr. Kglintun. Writing 
 was obtained on theiu, and also on slates produced by Mr. Eglintnn, each one being 
 carefully cleaned before the experiments commenced. There was no attempt at mystery or 
 concealment. A plain table was used, at which the party sat ; Mr. Eglinton with his back 
 to the window, through which the sun was shining, Mrs. Burns to his right, and her friend 
 opposite to him. On the wall facing the vacant side of the table, a looking-glass as 
 large as a window is placed, so that the whole proceedings could be observed either in the 
 looking-glass or by scrutinising the table. Several messages were obtained by Mr. Eglinton 
 holding the slates close under the top of the table, a small piece of pencil being placed 
 on the upper surface of the slate so used. On these occasions, all hands were joined 
 on the top of the table, with the exception of Mr. Eglinton's right hand, which held the 
 slates, and which was in view. The writing, of which a facsimile is given (^Fig. 22), was
 
 I20 
 
 ' Twixi Two Worlds. 
 
 produced in tlu: following manner: One of Mrs. Burns's slates had a small piece of pencil 
 placed on il, then another slate was laid on the top. One end was held by Mr. Eglinton, 
 and the other l.y Mrs. Burns, higher than the table, and at some distance from it ; they 
 were, indeed, held up in the air, so that they could be seen in every direction. Thus 
 held, writing was heard going on between the slates. Then an interesting experiment was 
 
 - -..ji*<« ±iSJ 
 
 ■-11 >- — 
 
 Xv ^ r'/,^ 
 
 C^/p.' 
 
 -/ -7- -.V 2S^ '/ 
 
 .-. :-^'^^-^- ^ 
 
 
 
 
 m 
 
 *ws*' 
 
 • ^■-Z,,, '; 
 
 
 ■^4:J^ -<! 
 
 fsf*^' 
 
 .-^:;i?Vs;;^ 
 
 :,S;^^. 
 
 — — •-^...■v^ -m 
 
 •itft^ 
 
 KiG. 22.— Facsimile of Direct Writing. (Reduced one-fourth.) 
 
 tried : Mr. Eglinton withdrew his hand, and the writing ceased till he replaced it again ; 
 Mrs. Burns also withdrew her hand with a similar result." 
 
 Mr. W. Fowler, a well-known merchant at Yarrow, Kulpara, in South Australia, who 
 in June, 1884, was passing through London, thus records the results he obtained : — 
 " By an appointment with Mr. Eglinton, I and two lady relatives went to his residence 
 one morning at ten o'clock, and at his direction seated ourselves round a small table."
 
 Ccncral 7'csfiiiioiiy to Psychoc^rtipliv. \2\ 
 
 I^'f- l"\vl(i- tluii ilcsciilics tlic usual pr.HV'ss of cxaiuiniui; aiul clraniu.i,' the slates. 
 C'liutinuliiy, he says, " Ml'. KsliutMU put a Lit d' slati- pencil ahuut tlic sizr df a gi-ain of 
 rice (in tiic top of a slate, aiul liul.ling the slate with jiis disengaged hand close under 
 tile fla]i of tile taMe, ohtaiued in writing several intelli.^ent replies to questions suggested 
 by lis. lie then asked nie if I would write t!i(^ name of any (l<parted IVieiid from 
 whom I should wish to have a comnninieatiou, telling me not to mention to anyone the 
 name I had written. I then took one of the slates from tlu> tahle, and holding it so that 
 no one jiresent could siv what 1 had written, wrote the name of a man who had for 
 twenty-five years previous to his death, last July, been my most intimate friend in 
 yXustralia. The name written by me was C.eorge Hamilton, with a question to which I 
 asked for an answer, and after writing it I |ilaced the slate by my side where it could not 
 be .seen by anyone. Mr. Kgliiiton then jilaced a slate underneath the llap of the tabl.', and 
 in a few seconds withdrew it with the word ' Yes ' written largely on it. Mr. Eglinton 
 now said, ' We will try if we can receive the communication by placing a slate on the 
 lai)Ie and covering it with another.' This was done. Placing a scrap of slate pencil 
 between the two sl.ites, Mr. Kglintoii then rested his disengaged hand on the ti>p slate 
 and we immediately heard the scratching of the pencil. In less than half a minute three 
 taps were given to intimate that the writing was finished, and on taking olf the top slate 
 the bottom one was found covered with writing perfectly legible, with stops and even the 
 i's dotted as now cojiicd : — 'Am/ lo thiuk I should ever he alilc lo ir/itni in t/iis iiimnirr to 
 you ! It even srciiis incredible to me. I have asked tlie i^iiidr nf Mr. Eglinton to oun'rv to 
 yon this inrssagr, /nit I am nevert/ie/ess Ti'it/t yon. Ifoiv nnie/i linppier tliis /leniilifiil tnitli ninsi 
 moke yon. And t/iin/- nf tlie p/rasnre it affords us w/irn tlie porta/s are opened />v 'a'hicli 
 7ve can conniniuieate to you. T/iere is mucli of importance I kou/</ /ilce to snv did tlie 
 power scree me, but I must rest content. Good-tye. God bless you. — CI. II.\mii.ton.' How this 
 writing was produced I do not pretend to say, but that it was iie\'er made by a mortal 
 hand I am fully convinced. The time occupied in obtaining it I ilo not think was reall}' 
 more than fifteen seconds. With Mr. Eglinton's ]Krmission I brought away with me the 
 slate with the writing on it, as a record of tlu- most remarkable fact which has ever been 
 brought before my notice." 
 
 Sir Baldwyii I.eighton, Bart., M.T., of Lutoi> Park, Shrewsbury, writes as follows: — 
 " There lia\e been so many testimonies on the subject of direct writing through 
 Mr. I'^glintoii's mediumsliip that I have been unwilling to trouble you with what might sei-m 
 a superfluous communication ; but still there were one or two incidents in my interview with 
 him that you might think would advance tlie cause to have made known. My jirevious 
 acquaintance with Mr. Kglintoii was of the slightest. After a recommendation from a 
 personal friend, some letters as to an appointment passed, and one interview of five minutes 
 to arrange such appointments. A lady slightly known to him, a friend of mine, was to 
 meet nie there, but could not come at the last moment, and, therefore, we were alone. 
 The communications were immediate and unusually direct ; and answers came, and 
 information was given, that satisfied me at once that we were in communication with departed 
 friends. A long letter signed with initials came from a relative, with a Gi-eek quotation. 
 He liad been devoted to Greek literature and art wiiile on cartli, and was a clergyman of 
 
 i6
 
 122 
 
 ' Tiuixt Two Worlds. 
 
 the Church of England. The Greek was very plainly and beautifully written, and the accents 
 were given. Mr. Eglinton is not, I believe, a Greek scholar, but no mortal hand could iiave 
 written the communication in the time occupied, let alone the Greek. He has allowed me 
 to retain tiie slate, which I have now. On a second visit, a few days after, I brought a 
 lady, whose presence had been asked for — a very dear friend of a relation, with whom 
 communication had been established. When by two or three questions (of no general 
 interest) she satisfied herself of the reality of the communication with her departed friend, 
 she was deeply affected, having never known of these possibilities. She is not a young or 
 excitable person, but deeply religious, and the effect of this short half-hour has been a new 
 revelation and an intense satisfaction to her." 
 
 Major F. G. Irwin, of Burlington Crescent, Bristol, had an experience in October, 1884, 
 which adds a valuable fact to our stock of knowledge. It refers to the production of 
 psychography under lock and key : — " Two slates were fastened together by a lock and 
 key, and tiien placed in a case which was locked by myself and the key put in my pocket. 
 The bo.x lay on the table in full view, the hands of Messrs. Eglinton and Hockley and my 
 own resting on the top of the box. While in this position writing was distinctly heard, 
 and upon opening the box and taking out the slates the words 'Will this do, Mr. Tommy?' 
 were discovered on the inside of one of the slates." 
 
 1 should state that Mr. G. Tommy, a well-known Spiritualist in Bristol, had sent 
 the locked box for this experiment, under the care of Major Irwin, who concludes his 
 testimony as follows : — " I went to London strongly inclined to think that Spiritualists were 
 made up of fools, knaves, and those having an ill-balanced mind — leaving out a few that 
 I knew could not possibly be included in any of the three classes. I left London fully 
 convinced that all that is claimed for Spiritualism is supported by facts, which, as Mr. Stainton 
 Moses once wrote to me, could ' be proved beyond a doubt.' " 
 
 Another careful record is that of Mr. H. A. Kersey, of 4, Eslington Terrace, Newcastle- 
 on-Tj'ne: — "On Friday, September 26th, 1884, three lady friends and I attended a seance 
 at 2.30 p.m. with Mr. Eglinton, at his residence. We all seated ourselves round a 
 table (technically known as a 'Pembroke') in the centre of the room, Mr. Eglinton 
 sitting with his hack to the window. He asked for the greatest sceptic to sit near him on 
 his right hand, and Mrs. X. was placed there ; opposite to her and on Mr. Eglinton's left hand, 
 sat Mrs. Z., while I and my sister occupied the remaining side of the table, and consequently 
 sal opposite the medium. There was full daylight, the window not being darkened, but 
 simply draped with a pair of thin muslin curtains. I produced a slate which I had purchased 
 about half an hour previously at a shop in the Strand. Mr. Eglinton with a wet sponge 
 proceeded to clean the slates belonging to him on both sides, whilst I took a dry sponge and 
 rubbed the slates, taking special care to press heavily so that if any marks had been 
 previously made upon the slates they should no longer remain there. These slates were left 
 on the table before us and never passed out of our sight previous to the experiments taking 
 place. Mr. Eglinton next produced some small pieces of slate pencil and various coloured 
 French chalks, and taking the slate which I had brought with me asked us to select a piece 
 of pencil or chalk and put it on the slate. We selected slate pencil ; it is an advantage to 
 hear the writing, that not being possible with the softer chalk. We then joined hands ail
 
 due 111/ Tcsliiiioiiy lo Psyclioi^raphy. \2\ 
 
 niiiiul tluj table, the psycliic's left hand being held by one of us. He then jilaccd the slate 
 clnse under the top of the table near to the corner on his right, the slate being kept in 
 pnsiti.in l)y grasping it and the top of the table firmly together with his right hand ; thus the 
 tluunl) of that iiaiid was always visible, and 1, wlvi sat farthest from him, c .iiid always sec 
 nut only the thumb but also part of his wrist. Very shortly, in not more than half a minute, 
 we heard a sound as of writing on the slate, the d >tting of ' i's ' and crossing of 't's' 
 being very marked ; "U the cessation of the writing three little raps were heard on the slate, 
 and the psychic then drew it from the table and handed it to me. On the ujiper surface and 
 at the farthest end of it from Mr. Eglinton's hand, I foinid written as follows : — ' Truth is 
 iii(/is/nn'fi7i/r nf: is our /xncrr; wc are glad lo iiiecl yon nil.' I will call this ICxiierimcnt A, 
 and can only add that under the conditions described, it was, in mv judgment, simply 
 impossible for Mr. Kglinton to do it. The writing was upsiile down in relation to Mr. 
 Eglintoii's hand ; there was no other person present, and four pairs of eyes watched him 
 closely. For the sake of brevity it must be distinctly understood that the same conditions 
 as the' foregoing existed in all the following experiments, variations or special features being 
 al inc noticed. E.xpcriment B. — Mr. Eglinton took the same slate, and reversing it hekl it 
 as before under the table. We again heard the sound of writing, and on examination wc 
 found written in a different handwriting the following: — 'Dear Sir, — ]Vc are glati lo meet yon 
 as lieiug Ike champion nf a great cause. — Joi;v.' E-Xjieriment C. — Mr. Eglinton remarked that 
 ]iortions of the surface of the slate on two sides were left blank, and asked for them to 
 be filled up. When the slate was again held under the table we once more heard 
 writing, and afterwards found the following :— ' IVe shall hope to bring our to Navcastle 
 some day.' Mr. I''.glinton suggested that some word or words had been omitted, and 
 requested the omission to be supplied ; also that in one word of which we were uncertain, 
 if there was a 't' in it to cross the ' t.' The word 'medium' was then in.serted after 
 the word 'our' and the '/' properly crossed. Experiment D. — The Bramah-locked slate 
 was then ]irodueed, and having been rleaned, the medium asked Mrs. X. to write a 
 question to some friend of hers, in such a position that he could not see it ; she 
 did so, and tiien closed the slate and locked it, withdrawing the key and retaining 
 pos.-essinn of it. Mrs. X. and Mr. Eglinton then placed their hands on the lop of the slate 
 as it lay on the table before us all, and shortly we distinctly heard writing being producetl 
 inside the locked slate. When Mrs. X. unlocked the slate she found the following reply lo her 
 request : — ' }'(;//;- Aunl Emnui will communicate later on.' E.xpcriment E. — Mr. Eglinton asked 
 Mrs. Z. to write a question on a slate and not let him see it. She wrote, 'Is Alfred, my son, 
 here, and will he please write me a message to take home with mc ? ' The slate was turned 
 over so as to keep the message from Mr. Eglinton's sight. He took the slate in his left 
 hand, and held it under the corner of the table on his left, Mrs. Z. also grasping the slate all 
 the time and helping him to hold it, Mrs. X. at the same time holding his right hand ; wc 
 all heard the wiiting, and Mrs. Z. solemnly declares that she also felt the vibrations in the 
 slate produced by the writing; the reply was found to be: — 'My dear Mother, — Thank Cod 
 I am able lo come to you. Give my love to all at home, and ;cith plenty for yourself, I am yonr 
 loving son, Alfrkd.' Experiment F.— Mr. Eglinton took two slates, and placed one on the 
 top of the other after pulling a piece of pencil between, and keeping them on the table in
 
 124 ''Tioixt Two Worlds. 
 
 full view of us all he placed liia hands on tlieni, Mrs. X. doing the same ; presently we 
 heard much writing going on between the slates, and on removing the top one the following 
 message was found: — 'Dear Niece, — / rejoice so iitiich in being able to manifest myself to yon 
 in this decisive manner. It must confurt you to know that I am ever near yon, and that I 
 cndeavonr to convey the sense of my presence to yon. How truly comforted and grateful should those 
 be tvho have a knoivledge of this great truth, and of the happiness this comnuinion brings us and 
 them. There is much I would like to say had I the power, but I must content myself with having 
 been alloived to come. Keep on in the good cause, and you ivill be rewarded. Good-bye. God bless 
 you. Love to John. Your loving aunt, Emma.' Experiment G. — Mr. Eglinton expressed a wish 
 to obtain a message for my sister, and placed two slates together on the table, as in tlie 
 previous experiment, but all that could be got was a brief statement that the power was 
 exhausted antl they must bid us good-b^'e. Mr. Eglinton not being contented with this brought 
 the two slates round to my sister, and resting them on the top of her head he held them 
 there, but no writing came ; he then placed one end of the slates on her shoulder, holding 
 the other end himself In this position a brief message was written, reiterating tint the 
 power was exhausted, and bidding ' adieu.' Thus ended an excellent seance, and under 
 such satisfactory conditions that we all were convinced of Mr. Eglinton's power, and felt much 
 indebted to him. In the experiments E and F, the replies received are characteristic of the 
 deceased persons from whom they purport to emanate, but the handwriting does not resemble 
 theirs. The style varies considerably in the different messages, but what is most noticeable 
 is the speed with which the communications are written, and also that while the writing is 
 taking place the psychic labours in his breathing as if suffering." 
 
 Shortly after this, Mr. W. P. Adshead, of Belper, as the result of some very successful 
 seances, offered a challenge of ;^500 to any one not a medium, who would produce the 
 same results under the same conditions. What he describes as the crowning manifestation of 
 his series of seances is narrated as follows : — 
 
 " 1 had said that if my first wife were present, I should be very much pleased if she 
 Could ci'mmunicale with me. Mr. Eglinton well cleaned a slate, laid upon it a small jiiece 
 of pencil, and was about to cover it with annther slate when he said, ' 1 will also place a 
 piece of coloured crayon on the slate.' He did so as he thought, and laying another slate 
 upon the top he held the cr.rners with his right hand, asking me with my left hand to 
 hold the other corners. All jiands were then joined, Mr. Eglinton's left resting on 
 my right hand, the slates meanwhile being in full view in broad daylight. In about a 
 minute the writing commenced ; we distinctly heard both pencils at work. The operation 
 lasted about thirty-five seconds ; and when finished three raps were given, and Mr. Eglinton 
 removed the top slate. judging from the time occupied, I expected to find about five or 
 six lines of writing, but when Mr. Eglinton removed the top slate there was exposed to 
 view a most remarkable production (see Fig. 23, next page), and one which, 1 am bold to 
 say, human skill, however perfect its methods, in the same time and with the same means, 
 would be utterly unable to imitate. On the bottom slate was found thirty-three lines in two 
 distinct styles of writing ; but the fact that gives to this manifestation its special character 
 is that two messages were written at the same time in opposite directions, the messages 
 appearing on the slate in altL-rnate lines. One was a message from my first wife, signed
 
 
 
 ^^,-^3^. 
 
 /"X*/ 
 
 ^-^. >>^^<i;;->^\"-^'^F> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 IL. 
 
 -F.icsimilc of Direct Sl.itc-u-ritiiig obtiincJ in Mr. AiIsIkm.I's I'rcscin....
 
 126 'Tivixi Two IVorliis. 
 
 ' Sarah,' the name being unknown to Mr. Eglinton, and occupied seventeen lines ; the other 
 was a message from a spirit who, Mr. Eghnton informed us, frequently communicated, and 
 was signed ' J. S.' The first line of the message signed 'Sarah' conmences under the last 
 line of the message signed ' J. S.,' and this order is preserved in straight lines until the 
 messages are finished, that signed 'Sarah' containing one line more than the other. Here 
 I would observe that when Mr. Eglinton placed the second pencil on the slate he intended 
 to place upon it a piece of crayon, hoping that the experiment of having alternate lines 
 written with pencil and crayon, which had been obtained before, might be repeated." 
 
 This is not a hundredth part of the testimony which was then being poured out on 
 all sides. Newspaper men began to notice what they had hitherto looked askance at, 
 but perhaps the event of the year in Spiritualistic circles was the excitement caused all 
 over the country by the news that the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone had attended a seance. 
 The announcement having been made, within a few hours of its publication the Metropolitan 
 News agencies and members of the press were busily engaged in their endeavour to get 
 the facts from Mr. Eglinton. In this they do not appear to have been very successful, and the 
 brief narratives presented to the public were so imperfect that Light sought an interview with 
 him, and the next week's issue contained the following authentic report of one of the 
 most noteworthy instances in which Mr. Eglinton has obtained psychography away from his 
 own premises, and where trick tables, trick slates, and electrical contrivances were not 
 available. 
 
 / hear, Mr. Eglinlun, /hat yon have had a seance with Mr. Gladstone. May I ask if tluit 
 is so ? 
 
 I had that honour yesterday (Wednesday, October 29th, 1884). But how did you 
 hear of it ? 
 
 Never mind. It is already ivhispered in Fleet Street, and the rnnionr n'ill soon spread, so 
 that yon must e.xpeet, within a very few honrs, to be harassed />y a nni>il)er of "interviewers" on 
 the part of the newspapers. Are yon at liberty to tell nic the circnnistanees ? 
 
 To some extent I may do so, perhaps, not having been asked, as 1 am in some 
 cases, to make a secret of it. But everything depends on what you wish to know. 
 
 Did Mr. Gladstone visit yon at yonr rooms ? 
 
 No, I met him at the residence of a lady of distinction in Grosvenor Square. Be3'ond 
 that I am not prepared to go. 
 
 Yon feel that yon are not at liberty to mention the name ? 
 
 I am not. You may, for present purposes, call her Mrs. O. I had been invited to 
 meet Lady X., the Marchioness of Z., and Mr. Gladstone. 
 
 To give a seance ? 
 
 I understood beforehand that I was to attempt to give some exhibition of my powers 
 as a medium for slate-writing. 
 
 Experience has shown that for snccessful seances it is necessary fur the medinm, in snch 
 cases, to be qnitc at his ease— free from all mental disturbances. In accepting the invitation 
 dul yon feel that yon conld be qnitc at yonr case in the presence of a man of snch distinction 
 as Mr. Gladstone ?
 
 General Tcsfiiiiony lo Psychography. i 2 y 
 
 1 i-iinl'css I iliil ni't. My feelings at first were of a decidedly nervous kind on 
 learning that 1 was to be the only other min present, and naturally tiie knowledge that I 
 was to meet England's greatest statesman added not a little to tiiis nervousness. But I 
 was soon relieved of all ap]irehension in this respect. I arrived a few minutes before 
 Mr. Gladstone, and after he had saluted his hostess I was presented to him, when, with a 
 pleasant smile, he stepped briskly across the room, and shook hands with me, saying, " 1 
 am glad to make your acquaintance, sir." I was much struck with this mark of affability. 
 And if anything more was needed to put me " at my case " it was the fact tiiat though 
 Mr. Gladstone, at first, conversed for the most part on general topics, doing so in the 
 most agreeable manner, and without the slightest air of conscious superiority — he gave me 
 distinctly to understand that he had no scepticism in regard to the possibility of psychical 
 phenomena. He was already convinced, he said, that there were subtle forces with which 
 " our puny minds " could not deal, and which he could not comprehend ; he held the 
 attitude, therefore, not of a scoffer, but of a student who had no reason to doubt the 
 genuineness of my pretensions. His experiences in thought-reading were sufficient to show 
 that tiiere were forces in nature which were not generally recognised. 
 
 A/lcr iliat voH proceeded lo give tl/iislralions of your mediumship ? 
 
 Yes. We took our places round an oval table of the usual description. 
 
 Hoiv iverc you seated in relation to each other ? 
 
 Lady X. sat next to me, on my right. On Lady X's. right was Mrs. O., then 
 Mr. Gladstone, and then the Marchioness of Z. 
 
 ll'hat slates 7vere used ? 
 
 Mrs. O. had provided two common school slates, and I hid brought my now historic 
 
 Bramah-locked double slate. 
 
 And your experiments in Mr. Gladstone's presence were successful ? 
 
 Quite so. We had communications in reply to questions, the replies being written— 
 sometimes very lengthy ones— on the hostess's own slates, b )th when held under the table, 
 and when laid upon the table in full view of all present ; and also within the locked 
 
 slates. 
 
 Can you tell vie the nature of the communications ? 
 
 No, I cannot do that, and you must not press me too closely. I can only tell you 
 the most unimportant of them with which the experiments commenced. We began by asking 
 Mr. Gladstone to write a question upon one of the school slates. He did so, and the 
 slate was held by me beneath the table, with tiie question upon the under side so that I 
 could not see it, the other side being pressed closely against the under side of the table. 
 Presently the writing began 
 
 Did Mr. Gladstone hear the ivriting ? 
 
 He did— and his face was a study. His intense look of amazement would have been 
 amusing to those who have had experience of such phenomena, and was intensified when 
 the slate was brought up, and the few words which had been written were declared by 
 him to be a pertinent reply to his question. The reply was " /;/ the year 1857," and on 
 the slate being turned over it was found that his question l,a<! been—" Which year do you 
 remember to have been more dry than tiie present one ? " After tiiat Mr. Gladstone took
 
 128 'Tifixi Two Woi'lds. 
 
 the locked slate into a corner of the room, and on the inside of it wrote a question, 
 which of course none of us saw. Then locking the slate and retaining the key, the slate 
 was handed to one of the ladies and myself, and we both held it in the sight of all. 
 While in this position the writing was heard going on upon the closed surfaces, and upon 
 the slate being opened it was found that the question asked was " Is the Pope ill or 
 well ? " which had been answered in red pencil by the words, " He is ill in mind, not in 
 body." 
 
 It occurs to ine that these were rather trivial questions to put, and such as the " iiitel/igeuces " 
 or " occult forces " at work, were not likely to kiiozv very much about ? 
 
 Perhaps so ; but you should bear in mind that I have given you the particulars of the 
 first (xpt rinicnts only, and in all probability Mr. Gladstone's mind was then occupied witli the 
 simple question of whether any writing at all was possible under the circumstances. Of 
 the subsequent experiments I can only say that they were perfectly successful ; that some 
 of the communications were written upon Mrs. O.'s own slates when held under the table ; that 
 several messages were given, not only between these two slates, but also witiiin the locked 
 slate, in view of all present ; and that some of the questions were p>it in Spanish, Freiicli, and 
 Greek, and satisfactorily answered in the same languages. 
 
 Are you yourself acquainted ivith Spanish, French, and Greek ? 
 
 I know very little of Frencli, and nntiiing at all of either Spanish or Greek. 
 
 / have myself had so many seances ivith you, under every conceivable variety of circumstances, 
 that I cannot doubt the genuineness of the slate-writing produced through your tnediumship ; but of 
 course, a stranger to the phenomena could hardly be expected to be satisfied ivith his first experience, 
 and therefore it ivas especially desirable that a gentleman of Mr. Gladstone's distinction and iiijhience 
 should have every opportunity of the closest observation. Do you think he was satisfied? 
 
 Yes, 1 tiiink so. He did not say so, in so many words, but his actions, and all tiiat he 
 said then and subsequently, seemed to point to it. Indeed, I do not see how he could be 
 otherwise than satisfied that — to whatever power the phenomena might be attributable — they 
 were at least of an occult or abnormal character. The written questions were in every case 
 unknown to me; and pertinent answers, as I have told you, were written between slates fully 
 exposed to view upon, or held over, the table of a brilliantly lighted drawing-room— the writing 
 being distinctly heard wiiilc in the actual process. Mr. Gladstone had the fullest opportunity 
 of observation, and I have no doubt whatever that his keen penetrating eyes, as he carefully 
 watched all that was passing, assured him that everything was genuine. As one indication I 
 may mention the evident interest he took in the messages themselves, which he could scarcely 
 have done if he had any suspicion whatever of the bona fides of the experiments. From first 
 to last lie made a careful record of all the questions and all the replies. 
 
 You spoke Just noiv of Mr. Gladstone having said something after the seance — ivas that in 
 reference to ivhat had occurred during the evening? 
 
 Not directly. But after the seance, and while the ladies were otherwise engaged, Mr. 
 Gladstone entered into conversation with me on psychical subjects. I remarked upon the 
 absurd attitude of the general public, and of many scientific men, in refusing to investigate what 
 were but simple facts after all, when Mr. Gladstone replied in effect (for I do not profess to 
 be able to remember his words)— " I have always thought that scientific men run too much in
 
 General Testimony to Psyc/iOQraphv. 1 2c) 
 
 a groove. riuy do noble work in tlieii' own special lines of study ;tiid research, hut tlicy are 
 too ofti'H indisposed to give anv attention whatevrr to matters wliicli si-eni to ronflirt with their 
 established modes of thought. Indeed, tiiev not infi'efnientiv ;ittein|it to deny that into which 
 thev hn\e never inquired, iml snlliciiiith' realising the fact that there may possiblv be forces 
 in Nature of which they know nothing." As I talked with him on topics of a kindred character, 
 I was very pleased to see how his great mind could, even at this late hour of his life, open 
 itself to the fair consideration of any new truth, however nuich it might run counter to previous 
 experiences, lie spoke at length of his own observations many years ago in the domains of 
 clairvoj'ance and electro-biohgy, and then inquired whether there were any societies siieciallj' 
 devoted t(5 the study of occult phenomena. When I told him of the London Spiritualist 
 Alliance and other societies, and mentioned seme of the names of persons coiniected with tlieni, 
 and of others who had given attentinn t" the subjects, he seemed greatly interested ; and when 
 I spoke of the literature of Spiritualism he said that he already' knew that the movement was 
 represented by excellent journals, and that many eminent men had written on the question — 
 instancing Varley, Crookcs, Wallace, Palfour, and otliers — one of whom, Mr. Crookes, b.ad 
 acknowledged his obligations to Mr. C. Blackburn, a wealtliy gentleman lately resident in 
 Manchester. I asked him whetiier he would honour nie by accepting a few books upon the 
 subji ct, to which he very kindly replied that, although he had many works on various matters 
 laid by lor reading when tin tinu- came for him to be able: to do so, be would most cheerfully 
 undertake to read any books I might desire to send him, adding, "And I shall keep them as 
 a memento of this very interesting evening." I bad a long and \ery ])lea.sant conversation 
 with him ; but I think I have told you all that I ought t(i tell you, and 1 have certainly said 
 more than I intended to say when I began. 
 
 I 'pan the zvliolc you wcir gratified by the interview ? 
 
 Decidedly. I have met princes and princesses, but, kind and condescending as they always 
 were, 1 have never experienced keener pleasure than in the reflection that I have done some- 
 thing towards helping Mr. Gladstone to a better understanding of the po.ssibility of conmiunion 
 with " friends who have gone before." 
 
 The publication of this report gave an inuiieiise stride to Spii ituali-^m. It was noticed 
 by nearly every paper througiiout the world, the news agencies in Great Britain sending it 
 out as stereotype matter. Of course Mr. Gladstone was deluged with letters of inquiry. Tl e 
 Daily Neivs of November 6tb contained the following "diplomatic" answer, probably lithographed 
 on a post card:— "lo, Downing-street, Whitehall, November 4th, l8<S4.— Sir,— I am directed 
 by Mr. Gladstone to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday, and to say that while 
 he cannot undertake to enter into d< tails, he has expressed no conclusion upon the subject 
 to which you refer.— I am, sir, your obedient servant, Hor.acic Skvmour." It is lo be hoped 
 that this " -oft ans\ver " turned away the wrath which raged against the open-minded statesman, 
 who bad, according to some pious people, engaged in .sorcery, and according to others become 
 the victim of imposture or delusion. 
 
 No further details <if Mr. GladsKme's experiences have been made public, but 1 have good 
 reason for thinking thai the Right Honourable gentleman has not altogether ceased his 
 
 17
 
 I -lo ' Twixt Two Worlds. 
 
 investigations. At any rate lie has since become a member of tiie Society for Psyciiical Research, 
 a half-way house at which m my find it pleasant to rest prior to tailing the final plunge into 
 Spiritualism. Of course Punch could not pass by such a golden opportunity, and forthwith 
 began to qualify for admission into the schools of the prophets by a temperate deliverance of 
 the burden of its own experiences. Let this effusion be compared with former utterances 
 and my readers will readily admit the change of tone. Thanks ! Mr. Piiiuli. 
 
 Equally satisfactory', but more serious, was the attitude of Figaro. In that jnurnal for 
 December 6th appeared a letter from the well-known musician and critic, Mr. J. S. Shedlock, 
 introduced by the following editorial : — 
 
 "!Mr. Shedlock is by no means an impressionable m:in, and the evening before he 
 attended the seance he was a scornful sceptic. His present feelings m.iy be judged by the 
 plain statement of facts in the letter hereunder. I will only add a few words of comment 
 upon the extraordinary tale Mr. Shedlock now has to tell. It will be noticed tliat a double 
 slate, on which the message written is not seen by the medium, is securely locked and held close 
 to the table. Immediately a scratching is heard from a crumb of slate pencil, and the reply 
 is found written on the slate. Granting the possibility of a trick (for in this case there could be 
 no collusion), the e\'asive reply concerning Mozart can be considered at worst a very extraordinary 
 guess. About the Schubert symphony the reply was ewn more astounding. Had the answer 
 been six, or a dozen, or so forth, Mr. Eglinton or the ghost might reasonably have been 
 suspected of imposture. But the discussion whether the symphony in C is the No. 9 or No. 
 10 has been in progress for some time. As musicians are aware, Sir George Grove is of 
 opinion that the Gastein symphony, which he calls No. 9, is still missing, and that the 
 symphony in C is No. lo. The alleged spirit of Schubert, asked how many symphonies he 
 wrote after that in B minor No. 8, replied two. The reply is certainly extraordinary, for it 
 is in the highest degre= improbable that Mr. Eglinton (who did not know even that his 
 visitor was musical) should have been so well posted as to the Schubert symphonies, even 
 if he could by any possibility of means have seen what Mr. Shedlock had written. Sir George 
 Grove is now the proper man to follow up this inquiry. Peradventure, so great a Schubert- 
 lover, who also believes in Spiritualism, may be able to wheedle out of the deceased a description 
 of the work, and of the place where the Gastein symphony lies hidden. The spirit of Mozart, 
 doubtless for reasons of its own, ignored the question how much of the Requiem was written 
 by Mozart, and how much by Sussmayr. Schubert was more communicative, and perhaps 
 Sir Georg- Grove may be able lo coax it even into jotting down the principal subjects of the 
 Gastein symphony on the slate. ' Dear Cherubino,— Last Wednesday I went to see the psycho- 
 graphist, Mr. Eglinton. Mr. Gladstone's interview with the celebrated medium was recently 
 spoken of in all the papers ; and so, I am quite sure, the name will be familiar to all your 
 readers. If a believer in Spiritualism, you would perhaps advise me to send any communication 
 on the subject to Light; if a disbeliever, you would perhaps suggest the Freethinker or the 
 War Cry. But 1 am writing to you for a special reason. If Mr. Eglinton, I thought, will 
 allow me to call for any spirit, and allow me to put any question to it, I will see if I can 
 obtain any information which will be of interest to musicians. A happy thought ! What 
 could I do better than try and learn something about the state in which Mozart left his 
 Requiem, and about Schubert's missing symphony, or rather the one which Sir George Grove
 
 General Testiviovy io Psvc/iOQi-ap/iy. i ;, i 
 
 says is missing? I have always laiiglird at mcfliiinis, apparitions, otr., and so 1 could srarcoly 
 
 hope that tin- spirits of tin mii;iity il( ail \\. 'iil,! (i.ini' at my luck and liiddint;, and allow nic to 
 qucslioM tlu'in. \\\[\ nutliini; xriUnn-, ii.>tliiiiL; iiivc My wife wiiit with im-, and it was arraiiijcd 
 IvHwccn us tiiat sin- slmvild |\-ni(y wilh Mo/arl, and 1 with ScIuHm it. W'c all tlncc sat ronnd 
 the- talilc, my wife and sell', an<l Mr. I^^linton. 1 said, "Is .Scluihrri Ihk?" Mr. IC^linton hrld 
 a slate for a moment under the tahle ; a seratching noiso was lioaid, and on ])rodueinf; the slate 
 thi' word "No" was clearly wriltoi on it. As 1 am only writing ahout musical malti rs, 
 and also am afraid of trespassing on your valuable space, I must not descrihe ininut<ly the 
 movements of Mr. Eglinton. I will, however, say that the whole affair is most extraordinarj', and 
 does not seem at all like a farce or a conjuring trick. Mr. Kglinton then said, " Will the spirits 
 answer questions?" The message came, " Yoit linvc poK'rr." My wife then took the celebrated 
 Bramah-locked slate. She wrote on it, " Mozart, can you tell me how nuicli you wrote of your 
 Requiem ? " Mr. Eglinton certainly did not sec what was written. The slate was locked and 
 placed on the table. An ordinary slate was placed under the table, and an answer at once came, 
 " Mo-.art /.s- our of your guides, und inspires your liuslxind to piny." I make no comment on 
 this. " Now, will you write down a c|uestion ? " said Mr. Eglinton to me. I took a slate, held 
 it so as to be sure no one could see what I was writing, and although 1 had at first been told 
 Schubert was not present, I thought I would still try and liold communion with him. At lirst 
 1 was going to ask, "How many symphonies did you write?" but I decidi-tl on a more crucial 
 test. This is what I wrote, " Schubert, can you tell me how many symphonies you wrote 
 after the unfinished one in B minor?" I put the slate on the table empty side upwards. Mr. 
 Eglinton put a crumb of pencil on it, held it under the table, but so that we could see part of 
 the slate, and could also see his hand holding it. In about five seconds a scratching was heard; 
 the slate was lifted, and on it the figure 2. Some further experiments were made, with which 
 I shall not trouble you, but, like Mr. Gladstone, I can say that I was much impressed by what 
 occurred. Were I now to discuss the question of psychography, you would probably not read, 
 still less print, my remarks. 1 have related my interview iti as plain and truthful a maimer 
 as 1 possibly could; and, indeed, I felt bound to let you know what took place. If Sir G. 
 Grove is a believer in Spiritualism, he will perhaps now visit Mr. Eglinton and push the in(|iiiry 
 further. I was too astonished ; 1 ought at once to havt- asked iiarticulars of key, place, etc. I 
 just add, in conclusion, that I went to Mr. Eglinton at the rcHpiest of a sister, and that my 
 name was unknown to him. My sister had obtained an interview with him as Miss X., and 
 my wife and self went as Miss X.'s iViends.™ Yours truly, j. S. Siii:i>i.oei<, 22, Melrose Gardiiis, 
 West Ki-nsington Park, Novendier J/tli, 1884.'" 
 
 ri'.ercupon a shower of conespondenee fell on " Cherubino." In a subsequent issue of 
 the lli^nro, he says : — " ! have received a large number of communications in regard to 
 Mr. ]. S. Shedlock's visit to Mr. Eglinton, and the e.xtraordinary answer given on the ]>ramah- 
 locked slate by the alleged disembodied spirit of Eranz Schubert. Ihc (piestion asked by 
 
 Mr. Shedlock was, it may be recollected, ' Schubert, can you tell me how many symphonies you 
 wrote after the unfinished one in B minor?' And the reply came at once in the numeral 
 '2.' This reply, if genuine, would tend to sli.>w that tin- 'Gastcin' symphony, which 
 Sir George Grove declares is missing, really had some existence. I may add th.it Mr. j. S. 
 Shedlock's honour ami eharacter are so well known to be above suspicion, that not one of
 
 I ■12 
 
 ' Twixt Two Woi'lds. 
 
 my correspondents, many of whom treat the affair with derision, has ventured to suggest 
 that the story told is, so far as Mr. Siiediock is concerned, not perfectly bond fide." And 
 further on he continues: — "Several correspondents express curiosity as to tiie conversation 
 between the spirit medium and Miss Shedlock, and whetiier that lady gave any hint uf the 
 questions likely to be asked by her brother. Other correspondents narrate some surprising 
 'manifestations' by Mr. Eglinton and others, but as none of these deal vvitii matters nuisical 
 they cannot be quoted." 
 
 Mrs. Burns, tlie wife of the editor of the Mcilittiii, iuul auuther e.xperience witii 
 
 
 Fig. 24. — Exact Rcprojuction of Direct Writing on a Card. 
 
 Mr. Eglinton in December. Tiie following extracts fnjm iier report are clear and to 
 the point : — 
 
 " On the first appointment, Mrs, Burns and another member of our staff followed 
 immediately after sitters who had left the medium in an exhausted condition. Tiie 
 
 e.xperiments were not resorted to at once, but some considerable time was spent in easy 
 
 conversati.m. The spirits indicated tiieir presence on slates, taken by our representatives, 
 
 wiicn placed vnidcr the table. Tiiey had also provided ■.tiicmselves with certain correspondence
 
 General Teslinwity lo Psychograpliy. 
 
 '3-1 
 
 cards, initialled and dated, in the hope that the spirit?^ would be able ti> use them. One 
 oT tlu'se was placed between two slates, and held in full light of the two powerful lamps 
 with whicii tiie room was ligiited, between Mr. Eglintoii atui Mrs. Hums, when one side of 
 it was covereil witji writing, in reply to a (piestion wiiich had been ]ireviously written on 
 the other side, unseen by the medium. The question was : — ' Do you consider the power 
 
 siinicicnt to continue further to-day?' Almost immediately, the card was written on while 
 between the slates (Fig. 24). The inscrijition is as follows :—' JF<' regret thai our power 
 
 Fig. 25. Exact Reproduction of a Direct Drawing upon a Card. 
 
 docs 110/ enable us to give yon a drawing to-day, and ivc think you had best discontinue the sitting. 
 Had it not been for your power, Mrs. Burns, ive couhi not have written this. Good-bye. God 
 bless you: As the force was so weak, Mr. Eglinton kindly arranged another sitting for the 
 following Monday (December 8). Mrs. Burns went alone. It was early in lh<- afternoon, 
 and the experiments were conducted in the full light of day. Mr. Eglinton suggested that 
 Mrs. Burns should ask for the manifestation she most desired. She said she would like 
 a drawing on one of the cards ; but the subject of the drawing she did not specify, nor 
 had she formed any definite ideas on it. The card, duly initialled, was placed between her own
 
 [ - , Tivixt Tzi>o Woi'lds. 
 
 slatt-s, and laid on the top of the table. She held Mr. Eglinton's hands, and rested them 
 on the top of the slates. Immediately the action of drawing was heard with the small 
 crumb of lead pencil that had been placed between the slates along with the card. The 
 experiment was not timed, but in much less than one minute, the drawing was done and the 
 card removed. It contained an exquisite pencil sketch (Fig. 25) of a male spirit. In the 
 illustration the only error is in the delineation of the palm-branch which the spirit carries : 
 it is not broad and loose enough. . The next step was to obtain some explanation of the 
 drawing. A clean slate was held under the table, and the following inscription, which is 
 given in facsiniilc (Fig. 26), was instantly given :— ' The spirit depicted upon the card is that 
 of your friend and guide BRUCE, and the influence of Mr. Burns has attracted hint here to 
 say the ivords ' kal and true ' are specially intended for the fight your husband is making for 
 the cause.' That Mrs. Burns might have something more, particularly for herself, Mr. Eglinton 
 had the goodness to make one more eftbrt. Two clean slates were laid upon one another, 
 with a crumb of slate pencil between. Mr. Eglinton held them at one end, while the 
 other rested on Mrs. Burns's shoulder, in full light of day. The writing commenced at 
 once, and was completed much sooner than any writer could have accomplished it (Fig. 27). 
 None of the writing is like the caligraphy of Mr. Eglinton or Mrs. Burns. The inscription 
 
 is ; ' It has been said that Truth must prevail notivithstandtng the opposition to ivhich it is 
 
 sometimes subjected. And in precisely the same manner that you and your co-ivorkers are 
 oppressed, so will you, like the Bruce of old, rise to the occasion. The only thing to guard 
 yourself against is the too frequent setting at naught the admonitions of those ivho direct you in 
 your ivork. There are many around you to-day pouring blessings upon you for the good you 
 have done, and though your reward may seem slou', it is not for you in your sphere to receive 
 
 it. You are a second (the name has been obliterated by Mr. Burns), and as such ive 
 
 greet you cordially. IVe had hoped to secure for you some personal message for yourself but 
 we find the poiver has been otherwise engaged. Good-bye, and may those who attend you lead 
 vou to the highest light and usefulness.—]. S.' Of the genuineness of the results there cannot 
 be the slightest doubt. We are placed in possession of evidence of the most reliable and 
 unique kind. No artist would attempt such a drawing in so short a time. In every 
 respect the superhuman power at work is demonstrated." 
 
 One point with reference to Mr. Eglinton's mediumship in 1884 must not be allowed to 
 escape notice. This is the demonstration of psychography in public on two occasions, the 
 first being at the inaugural meeting of the London Spiritualist Alliance at St. James's Hall. 
 After the usual business of the meeting had been disposed of, Mr. Eglinton proceeded with his 
 experiments, and considering the delicate nature of the phenomena, and also having due regard 
 to the fact of its being, as far as I can learn, the first time that this phase of spirit power has 
 in this country been obtained in the presence of a large public audience, the results were 
 eminently satisfactory, and Mr. Eglinton is to be congratulated on the undoubted successes 
 achieved. The experiments were not, it is true, as startling in their character as others which 
 have been witnessed through his mediumship under conditions more suitable for crucial results, 
 but they were nevertheless thoroughly satisfactory to those who witnessed them. A committee 
 of three were nominated by the audience to conduct the experiments, those chosen being Mrs. 
 Jacob Bright (wife of Mr. Jacob Bright, M.P.), the Hon. Percy Wyndham, M.P., and Mr. A,
 
 Ccucral Tcstiiuoiix to PsvclioorapJiy. 
 
 '35 
 
 ^--^-yy-p^-y 
 
 
 -»->^yr^'^. 
 
 /!J.:ir-rr 
 
 <::^^-^.x^- 
 
 Fic. 26.— Direct \V 
 
 litii.g upon a Slatr. (Tlu- uri;j;iiial, inrliuling Ir.iiiu-, mLa-u.i.-, 1 I |.y ^ hkIr-.;
 
 136 ' Twixt Two Worlds. 
 
 A. Watts. Mr. W. Stainton Moses also watched the proceedings, and reported to the audience 
 what was going on from time to time. The usual conditions were observed, and after the 
 lapse of a few minutes direct writing was obtained. Four different experiments were made, 
 all successfully, the last one being the reproduction on the slate of a number then and there 
 chosen by one of the audience. At the conclusion of this portion of the proceedings, Mr. W. 
 Pritchard Morgan publicly challenged any person, not a medium, in the sum of ^500 against 
 ^5°! to produce psychography under conditions similar to those observed by Mr. Eglinton. 
 This challenge held good for a period of three months, from May Sth, 1884. 
 
 Encouraged by the success attending his first attempt to obtain psychographic phenomena 
 in public, on the occasion of the inaugural meeting of the London Spiritualist Alliance, Mr. 
 Eglinton soon arranged for a repetition of the experiment. He proposed to give an address 
 on "The Facts and Philosophy of Spiritualism," in the Banqueting Room, St. James's Hall, 
 on Tuesday, May 27th, to be followed by experiments in psychography. This was a bold 
 step, but Light remarked that " if well managed and surrounded by proper conditions, we 
 do not sec why such a course should not be of valuable service in disseminating the facts of 
 Spiritualism. Mr. Eglinton deserves every encouragement, and we hope he will not fail to 
 receive it by the gathering together of a large and sympathetic audience on this occasion. His 
 success of late has been so phenomenal that we can hardly doubt that the experimental portion 
 of the proceedings will be satisfactorily carried out." The meeting came off as arranged, under 
 the presidency of Dr. G. Wyld. The Banqueting Room, which will comfortably seat upwards 
 of four hundred people, was filled to overcrowding. 
 
 The proceedings were opened by the chairman, who, in introducing Mr. Eglinton, briefly 
 reviewed his own experience in this particular phase of psychical phenomena, more especially 
 in the presence of Dr. Slade a few years ago, and recently with Mr. Eglinton. He dwelt on 
 the fact that British Spiritualism had sustained a great loss in being deprived of the services 
 of the former by an unjust prosecution. The gap thus caused had, however, now been filled 
 by Mr. Eglinton, whom he considered not only the most valuable medium in this country, but 
 as far as he knew, the most valuable medium in the whole world, because he obtained direct 
 writing in full view, which could not reasonably be assailed. Mr. Eglinton then delivered 
 his address, which was fully reported in Light. Mr. W. Stainton Moses, M.A., and Mr. 
 Louis (barrister-at-law), at the invitation of the chairman, afterwards made a few remarks 
 apropos to the subject of the address. The interest of the evening, however, was evidently 
 centred in the proposed experiments in psychography, with which it was announced the 
 programme of the proceedings would terminate. At the request of the chairman and two of 
 the audien:e (Mr. W. Stainton Moses and Mr. C. C. Massey), Surgeon-General Wolseley, Mr. 
 Bnnsley Nixon, of the Athenaeum Club, and Mr. Stuart Glennie consented to act as a 
 committee of investigation, and forthwith took their seats at the table (the one used by Dr. 
 Slade and condemned by Maskelyne as a "trick table") on the platform. At 9.25 they all 
 joined hands, but sat without obtaining results until 9.40, when various changes were made by 
 direction of Mr. Eglinton's spirit attendants, who communicated by means of raps which were 
 distinctly heard and localised by the committee, with the exception of Mr. Stuart Glennie. 
 The changes then made necessitated the retirement of the latter gentleman, and Miss Major 
 took the vacant seat. A few minutes afterwards Florence Marryat (Mrs. Lean) was called to
 
 Cci!C7(i/ Tcs/viioity to PsvchoorapJiy. 
 
 i.w 
 
 jX ^..vx Vw ju^v^ ^'<-^ ^.^a^\.-^^..-.-'^_ywA- 
 
 
 ^^>_(^ 
 
 \:>^": 
 
 ':r 
 
 \N^ '\VV^->- 
 
 ^OO-A-f 
 
 
 
 _ ^.oJ^V^ 
 
 ^\t~^Wv 
 
 
 V^- 
 
 
 ^v«SL:ujk^ 
 
 ^v.__ -^.v- -^ 
 
 '^-...A-- ^^ 
 
 
 Fig. 27.- Mi-'-sagc WiiUin bclurcn the SlaUs wIkii Resting upon tlic Slunikkr d lli. Siller. ( 1 lie e.rigiiial, i".siilc 
 
 of ri.uiu-, nic.TSiires \2\ by SJ iiielics.) 
 
 18
 
 I 38 ' Tzvixt Two Worlds. 
 
 the table, and the circle, as thus re-organised, was subsequently successful in obtaining 
 perfectly incontestable phenomena. At 9.51 two slates, which had been previously cleaned 
 and examined by all the committee, were placed upon the table, in full view of all the sitters, 
 one upon the top of the other, a crumb of pencil having been inserted between them. While 
 in this position the hands of the medium and those of Florence Marryat were put upon the 
 top of the uppermost slate, the rest of the circle joining hands. At 9.53 Dr. Wyld, who was 
 also on the platform, placed his hands on the top of Mr. Eglinton's and Florence Marryat's, 
 and immediately Surgeon-General Wolseley stated that he distinctly heard writing being done 
 between the slates, a statement which was corroborated by the rest of the committee of 
 investigation. At 9.54 the usual signal of completion was heard and the slates were 
 examined, whereupon one side of the upper slate was found to be covered with a long message 
 from "Ernest," one of Mr. Eglinton's spirit-attendants. It was as follows: — "// gives us 
 great pleasure in being able to overcome the difficult conditions tiiuler ivhich we labour this 
 evening, and to assure the audience that, although unseen to them, H'c are nevertheless present. 
 Now is the time to assert yourselves, and to band yourselves together in good solid ivork. Without 
 material aid, how do you think it possible that ive can bring home these truths to those thirsting 
 for knoivledge? — Ernest." Surgeon-General Wolseley, Mr. Nixon, Miss Major, and Florence 
 Marryat one after another publicly testified that the experiment had been conducted to their 
 entire satisfaction, and that they were perfectly convinced it was an impossibility for the writing 
 then obtained to have been produced by ordinary means. In a second experiment the word 
 " Gordon," suggested by one of the audience, was written between closed slates, in red pencil 
 (a significant fact !), under similar conditions. The success of Mr. Eglinton's public presentation 
 of these phenomena was without doubt complete, and he was heartily congratulated upon the 
 result. As a means of drawing attention to the facts of Spiritualism, such meetings cannot 
 fail to do good, and I am sure every Spiritualist will gladly accord his thanks to Mr. 
 Eglinton for the service which he on this occasion so freely and generously rendered to 
 the cause.
 
 CIIAPTI'-.R XV 
 
 "BRorr.nT to nooK." 
 
 I'.RHAFS one of tlic iiuist conclusive l)!ocks of tistininny as U> ihr reality 
 of tlie plieiiomenoii of psycliograpliy is tliat wiiicli, mulcr tlic title of 
 "Bringing it to Book," has been collected and [.uhlislied by Mr. 11. 
 Cholmondelcy-PenncII, late Il.M. Inspector of Fisheries, and more recently 
 Director of Commerce for the Interior, I'-gypt, and a well-known lilUrnlnir. 
 He is supported in his testimony by the evidence of the Ibm. Ruden Noel, 
 a name familiar in the world of letters, Mr. Charles Carlton Massey, a barrister-at-Iaw, 
 George Wyld, M.I)., and the Hon. Percy Wyndham, M.P. This evidence is presented in 
 its collected form as a simjile statement of facts, as facts, and without anv expression of 
 opinion with ixgaixl to the causes uf their occurrence, he\-ond the absdiule and unanimous 
 conviction of tjir writers, that the elVects described weic imt caused by the \isible " pln'sicai 
 body " of the psychic. The letters were originally wiitten without any connuunication 
 between these authors, and for any expression of o])inion outside the limit named, each 
 writer is indi\-idually responsible. 
 
 Mr. II. Cholmondeley-Peiuiell opens the symposium by one of tin; most clearlv told and 
 nni(|iii- pieces of evidence ever ]iuhlished. 
 
 When the recent movemtnt of critical inqin'ry into the various psychical plicnomona 
 broadly passing under the name of " Spiritualism " began, I took a deep interest in its 
 progress, hoping to find in it at least a key to unlock the mysteries of much of the old 
 world " occultism " — to use the fashionable expression in its widest sense. I made 
 
 acquaintance with all the principal mediums, amateur or jirofessional. 1 went to srtiiices 
 at their houses, and held seances with them at my house. After several j'cars, however, 
 of patient and frank inquiry I gave the whole thing up. Not because I felt sure there 
 was no truth in it, hut because, supposing it to be true, I found it ini|)ossiblc /d living it 
 In hook. Ahuost every so-called " manifestation " that I personally witnessed was found to 
 be inconclusive. There was always an " if" or a " but " in the logical sequence of facts 
 when honestly marshalled ; a " missing link " that made the chain of evidence worthless 
 from a scientific standpoint. 
 
 I say nothing of the gross and palpable frauds — some publicly unmasked, and others
 
 [ 1 o ' Tivixt Two Wo7'lds. 
 
 Inished up — by which, then as now, Spiritualistic circles were not iiitrequently scandalised. 
 There are, of course, black sheep in every flock ; still a hundred cases of imposture, proved 
 or suspected, should not, and to a logical mind would not, invalidate the scientific results of 
 a single bona fide and repcalabk experiment. I say " repeatable," because I iK^ld tliat a 
 solitary experience in sucli novel investigations would usually be quite insufficient for purposes 
 of accurate observation. 
 
 Tliere are, of course, amongst differing characters, different degrees of mental receptivity 
 and " impressionability." What will suffice for one, predisposed perhaps to conviction, wholly 
 fails to satisfy anotlier whose bias is of a more positive or sceptical turn. I am free to 
 confess that my own mental attitude vis-a-vis the whole of the alleged phenomena of 
 so-called " Spiritualism " is — or rather was — allied to the sceptical. Not by any means that 
 I did not desire — really and strongly desire — to be satisfied that the facts, or some of tliem, 
 were as stated to me, but that my idiosyncrasy — my " psyciiical condition " if you please 
 
 would not allow of my being personally convinced without the most positive, repeated, and 
 
 complete personal ocular demonstration And witiiout impugning tlie motives or 
 
 logical " methods of conviction " pursued by others, it may be maintained that in dealing 
 with phenomena which claim to set aside the recognised laws of matter, that is a most 
 philosophical, legitimate, and, 1 might also say, inevitable attitude for every educated mind 
 to adopt : perfect openness to conviction ; upon perfectly conclusive evidence — and upon none 
 other. 
 
 Having lailed personally to obtain such evidence, tlie result of my three or four 
 years' investigation was a mental verdict of" Not proven:" I could not bring the thing to 
 book. 
 
 And yet now, after an interval of about a decade, and rather owing to the result of 
 accident than intention, I find m3'self in a position unreservedly to reverse the above 
 
 judgment — I n.wi; brought n to book And, what is more, I am satisfied that 
 
 the same iuui( niable evidence which was available in my case is accessible to any one 
 in a similar frame of mind, and willing to take tlie necessary' steps to investigate for 
 themselves. Indeed, llic interesting testimony of Mr. C. C. Massey, tlie Hon. Roden Noel, 
 Mr. Gledstanes, and others, shows tliat I am only one of many to recognise the almost 
 unique character, for the purpose of systematic and rigorously-tested experiment, of the 
 phenomena in question : I refer to the psychographic, or slate-writing manifestations, produced, 
 so far as my experience extends, with unequalled regularity and reliability through the 
 niediumsliip of Mr. William iLglinton, througii whose kindness 1 iiave had opportunities of 
 witnessing and critically observing these slate-writing phenomena six times — three times at 
 the house; of Mr. Eglinton, and three times at my own house — and on no one occasicMi 
 lias there beiii a iailure in their prdduction. 
 
 The conditiiins of my experiments and their results were as follows (I am obliged to 
 give them soniewiiat in iletail in order that nothing shall be omitted of impiMtance to the 
 argument) : — 
 
 1. rile sitters were never less tlian tiiree nor more than five, medium inchKJed ; and 
 comprised seven difterent men and three different ladies — all old personal friends of 
 my own, and who, with one exception, had never seen Mr. Eglinton before.
 
 " n 1071 o; lit to Book." 1. 1 1 
 
 2. llic lliivc smnccs at Mr. Kglinton's Ivnisc were in each caso lu-lil Juiing tlu- whole 
 
 time in broad dayh'ght ; rind tlie three at my Iiousc in every case in full 
 lamp-light. 
 
 3. K.xccpt in tlic first ^aincc the only s/it/cs iisn/ /in;;- bcni my (Wii, jjunght i)v luvscif, 
 
 marked ^signed) by myself, as well as by the nther sitter.s, and never taken ..ut 
 I'l their jiaper wrapper or sliown tn the medium or to any one else, between the 
 time o| purchase and tlie commencement of the srniicc. 
 
 4. In five out of the si.K scaiicc< intelligent writing has been produced between the two 
 
 slates, prcviou.sly free from marks, placed in e.xact juxtaposition, one on the top of 
 tlie otiicr, aii<f -a'lun both urn- in I'/cre 0/ all the sitfcrs. 
 
 5. The slates were usually held between the medium and the right-hanil sitter, !)ut 
 
 sometimes also between the medium and the left-hand sitter. 
 
 6. During the si.x sr'nnccs writing was obtained when tlie slates were luKI by and 
 
 between five different sitters and the medium. 
 
 7. The slates were never at any time, during eitlier of the sc'tiinrs, taken away from 
 
 tile tabic by the medium or by anyone else, except on tlie first occasion, when four 
 slates were employed, arid those not actually in use were placed for convenience 
 on a chiffonier within reach (without the medium quitting his place at the tabic), 
 and where the slates still remained in full view of all. 
 
 S. The slates were invariably carefully cleaned, in full view of all, after each manifestation 
 — sometimes by the medium, sometimes by the sitters, sometimes by the sitters first 
 and by the medium afterwards, and sometimes by the medium first and by the 
 sitters afterwards. 
 
 9. The cleaning was done, when at the medium's house, with a moist sponge, and the 
 slate rubbed hard and thoroughly over again with a dry one ; and at my luiuse, 
 once by a damp sponge (mine) ; once bj' a silk pocket handkerchief dry ; and once 
 by the medium's jiocket handkerchief, damjied there and then. 
 
 10. The slates were all exact pairs, fitting accurately when ]ilaced one on the othi r, 
 
 and were in every experiment scrupulousl}^ and watchfully kept in that position. 
 
 11. A fresh pair of slates were used at each sraiKC ; and with one exception (when 
 
 they were kept by one of the other sitters) I have them all still untouched, with 
 the writing upon them. 
 
 12. The instrument of writing was in each case a minute piece of slate pencil, about 
 
 three-sixteenths of an inch long, placed between the two slates. The slate pencil 
 used was in three instances supplied bj' the medium, and in three by myself. 
 
 13. A sound as of writing bv slate pencil was distinctly audible in every case, 
 
 proceeding, apparently, fiom between the slates, and three slight taps, as if with 
 the point of the pencil, at the finish, indicating that the writing was completed. 
 
 14. [Localisation of sound being extremely diflicult, 1 give this evidence as collateral rather 
 
 than tlirert. Its force is, however, greatly added to in this case by the 
 synchronous vibrations of the slates corresponding with the duration of the sound. 
 These were distinctly felt and pointed out at the time in more than one instance, 
 and were several times noticcil in the case of the final " taps."]
 
 14^ 'Twtxt Tiuo Worlds. 
 
 15. The siiinll pieces of pencil always showed such marks of "wearing down" at the 
 
 side of the point as would naturally have been produced by writing at the usual 
 angle. 
 
 16. The writing was in different " hands," and of very different sizes, as also of various 
 
 degrees of neatness and of length — length, that is, of the " message " or writing 
 produced. Once the entire slate was completely covered in a small running hand, 
 and the writing finished off by a circular line surrounding the whole. 
 
 17. What was written was invariably intelligible and properly expressed ; and when in 
 
 answer to a question was always germane to such question. 
 
 18. In the case of the long message (16) which was signed "J. G." I asked what was 
 
 the full name and tliat it might be given. This joas iuiiuedialcly done, 'whilst I 
 was hdldiiig (iiic end of tiic livo shi/cs together above the table, bctuwen the medium 
 and myself. The name thus written — a double surname corresponding witli the 
 initials — very peculiar in spelling, and also uncommon, was perfectly well-known 
 to me. 
 
 On another occasion I asked that the figure 2 might be written, which was 
 
 also done, the slates at that time being, as I have said, in full view and lying flat 
 
 on tiie upper surface of the table, one exactly on the top of the other. 
 
 Now referring to the writings described above, under paragraph 18; if, in spite of the 
 
 rigorously severe precautions observed, there could remain any reasonable possibility of the 
 
 slates being tampered with and the writing produced by the employment of chemical or other 
 
 analogous means, the circumstances that on at least two occasions the ii'riting was immediately 
 
 produced in the form of ansivcrs to impromptu demands or questions from myself, would 
 
 eftectually dispose of such an hypothesis. 
 
 The argument is clearly unanswerable. And looking at the whole of the actual facts 
 verified — not once, merely, hut over and over again — and at the stringent conditions under 
 which the e.xperiments were conducted, can it be denied by any candid mind that the 
 evidence fulfils the description predicated — that it is conclusive ? 
 
 "Perfect openness to conviction; upon perfectly conclusive evidence." That is the 
 (strictly philosophical) bargain as between Demonstrator and Investigator. The Demonstrator 
 having fully and completely fulfilled his part, it remains for the Investigator to frankly fulfil 
 his. That 1 accept the position without the slightest hesitation or reservation, this letter is 
 the best proof. Further, I have submitted these phenomenal facts to several eminent men, 
 scientists, chemists, and conjurers, and, granting them to be facts, no one has been able to 
 
 suggest the slightest "feasible" explanation or clue to the mode cf their production 
 
 " But arc they 'facts ' ? That is the point ! " I hear some one say Well, 
 
 either they are facts, or else the senses of nine different persons, of both sexes, on five 
 different occasions, under changed conditions of light, and in varying circumstances of locality, 
 must have conspired to play them false ; must have signally failed to perceive and appreciate 
 that which ought to have been simply, easily, and palpably perceptible and appreciable by 
 the most nidinicutary intelligence. There is no escape from the position except by a 
 point-blank challenge of the accuracy of the statement of conditions premised : — 
 
 " I say your slates were not bought and marked as asserted ; or, if they were, they
 
 riroitn/i/ /() /?(>,)/,■_" , |, 
 
 were not leally tliosc used at the sc'aitccs I deny that any writing was ever, in 
 
 fact, produced upmi tlicni, or if it was, it was put tiiere before the slates were placed in 
 
 position It is useless to assure nie tiiat the slates were always first of all 
 
 examined ; your eyes, which could see the writing on them i^lainly ( nough after, were 
 
 evidently incapable of seing it before When you assert that the wiiol,- of tiic 
 
 sitters' hands, medium's included, were in every case in full view whilst lite writing was 
 
 going on, that is anotlicr instance of optical delusion The sound of writing 
 
 corresponding with the viiiration of the slate ?— a trick of the imagination Well 
 
 then, if in sjiite of all you will obstinately persist in adhering to your absind propositions, 
 you must be (pardon the impoliteness), but you really must be all lunatics (jr liars — or both I 
 . . . . Still unsilcnced? Vou say that if I like to take some little — verv little trouble 
 I can see the same things for myself? I trll you that if I did set- them 1 should 
 mistrust my own senses — the thing is on the face of it impossible — and however simple, 
 obvious, and conclusive the ocular demonstration you proposi', I could not, and, in such a 
 case, would not believt- ni}' own rve^." 
 
 Well, then, my dear sii-, or my ilear madam, if that really' be so, I can only saj' that 
 I am sincerely sorry for you. As it is only by trusting, within certain wellclelined limits, 
 to the guidance of the senses nature has given 30U that tin; business of j'our existence is 
 carried on in the world ; that you are conscious that there is a wt>rld ; that you have, in 
 short, any proof //lal yon arc, at all, you are really to be pitied 1 Anil as " pit}' is akin 
 to love," I again affectionately invite you to reconsider the libel you have indited against 
 j-our own faculties, and to try thnii, just for once in a way, frankly anil fearlessly, upon 
 the simple —almost childishly simple — proposition suggested. 
 
 Whether, however, you will or will not take my advice, I assert to you that the 
 conditions of the practical experiments I have described are absoliilc ; that there is no loophole 
 or crevice left for imagining fiaud ; and I assert further — limiting the assertion to the strict 
 sense of the words — that the results of thesr experiments conclusively establish the existence 
 of some objective, intelligent force, capable of acting externally to the mcdlinn, and in 
 contravention of the recognised laws of matter. 
 
 Mr. C. C. Massey, l, Albert Mansions, \'ictoria .Street, S.W., together with the lion. Roden 
 Noel, are the next witnesses: — 
 
 "On the afternoon of April lotii, 18.S4, I met Mr. Roden Noel by appointment at Mr. 
 Eglinton's rooms. We sat for some time with but iiulilfcrent success, getting but a woril or 
 two written on the upper surface of a slate clasped underneath and against the table by Mr. 
 Eglinton with his right hand, his left joiniil to my left on the table, my right hand with both 
 Mr. Noel's. Of course a single word, uiuler perfect test conditions, would be as conclusive as 
 a volume; and as I was thoroughly satisfied on this, as on a former occasion when Mr. I'glinlon 
 was at my own rooms, that the medium did not himself write the words, the phrase " indilferent 
 success" must be taken, so far as I am concerned, to refer only to the quantity of the 
 phenomenon, and not to its (luality. Nor was Mr. Noel at all dissatisfied ; but as he sat on 
 my right, and the mediums left baud was stretched across to grasp my left hand, the arm rather
 
 II, ' Twixt Ttvo Worlds. 
 
 iiitLrcxi)lLd Mr. Noel's view of Mr. Eglinton's right iiand as it grasped the slate. So that as 
 to these single words, my testimony must, I think, be taken alone, and for what it is 
 
 worth. 
 
 "I'here was a pile of Mr. Eglinton's own slates upon the table, and it was always upon one 
 or other of those that the writing was obtained. Of the two that were used, I eleaned one, after 
 it had been well wetted, with a dry sponge, myself, on both sides ; the other I saw similarly 
 treated by Mr. Eglinton. Of course I watched to see that there was no unobserved change ot 
 slate, niir did Mr. Eglinton rise from his seat during the seance, except once, to write down an 
 address I had given him. It will be understood that we sat in broad daylight. 
 
 "We noticed two facts, one of which, certainly, could not result from any voluiUaiy act 
 of the medium. This was the lowering of the temperature of the hand which held the slate, 
 just before and after the writing. The other fact was the cessation of the sound of writing 
 when Mr. EglintdU broke the contact of his hand with my own. 
 
 "Mr. Eglinton now laid one of the two equal-sized slates (io;j inches by -]%) Hat upon the 
 other, the usual scrap of pencil being enclosed. Both slates were then, as I carefully assured 
 myseli", perfectly clean on both surfaces. He then forthwith, and without any previous dealing 
 with them, presented one end of the two slates, held together by himself at the other end, for 
 me to hold with my left hami, on which he placed his own right. I clasped the slates, my 
 thumb on the frame of the upper one {\ inch), and three of my fingers, reaching about four 
 inches, forcing up the lower slate against the upper one. We did not hold the slates underneath the 
 tabic, but at the side, a little below the level. Mr. Noel was thus able to observe the position. 
 Mr. Eglinton held the slates firmly together at his end, as I can assert, because I particularly 
 observed that there was no gap at his end. I also noticed his thumb on the top of the slates, 
 and can say that it rested quite quietly throughout the writing, which we heard almost iumiediately 
 and continuously, except when Mr. Eglinton once raised his hand from mine, when the sound 
 ceased till contact was resumed. 
 
 "When the three taps came, denoting that the 'message' was finished, Mr. Eglinton 
 simply removed !iis hand from the slates, leaving them in my left hand, also quitting contact 
 of his other hand with my left. 1 took off the upper slate, and we saw that the inner surface 
 of one of them — (which, I cannot positively recollect ; perhaps Mr. Noel, to whom I have 
 submitted this account, may supjily the omission) — was covered with writing ; twenty lines 
 from end to end written from the medium, and one line along the side by the frame, the 
 'Good-bye' on the other side. The writing was in straight lines across the slate, all the 
 letters slanting iVom left to right. 1 now give the whole message : — ' ll'c shall be most t^lad 
 to co-operate ivith yon in any experiments you may care to enter upon, or to ansiver any questions 
 propounded by you and your friends. Our purpose in manifesting is as much to aid in honest 
 inquiry as it is to merely demonstrate our power to ivrite under exceptional conditions. We find 
 in the atuujsphere constantly pervaded by our presence more scope for ivork than in your rooms. 
 There ive may not at all times be sure of our power to manifest. Li:s esprits meuiockes coiNdamnent 
 u'ouuiNAU<E rouT CE nui PASSE I.EUR PORTEE, according to Rochefoucauld, but we are happy to sec that 
 such is not the ease w>ith you and your friends. Good-bye.' One circumstance about the writing 
 on tliis slate is to be remarked. It begins about an inch from the top ; from the bottom it is 
 continued along one side (one line), and then there are three lines in the space at the top, written
 
 " BroKo/i/ to Hool-r 145 
 
 in the reverse direction to that of the body of the message. The ability to produce tlie writing 
 in any direction is tinis shown. Tiie writing is flowing, easy, and with a distinct ciiaracler, 
 as tiiat of an educated penman. I took the slate away with me, and it is now in n\y possession. 
 " I am as satisfied that tiiesc facts occurred exactly in the manner I have staled as I am 
 that the words on this paper arc of my own writing," 
 
 Mr. Roden Noel, speaking of these experiences, says :—" Every word of this account I am 
 able to endorse. My iiiipirssioii is that the writing was on the lower slate, but of this 1 :\m not 
 sure. I also fail to see how the physiological condition testified to by Mr. Massey could be 
 produced at all. I equally fail to see how the medium, while his thumb was observed by 
 us to be stationary on the frame, could liimsrlf write a slateful of words in reverse din rtidus, 
 those at the sides being at right angles with, and those at the vni.\ being topsy-turvy to, liiose 
 on the body of the slate, even had not the other conditions as lure related precluded such a 
 possibility; for he only touched the slate with one hand. I may add that, in the early part 
 of the sc'aiicr, as on a former occasion at Mr. Masscy's rooms, and on his own slate, we 
 obtained written answers to our own questions, and these could not have been written previously 
 on the slate." 
 
 Mr. Massey adds a note to these remarks, and points out that as writing by the medium 
 himself at the time is absolutely out of the question, there are only three other conceivable 
 suggestions as opposed to occult agency. 
 
 " One of these must suppose that a change of slate was effected, unobserved by us, at the 
 last moment, one already written upon being substituted for one of those just before ascertained 
 to be clean. As to this, 1 have only to repeat what I said in the introduction to my translation 
 of Tmiiscciidcnial Physics, that while some allowance must be made in every account for 
 defects of observation and meniorj', there is a point at which such defects would be so gross 
 as to be inconsistent with ordinary sense and intelligence, and at which, if jirobaliility is to 
 be our guide, it would be more rational at once to dispute the vcracily of the witnesses. The 
 second suggestion is that of concealed writing brought out by heat, which it has been said 
 may be supplied by the hands. One has only to look at the slate pencil-writing to laugh at 
 this supposition. Nor could any heat be obtained, except upon the little detached surfaces — 
 perhaps one-tenth of the whole — represented by so much of our fingers as would be in contact 
 with the under surface, while our thumbs pressed on the frame of the upper slate. And the 
 writing is uiiifunuly distinct. The third suggestion, which would question ouv vcrocily, we 
 must leave to the judgment of others." 
 
 Dr. G. VVyld, a witness already referred to, is also clear and to the point in his 
 statement of facts. He says :— " I assisted in washing and cleaning four slates. Mr. Kglinton 
 then began by holding a slate bcloiv the flaj) of the table and closely pressed against the 
 flap, the usual crumb of slate pencil being on the slate, when, on my asking the question, 
 'Shall we c>btain information as to the source of some recent messages?' the word ' >V.s- ' 
 was written. Mr. Eglinton then placed the slate on llic lo/> of llic lablr, and the bit of 
 pencil being placed then on, he covered this slate with another. lie then jilaccd liis 
 right hand on a corner of the upper slate, and 1, taking his left hand in li"th (if mine,
 
 146 ' Twixt T1V0 Worlds. 
 
 pressed the three liaiuls liniily downwards on the slates. Almost immediately we heard the 
 writing going on. The time occupied seemed, to both of us, to be about one minute, and 
 I therefore expected to receive only a sentence ; my surprise was therefore great when 1 
 found the slate covered with fine writing from top to bottom. We read the comnuniication, 
 and, finding it unfinished, Mr. Eglinton took another slate, and held it by one corner close 
 below the flap of the table, while I held his other hand. Again we heard the busy 
 writing, and then the three taps indicating that the message was finisiied. Hie time 
 occupied was again about one minute, and again we found the slate covered with writing, 
 the last part of the message being carried all round the slate next to the frame. The 
 first slate, as I have stated, was on the top of the table, under my own hands antl eyes, 
 and altiiough the second slate was close bcloM the flap of the table, it was yet held in 
 its position by tiie lingers and tiiumb of Mr. Eglinton's right hand only, whicli were visilile 
 to me the whole time. I therefore assert that these slates were written on by an occult 
 process, and of this I am as certain as I am of my own existence. If further evidence 
 were required, it could be found in the fact that the writing on the two slates was 
 completed in about two minutes, more or less, and that on experiment I find it lakes about 
 twenty minutes to copy it in quick writing." 
 
 The symposium is closed by the testimony of the lion. Percy Wyndham, M.P., of 
 44, Belgrave Square, S.W. Me writes : — " On the 23rd May, 1884, I had a sitting with 
 Ml". I'"giiiiton for slate-writing. My son accompanied me. We sat at a deal table, in full 
 daylight, Mr. Eglinton opposite to myself, my son between us, to my left and to 
 Mr. Eglinton's right. The slate was at first held under the corner of the table between 
 my son and Mr. Eglinton, by liie pressure of the lingers of Mr. Eglinton's right and of 
 my son's kit hand, both their thumbs being on the upper surface of the table, and the 
 wrist and greater part of Mr. Eglinton's hand being visible to my son. Mr. Eglinton's 
 left hand and my son's right were joined above the table, and my two hands on theirs. 
 To the usual question, ' Is anyone present ? ' the reply ' Yes ' was written. At Mr. Eglinton's 
 suggestion, my son took a clean slate, and going into the adjoining room, wrote a question 
 on it, and left this slate in the adjoining room. The purport of this question was 
 unknown to myself or to Mr. I'Jglinlon. A slate was held as before. We soon heard the 
 •sound of writing, and on looking at the slate, found the piece of pencil at the end of the 
 last letter, and the writing was in this and in each other instance re\'ersed from Mr. Eglinton, 
 the tops of the letters being towards him, and the writing as if written by a person facing, 
 as I myself was. The answer to my son's question was as follows :— ' ll'e cannot tell, 
 
 "*■ ' (giving the initial and surname of a deceased friend of my son) ' « not lure' We 
 
 then put two slates together, Mr. Eglinton and my son pressing them on the upper surface 
 of the table in full view, when the following message was written very audibly and with 
 great rapidity :— ' My Dkar Son,—/ am very glad to be able to accept the opportunity afforded 
 me of dictating a nussage through the guides of Mr. Eglinton, but you ivill believe nn- ichcn 
 1 say I am nevertheless present in spirit. There is much I would like to say to you, but I 
 must defer it all until I get stronger to communicate through this (sic) iiuans. Your father 
 sends yon much love, as does your affectionate mother, M. F. Wynuii.\m.' Stops and commas 
 are placed as in the original. Being uncertain as to the initials, and as to who the writer
 
 " Jh-oifo/// lo luHlk." \ \~ 
 
 puriniiUd I.) be, tun c>tli( r slates were put togrther mi tlic tnhlc, .-mil on my asking fi>r the 
 name in lull, ' Mary I'miiiy U'vud/miii ' was written immediately. I tlien asked wliat was 
 the n.iturc nf lur death, and the reply was immediately written, ' siit/ifiii ' (mrrect). I then 
 asked il the}- eould tell me tin- name of a relative of mine who hail recently eonie to 
 London. Tiie reply was innnediately written, ' Blini/.' Tiiis closed tlic saiiia." 
 
 One would have thought that this testimony was good enough, fair i-nough, and so 
 iihviiinsly impartial, as to satisfy (>veryhodj-. It did not, however, satisfy Mr. K. A. l'i-oetor, 
 c'f A'l/inv/ii/^'r. In that weekly he delivered himself of a ehoicc specimen of seicntifie 
 bigotry and intolerance, wortii^- of that " woe" denounced of old nn the hypocrites who 
 shut up the Kingdom of Heaven (of knowledge) against men : "Woe unto you, Sciibes and 
 Pharisees, li3pocrites : for ye neither go in j-oursclves, neither sufTer ye them that are 
 entering to go in." He said: " Ihiiigiiii^ it lo Bool; is an advertisement of a Mr. I-lgiinton, 
 a (so-eallcd) ' Medium,' which we decline to forward or further by t,U<ing any more notice 
 of it. Professor Ray Lankestcr and Dr. Carpenter would be the; (ittest peopK; to deal with 
 tliis person in the outset, as Mr. Flowers, at How Street, would be at a sul-)sec|uent stage 
 of the proceedings." Now I have quoted a block of evidence of tiie lirst order, as 
 " plainly worded, exactly described," as eveii Mr. Proctor's Kiiowlaige boasts to be, 
 unimpcachably authenticated, too, by the names of the gentlemen who observed what they 
 have recorded. This evidence establishes as a scientific fact wliat Mi-. Proctor thus dismisses 
 with the air of an Inquisitor dealing with heresy. lie is more dogmatic than a iiiediroval 
 priest. P>ut tlic priest was at least in harmony with his age : the method adopted by 
 Mr. Proctor, on the contrary, is one singularly and even ludicrously unadapted to the tone 
 of modern thought. In this matter Mr. Proctor is as fu.ilish as he is careless and slovenly 
 in his statements respecting other matters, and even when liis errors are pointed out he has 
 not the straightforward honesty or grace to make any apology. 
 
 Perhaps I may be ]iermitted to add here a report of some peculiarly satisfactory 
 experiencts of my own. I had occasion in August, 1S84, to arrange a series of special 
 
 savurs for a friend (Mr. Ouiiitin II ), with Mr. \V. Kglinton. liesides Mr. II and 
 
 myself, Mr. IC. Dawson Rogers (already fre(|uentiy hk ntioned in tlie.se pages) was present 
 at four of the six sraiiccs I am about to describe, and I am very pleased to be permitted 
 to present his added testimony. 
 
 We met on each occasion at ten o'clock in the morning, and invariably occupied the 
 same positions (for the diagram I must refer the reailer to ji. 103). Mr. Kglinton sal at 
 
 (, ]\i,- II at y; myself at .i^, and Mr. Dawson Rogers (or whoever took bis place on 
 
 the two occasions when that gentleman was absent) at /;. It will he noticed that 
 
 ]\1,- n sat facing the mirror, and so placed himself that while he could, in the usual 
 
 manner, observe everything in front of the medium, he had als.-, thanks to the mirror, a 
 considerably extended range of vision. 
 
 The surroundings and conditions observed at these seances I have already fully described 
 (chap. xiii. pp. 103-9), and in reading the minutes of these experiments, I must ask that these 
 details be borne in mind. 
 
 Expcrimeut I.— We seated ourselves as shown in Mg. 13, p. 103. Two slates were 
 
 cleaned, carefully examined, and securely tied together with twine, a crumb of slate-pencil
 
 1^8 ' TwLxt Tzuo Worlds. 
 
 l)cing placed between them. They were left lying on the top of the table, and never once 
 passed from our sight. While they were thus in full view of three witnesses, there was 
 
 heard the sound of writing on them in response to a request made by Mr. H . The sound 
 
 was a rapid tick, tick, and was distinctly audible to all of us. It was not, however, 
 continuous, the " ticking," though very rapid, being disconnected — just like the sound heard 
 when a telegraph instrument is working. Fig. 28 is a full-sized facsimile of what we found 
 written on the under-surfacc of the top slate. Wc then observed that the cJiaractcr of tJie 
 writing cxiilainud the peculiar, disconnected sound accompanying its production. The time 
 occupied was twenty-five seconds. The message contains one hundred and twenty words. 
 
 Experiment 2. — On another occasion, after every precaution had again been taken, and it 
 must be understood that this was invariably done, ///(■ /;i'o dilates were placed by Mr. Eglinlon 
 
 oil Mr. II '.'.' chair, and that gentle man sat upon them. In these circumstances one of the 
 
 slates was filled by the following message — ninety-nine words — the time occupied being fifty 
 seconds. " We do not ivrite this as a mere proof of our poivcr this morning. IVc are 
 solicitous that you should no longer retain a lurong theory as to the nature and quality of the 
 intelligence at ivork, and therefore write in the most emphatic manner thai ive are disembodied 
 spirits. And moreover, to prove this we beg to tell you that 10c are accompanied by a relative 
 of yours, ivho says his name is Ferguson, and that he hopes to have the power of -writing to you 
 
 direct, when occasion offers. On ni: cherche poi.nt a prouver la lumiilRE." Mr. II was 
 
 unsettled in his mind as to the nature of the force at work — hence the apropos allusion in 
 this message ; indeed, many apt and pointed answers to questions put on the spur of the 
 moment during these seances were strong proofs of the spontaneity and genuineness of the 
 writing, even supposing that the precautions taken to ensure the slates being free from prepared 
 writing had been ineffectual, or that we had allowed the slates to be changed. In reference 
 to this last point I may remark that due precautions were taken by three pairs of eyes to 
 make sure that this was not done. 
 
 Expcninenl 3. — Mr. Eglinton rose and placed the slates held in his right hand on the top 
 
 of Mr. II 's head (Fig. 17, p. 107). Mr. Dawson Rogers and myself, of course, saw 
 
 everything, but I was mentally regretting that Mr. II could not do so, forgetting the mirror 
 
 in front of him. It turned out, however, that he had a full view of every detail attending 
 the writing between the two slates while so placed, and he afterwards wrote on the back 
 of the slate :— " Held over my head, in full view by a mirror. I held left hand. Mr. Eglinton 
 held two slates in his right. May 24th, 1884." 
 
 Experiment 4.— Without consulting the medium, I had brought several different coloured 
 crayons with me, and before the slates were tied' I inserted between them a crumb of slate pencil, 
 and morsels of red and yellow crayons. When the slates were tied and placed in position on 
 
 the top of the table, Mr. II was requested to choose the colour to be used. His choice 
 
 was red crayon and slate pencil. Upon this the writing commenced, and we all distinctly 
 heard the scratching noise which accompanied it. Suddenly, however, this stopped, and there 
 ensued a pause of about the same length of time as that during which the scratching noise 
 had been heard. Then this was resumed, and again and again were alternated the sound of 
 writing and the pause. Upon untying the slates in due course, we found one of them full 
 of writing in alternate lines of slate pencil and red crayon: the scratching we heard was
 
 ''Brought to BooL:" HO 
 
 It LL Ktrv- ^Utl '/vtvj as-f l^at ^/crtv co-« ^tti'ta 
 7>\d.cc<iL i-l' <■• ^^"-^ ^a.1^ Vu hvrt Cut" '"/ic li\| ii -.%«-( ^Dx 
 
 u. 
 
 
 
 Fig. 28— Facsimile of Direct Writing obtained in Broad Daylight. 
 (U shcld be stated tl.at after the above message was given, it was in sontc parts accidentally n.bbcd and 
 rendered indistinct. As a conse.neneo, the engraver, in tracing the C^reeU ^notafon, has rendered a few of the 
 letters incorrectly.)
 
 '50 
 
 l\oixl 'l\ 
 
 <o 
 
 ]]'oi-ids. 
 
 caused by the pencil, the apparent cessation of writing being evidently due to the use of the 
 coloured craj'on, which on a slate would of course be noiseless. The slate pencil and the red 
 crayon were fnuiul to be worn down by use; the yelhiW crayon was just as it was when placed 
 between the slates. This experiment is very suggestive in many wajs. I regret I have 
 been unable to give a facsiinile in colours of tiic message then given, hut aftci" h'ng in(|uiry 
 I ha\e been unable to find a process adapted to my purpose. 
 
 Expi-riiiu'iil 5. — This, the last, was indeed the crowning proof of the series. A single 
 slate was taken and a piece of iiencil put undur a tumbler (sec I'ig. iS, p. 108). Both 
 were then lirought under the table close to the corner, the top of the tumbler being pressed 
 against the under surface of the table tnp, held there by the slate in Mr. Eglinton's 
 
 Fig. 29.— Direct Writing obtained nndcr an Inverted Tnmbkr. 
 
 right hand, his left being joined to that of Mr. II- 
 of the medium, tiie latter not sitting " 
 
 who also clearly observed both feet 
 
 square " with iiis side of the table. 
 
 :,oon we 
 
 heard the sound of writing (see Fig. 29), and Mr. 11 a.sked permission to look under the 
 
 table. This was granted, and he says :- " I distinctly saw the last word being written with 
 the ^ crumb of jiencil, which moved without any visible cause from the right, after the .syllable 
 'di' was wntten, to the left, in order to complete the word. It then stopped, and fell on the 
 last stroke of the word. The tumbler was in position closely pressed to the surface of the 
 slate." It will, of course, be understood that Fig. 29 simply represents the position of 
 the writing as executed under the tumbler, and is not intended as a facshnik: 
 
 Mr. E. Dawson Rogers is good enough to say of these sauiccs :~" \ was present at the 
 seances i, 2, 3, and 5, and have much pleasure in testifying that Mr. Farmer's record of what 
 occurred on those occasions is strictly accurate."
 
 '' By ought to Book." 1 1^ i 
 
 I ho success of tlu- last case, in which the wrilinij was actually seen in course of execution, 
 induced Mr. Eglinton, who has always taken a lively interest in the development of his own 
 powers, to make practical experiments with a view to regularly ohtaining similar results, and 
 he has always willingly co-operated with any earnest in<iuirer in furthering ellorts to this end. 
 A case ill point came to my notice while these sheets were passing through the press. Dr. 
 Ilerschell (M.D., Lond.), and an amateur conjurer of great ability, whose interest in .Spiritualism 
 is of many years' standing, after some satisfactory scmias held during the latter half of 1885, 
 specially designed a slate for the purpose of developing direct writing under conditions wiiich 
 might possibly allow, in due course, of the writing being seen while being executed. Fig. 30 
 is a drawing of the slate, which measures \\\ inches by Qf inches. Over one surface a thin 
 board is screwed, to one end of which a frame is attached. In this frame, and covering a 
 portion of the surface of the slate not screened by the thin board, slides a [licce of ruby- 
 coloured glass. The space under the glass, as far as the observer is concerned, is absolutely 
 dark, and yet a piece of pencil, if dipped in lumin<ius paint, is perfectly visible, and any 
 movements easily perceived. 
 
 An experiment was made with this. Dr. G. Wyld being the first to obtain successful 
 results. He sends me the following account of what took place : — " I took with me to Mr. 
 
 Eglinton's a friend, Mrs. M , who was anxious to obtain advice as to the condition and 
 
 treatment of a dear friend. She used her own slates, viz., thin metal book slates without 
 frames, so that when closed the leaves were in contact, and 1 used two of my own slates tied 
 
 so tightly together that I could not insert the thin blade of a penknife. Mrs. M having 
 
 placed a crumb of yellow chalk pencil between the leaves of her slate, they w'ere pressed in 
 close contact to the under surface of the flap of the table, the near edge being visible to us. 
 We then, having all joined hands, heard the sounds of writing, and when we opened the leaves 
 of the slates found yellow chalk writing, not only at the end of the slate next Mr. Eglinton's 
 hand, but at the distant end and across the slate, and the writing contained apposite replies to 
 
 questions put by Mrs. M , but unknown to him. My two closely tied slates were then 
 
 used. These we held above the table, in the air, and we heard the sounds of writing. On 
 examination, after cutting the string, we found both of the slates covered w'ith writing from top 
 to bottom, and containing apposite replies to two questions put, one by myself, and the other by 
 
 Mrs. M . Our third experiment was one which, I believe, has seldom been successfully tried 
 
 before, and never with the slate used. We removed the glass of Di'. 1 lerscliell's slate, and saw 
 that there was no writing on the slate floor, and, having placed thereon a crumb of slate pencil, 
 and a question written on paper, placed face downwards, under the covered portion of the 
 slate, wc reinserted the glass lid, and while we firmly pressed the framework of this apparatus 
 to the table, we looked through the glass lid. We heard writing going on, but we culd not 
 see the movements of the pencil, as the glass was not suflicicntly transparent ; but on 
 
 removing it we found a message pertinently replying to the question put by Mrs. M . 
 
 This was an interesting experiment, and seems to indicate that the day may not be far distant 
 when through a more transparent glass lid than that used, the writing may lie watched as 
 it proceeds, and thus afTord a crowning evidence of psychography." 
 
 Mr. Mair-Rolph, of Beaufield, Jersey, bears emphatic testimony to the itlentity of the 
 communicating intelligences in a long letter which he published in the columns of Lii^ht. lie
 
 15: 
 
 ' Twixt Ttvo Worlds 
 
 liad several saimcs witli Mr. Kgliiili.n under the most absolute test conditions, and possesses 
 several slates on which are written messages which he is able to identify as in the handwiiting 
 of a deceased son. 
 
 Mr. F. J. Collingwood, F.G.S., has also ]nit on record a saxncc that may a|ipiupriately 
 close the chapter : — 
 
 "On the /th January, 1885, I paid a visit with my wife and two nieces, Misses Mary 
 and Lizzie Johnson, to Mr. Kglinton, for experiments in psychography. I may premise tliat the 
 conduct of Mr. Eglinton's seances is so well known tiiat I forbear to enter into familiar 
 details, such as jiosition at the table, the holding of the slate, etc., etc. Several questions 
 were put by us and replied to very pertinently in each case, after which Mrs. Collingwood 
 wrote a fjiiestion, out of our sight on the Bramah-luck slate. A bit of pencil was then 
 dropped in, the slate locked, and the key placed upun the table in sight of us all. The 
 slate was held by Mr. Kglinton and Mary upon the top of the table. No reply was 
 
 
 Kic. 30. — Dr. llcrsclicH'b r'ciKblr.itLd .Sliitc. 
 
 immediately obtained, and the slate was left ujion the table. I produced my own 
 book-slate, already tied, ami it was held by Mr. Kglinton under tiie table. The string 
 was removed from it while so held, Mr. ICglinlcm's left hand being grasped by that 
 of Mary, and a sentence was written. I lore we made an exjieriment with the intention, if 
 possible, more completely to exclude the ' tluiught reading' element. I went to the bookcase, 
 placed my back against it, and took a book at random. Mary wrote on a slate the number 
 of a supposed page known only to herself, while Lizzie wrote the number of a line on 
 the unknown page. The book was put by me on the slate containing the numbers, strict 
 care being taken that it was not seen by anybody, and held under the table by both 
 Mr. Kglinton and Mary, a request being made that the line indicated by the number might 
 be quoted. The following was written : — ' 'nicrc is iiu such page as 59 in the book.' On 
 opening the book it was found that the pagination began at 65. The number cliosi 11 had 
 been 59, and Uie forms of the figures were exactly imitated — a manifestly conclusive answer!
 
 " Brought to Book. 
 
 I f ■ 
 
 Mr. Eulintdii, rmlxHlyiiig an expressed wisli cif mine, asked wlictlu r ' Mriicst ' would give lis 
 nnv liinls ns to tlie riirtlKr development of ' power ' in niv nieeus, and a message of one 
 lunidri'd and one words, appositely answering the question, was written within two slates 
 Ih'id liy Mr. Mgliiitiui on tiic shoulder of Mary, her hand also grasping the slate and one 
 of his two iiands that lield i(. The willing was very distinetiv heaid hv all present in 
 
 this f \periniri-it, as in tlie niher-. The locked slate, having remained untouelu d in the meantime, 
 was again takin up finm ihi- table hy i\Ii-. Rglinton, and held hy him and my nieee above 
 the table. Writing was beard by us, and on tin- slate being opened, a pertinent answer 
 to the wrilten ([uestion was found. Lying inside the slale was //;c /);V-(V of s/riii!^ Ilial had 
 liiii! r(!!iiii'<ii froiu uiv hook-alalr." 
 
 Mr. Collingwood fnrtlici- expresses himself as having boiiie in mind throughout this 
 sr'nucr the statements ]int forward by Labouchcrc, Maskel3'ne, and others, and considers 
 that tlirir tbeiiiies as to liow these writings are produeid are absolutely untenable, if not 
 ridiculous. 
 
 
 20
 
 CHAPTER X\'l. 
 
 EVIDENCE FOR INDEPENDENT MIND-ACTION IN PSYCIIOGRAPIIY. 
 
 NOW conic to several cases wliicli appear to indicate very clearly the 
 
 action of some mind ontside of tiial of any person visibly present, 
 
 \\ i.e., either the niedinm or the sitters. The cases qiKjted arc reprcsentati\c 
 
 of a class, and, did space permit, there are many similar instances which 
 
 conld he addnccd. 
 
 The first is one recorded by Mr. C. C, IMassey, whose e\-idcncc is 
 corroborated by Mr. II. J. Hood (barrister-at-law), and the lion. RoLlen Noel, all of whom, 
 except Mr. Hood, have been previously referred to. 
 
 On Wednesday the 23rd April, 1884, Mr. Roden Noel, Mr. H. J. Hood, and myself 
 met at Ml'. ICglintnn's rooms for a psychographic si'aiicc. I shall not give a minute account 
 of the conditi.ms untler which the wiiting was obtained. Suffice it t(j say that we were 
 all thn I- (|uite satisfied that any surreptitious agency' of tlie nictlium, change of slate, etc., 
 was out of the question. The special interest of the ijhenomcnon centred in the tact that 
 
 the writing piu-ported to come from a living person, with ;i descriiitive but otherwise 
 anonyiniius signature. We sat for about an hour without any result, the mediinii com- 
 
 plaining of a strange and unpleasant innuence. Then the writing caute suddenly', and with 
 a rush of force. The slate, being slowly drawn out from beneath the edge of the table, was 
 seen to be covered with writing in two entirely distinct characters. The first part consisted 
 of twenty lines, closely written, but very clear and legible, the formation of some of the 
 letters being peculiar. The secc/nd part (seven lines and the signature "Ernest") is all 
 that I can transcribe for publication. It is as follows: — " /Tc liavr purposely giirii up to 
 
 the -ci'nter the piih'er of i;/;'iitg you tliii, eoniuiuiiicatimi, but we do not inressiui/j' endorse his 
 s/iit(iiiii/t-< or his cdjiisi:'eiiess. — Ku.M'sr." In fact, the upper message was of an extremely 
 scandalous character. On the following day, the same party were present, and again the medium 
 complained of the infiuence of the day before. A new manifestation was in store for us. 
 Mr. Eglinton having laid one slate upon another 011 the table, and both his hands upon 
 them, in sight of us all, became much agitated (physically) and, after a s[)asm of unusual 
 force, withdrew his hands, and the upper slate being removed by him there was seen upon
 
 Evidence for hidcpoideiil Mind-. It/ ion in Psyc/iOQrap/iy. rsj 
 
 tlic lower one a letter. The cover was not addressed; it was opened I)}- Mr. Ilood (wli > 
 sat next the medium on both days), and the contents, written in red ink, on a peculiar 
 sort of parchment, were forthwith read out by him. What degree of |isychcilogical interest 
 the litter possesses beyond the, tn me, undoubtedly genuine manifestation oi' Mr. ICghntcjn's 
 own nieihumship, may be the subject of curious speculation. Scarcely a week before, I jiatl 
 written a letter of a very private character to a friend in Paris. I wrote it alone in my 
 own room, immediately fastened it up, and posted it myself (witlmut anyone else having .seen 
 it) tile same afternoon. This letter had, somehow or other, been rifled of its verbal contents 
 (never repeated by me to anyone), some of which were literally quoted in inverted commas 
 in the letter coming as I have described. These passages, taken out of the conte.Nt 
 
 in which I liad written iIk m, were woven into a very censorious communication. The 
 post.script was of a peculiarlv malicious character, referring tn nther C'>nlidi iitial currespnndcnce 
 of mine of a very delicate and personal nature. I must own lliat tiiis particular shot took 
 elTect, and caused me no small embarrassment and annoyance. I3ut as an un.synipathetic 
 public might be more likely to laugii tiian to condole with me on the situation, I shall say 
 no more about it. These "confidential letters to friends," we were told, could be further 
 appealed to " if found necessary." The letter was subscribed in a similarly general way as 
 the message of the previous day, though by " another " writer, with the same descriptive 
 designation. Nothing was said in the letter about the mode of its transmission from the writer 
 to the ,sY'(7«a'-room. I have Mr. Kglinton's written assurance to me, in reply to a formal (pustion 
 I addressed to him, that the letter in question was seen for the first time by himself when 
 it was produced to us, and that it was never, to the best of his belief, in his possession. 
 " Its appearance," he says, " was as much a surprise to me as it was to you, and great as was 
 the manifestation, the marvel i>f the letter and its contents overrides all previous experience." 
 Of course I wrote at once to my friend in Paris to ask if he had slvuvn my letter. Ik- 
 says : " Your letter to me, which you say was quoted at Eglinton's, was received by me in 
 the morning, was read by me then. The boy took it at the door and liandt d it across the 
 hall to me at once. 1 was the first person who opened it. 1 did not show it to anyone 
 else, nor did anyone else read it or hear it read." The wiiole piunomcnon is very 
 interesting and curious. Mr. Eglinton, is, perhaps, more likely tiiaii Sladc to convince 
 some who are new to the facts. For Slade, though his power was almost unfailing, was 
 restless and talkative at his sr'auccs, and so we heard a good deal ai)out tiie " conjurer's 
 patter," and about movements suggestive of possibilities of /iitfssr. 1 know all that to have 
 been unfair : it was just the man's temperament ; still, it was provoking. Whereas 
 Mr. Eglinton is uniformly quiet and composed; he does not move about; he does not 
 chatter; he does nothing, in short, which can suggest to the most wary observer the 
 suspicion of a design to distract attention. 
 
 This case seems fairly complete, and is similar to the incident which occurred with 
 Mrs. Cheetham during Mr. Eglinton's stay in India, when a litter was also rilled of its 
 contents; but the ne.xt instance carries the argument a step further. It is recorded by 
 Mr. D. II. Wilson, M.A., of Roseninnt, llycies, France, and is one of llie most complete and
 
 156 ' Tioixt Tioo Worlds. 
 
 t'uiiviiuiny cases nl' tlic kind uitli which I am acquainted. The seance took place on Rlomlay, 
 January Stii, 18S5, and the account was written inniiediately after the conclusion nf the experiment. 
 
 The seance was held in daylight. There were present, besides myself, my wife, and the 
 medium, one other person only, namely, my sister, Mrs. Arthur Kimber, of 3, Roland Gardens, 
 South Kensington, S.W. After having obtained writings within the Bramah-locked slate, in 
 answer to a question written by myself, secretly, therein, and also within Mrs. Wilson's own 
 book-slate, and after having obtained a large slateful of writing in about ten seconds, whilst 
 the slate was on the top of the table within view of all present — phenomena familiar to most 
 investigators — the medium suggested an experiment to prove tiiat the intelligence displayed in 
 the writing was outside of the knowledge of the experimenters. It was this : He gave us four 
 strips of Glean note-paper. Upon two of these Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Kimber wrote two 
 questions (secretly), folded up the papers, and handed them to me. I wrote (secretly) two 
 questions on the other two strips, folded them up, and slui filed all the four pieces of paper 
 together in my hands underneath tlie table, and then Mrs. Wilson withdrew one of them at 
 hazard, and placed it on a clean slate with a small crumb of pencil. The medium, who up to 
 this moment from the commencement of the experiment had been standing before the window 
 with his back to all of us, approached the table, and raising the said slate with the thumb and 
 forefinger of his right hand, held it, jointly with Mrs. Kimber, under, and close against the 
 flap of the table. The sound of writing was heard at once. When it ceased Mr. Eglinton 
 handed me the slate, on which appeared by the side of the strip of paper the word " Monday" 
 in answer to my question contained in that strip, " What day is it to-day .'' " 
 
 It should be noted that: — I. The medium, from first to last, did not tuiiclt for an instant 
 any of the papers after we had written upon them. 2. Only one person (myself) knew that 
 the question answered had been put. 3. None knew what question the paper drawn by 
 Mrs. Wilson at hazard contained. 4. Tiie answer Monday was written on the upper surface 
 of the slate, on which rested also the chosen strip of paper. The crumb of pencil used had 
 been previously marked by myself for the purpose of identification, and before the experiment 
 had sharp facets, which afterwards were sligiitly worn ; tlie said crumb of pencil rested on the 
 last stroke of the " y" of the word Monday, and the writing, as in all our previous experiments, 
 was upside down, in relation to the position of the medium. 
 
 It will occur to the reader that this experiment, so far as it was intended to prove that 
 the knowledge shown in the psychographic phenomenon was not derived from the minds of 
 the experimenters, was not complete. Although no one present — no one in the world — knew 
 what question the paper chosen contained when it was being answered, yet one of us, myself, 
 had been conscious of that question a few moments previously. In other words, the inquiry 
 onginaled in the mind of one of the four individuals who took part in the experiments. 
 
 Mr. LglnUon kindly offering to try any further experiments to demonstrate the actioji of 
 an independent (tliat is a //////) mind, I suggested that we should endeavour to obtain by 
 psychograjihy an extract from a closed book. Accordingly Mrs. Kimber wrote on a slate the 
 number ol a pOi^e ; Mrs. Wilson the number of a line, and it remained for me to choose th 
 book from which Mrs. Wilson's line of Mrs. Kimber's /(/^'c' was to be wiitten by psycliography 
 
 e
 
 Evidence for hidcpouhnl Miiid-Ailion in Psyili-\i::i\}ph\\ 157 
 
 on ihr slate. F(,r this purpusc, with rlos.d ryes, I tonic a InM.Ji limn I\Ir. Kglinton's slidvcs, 
 wliicli JKlil al)uut two hinKJrct! vuhiims. A cruiiih of pencil was placed upon the slate on 
 whicli Mis. Kiinl). r ami I\Iis. Wilson had written the nuniher of the l)^.^e and line lespeclively. 
 A second slate of (.\actl> the same size and form was placed over this one, and the IxkiIc 
 was pill hy myself on the top nf ihe two slates. Mr. Kglintoi, and Mrs. Kimher rested their 
 hantls on the hook. 
 
 It should again he noted that :— ( ! ) Precaution had heen taken that no one besides Mrs. 
 Kimher knew what numher she had written on the slate to express the page to be recited, the 
 same heing tiue ol th.e numher Mrs. Wilson had written to express the Uiw of that |)agc. 
 (2) 1 he slates and the book were on the top of the table innneiliately before the eyes of all 
 pix.sent. (},) L'ntil 1 liatl placed the book upon the slates no one could have known ,wliat 
 volume had been taken from the shelves. Mr. Eglinton did not touch the book until the 
 moment when he and Mrs. Kimlxr rested their iiands thereon. It had been handled by myself 
 alone, and 1 was particularly careful neither to open it nor to look at its title. (4) Neither Mrs. 
 Kimher, Mrs. Wilson, nor myself ha\e the sliglitcst recollection i.if ever having seen or hearil of 
 the said wtuk, which was " Ghose's Indian Chiefs, Rajahs, etc., Part II." 
 
 After the lapse of a lew seconds the sound of writing was heard within the slates. Upon 
 the usual signal of three' taps (also seemingly within the slates), to indicate the end of the 
 experiment, I e-\amiiu:tl the slates, and found the following sentence, written aw the under 
 one, with the pencil resting <'n the lull-stop at the end. (I may mention liere that all the 
 writings throughout the entire si'diuv were conscientiously punctuated, and that every I was 
 crossed and every / dotted.) This is the sentence: — " Pat^i' 199, /I'lir i.|., /.< <i lalilc. The Aisl 
 ivurii is O." Mis. Kimher IkkI written 199, and Mrs. Wilson I.].. 1 then opened the book 
 and turned to page 199, which commences thus : — " Ta/t/f .1. I-^sta/c^ (>c/uii^iii^ lo the lion. 
 Malhiiaja Julindvo Mohiiu Toi^ore Bc/urifitr," etc. The fourteenth line of that page is as 
 follows: — " Sliikliarbdii, 24 Pargaiiints, 210 O o." This experiment closcil the xc'diiir. Does it 
 pro\e the action of an inileiiendeiit — of a fifth mind ? 
 
 As such a test, it .seems to have this weak p(rint, namely that the book belemged lo 
 the medium, and had pi-obal->ly been read by him. It can scarcely bi' supi)osed th.il he reniembei'cd 
 the fourteenth line of the 199th page in the sense that he coidd have reproduced it at w'ill. 
 I low then, since nothing is lost, and assmning it to have been at one time a part of his 
 consciousness, and lurking in the storehouse of his memory — how, 1 say, by what process was 
 that little unimportant fact revived? 
 
 We are reminded of the mainsprings whereby latent thoughts are revised. Theie is (1) the 
 principle of association of ideas, (2) there is volition, (j) there is that ac(|uisition n( energy 
 which the reproductive faculty displays in certain abnormal states of nervous excitement. 
 
 I. In the experiment befijre us how could association be a reproducing agent? "199 
 page, line 14," suggests nothing. When we read a book we don't read the numbers of the 
 pages, and count the lines of each page. Yet we must suppose the line lying latent in Mr. 
 Egliiitoii's mind, duly labelled with the proper number and [)age. This is supjjosing too much. 
 We admit that whatevtr a person reads may liu-k in his mental storehouse to the end of 
 his life, but we ciiiiiot .idniit that the numbers of ever_v line on each page of every bouk be 
 reads enter that storehouse at all. lie cannot, therefore, give out what he does not possess.
 
 158 "I\ijixt 7u'o Tl'orA/s. 
 
 Wliat association of ideas can be set in train by " page 199, line 14"? This inquiry reminds 
 us of what can be notiiing more tiian a coincidence, naniel\', tliat tlie last word of the fourteentii 
 line was a ciplier, which (regarded as a numerical figure) is the class of association one 
 would expect from figinrs 199, 14, O, belonging, as it were, to the same family. But it is 
 merely a coincidence, for psycliography told us that on tiiat page was "a lable" (singularly 
 enough I'able .i). 
 
 2. If the latent tiiought were re\ived by volition (as happens when we tell another our 
 name and address), it would come into the field of consciousness. Mr. Eglinton denies an}' 
 conscious revival. 
 
 3. That there is jMesent in the' meilium some abnormal excitement during the occuiience 
 of these psychographic i)henomena there can be no tloiibt. Of the causes of this excitement 
 we are very ignorant, but it may be remarked that inasnuich as the effects seem to be simply 
 muscular and r.er\ous, neitlur e.xciting nor depressing the mind of the subject, this phenomenon 
 cannot well be classed with those well-estahli;3he(-l facts where the most remotely' hidden 
 memories flash into consciousness in states of rare cerebral excitement, for at such times 
 there is alwaj's great mental disturbance, bordeiing and often entering upon delirium. 1 cannot 
 speak too well of Mr. Kglinlon's disposition to assi.st me in my investigation of the remarkable 
 phenomena attending his mediumship. He takes an intelligent interest in his work, and 
 deserves the gratitude ami encouragement of all serious students of this profountl and important 
 subject. 
 
 A somewhat different ex|)eriment as tn its details, but pointing to the same conclusions, 
 is that narrated by Mr. A. C. Leonard, M.A., of 44, Highbury Hill, N., and Major Le Mare 
 Taylor, Staff-Instructor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. 
 
 A scaitcc was held at Mr. Eglinton's at five p.m. on Monday, 29111 June, 1885. The three 
 gentlemen took their seats round the table in the usual manner. Major Taylor, who was seated 
 at Mr. Eglinton's right hand, holding with his left Mr. Eglinton's left hand. Mr. Leonard, 
 sitting on the right of Major Taylor, held with both hands Major Taylor's right hand. Mr. 
 Eglinton's right hand was disengaged. The seance lasted for over half-aii-hour, and no results 
 whatever were obtained, though Mr. Eglinton was holding a slate under the tabic in the 
 usual way. Conversation turned upon an experiment that Major Taylor had made at a 
 previous seaitee, when the number of matches in a match-box, In mi which an indefmite 
 number had been removed by two or three sitters, had been correctly written on the slate. 
 Mr. Eglinton regretted that, on the occasion referred to, the match-box had not been marked, 
 for (he suggested) a Sadducean world would say that another match-box, with a known number 
 of matches, had been substituted for the one being used in the experiment. It was, therefore, 
 determined to repeat the test, taking every precaution that could be thought of 
 
 Major Taylor chanced to have in his pocket a box of " Tiindstickor " matches. Major 
 Taylor and Mr. Leonard then went aside to the window and marked with their initials both the 
 box and cover. Major Taylor then removed a large number of the matches, leaving an unknown 
 quantity in the lio.x. Mr. Leonard then replaced a few (1k' knew not how many) in the box. 
 A slip of paper was placed above the matches in the box, anil the box was closed. Neillier
 
 F.i'idcmc for fiu^cpctidcut Miiid-Acliou in Psychoorapliv. 159 
 
 gentleman l<nc\v how many niatclu's were then rontaiiieil in the box. All this was done out ol' 
 sight of !\Ir. I'lglinton. 
 
 The slate was then earefiilly cleaned and examined. A piece of slate iieiicil, with sharp 
 facets, and the match-box, were placed on the slate, which (with match-box and jxncil on it) 
 was held by I\Ir. ICglinton under tin- table with his right hand. Sonie ten minntes .lapsed, 
 during which time Mr. Eglinton's thumb was observed by Major Taylor to remain above the 
 table. Mr. Kglinton, being tlu-n tired of holding up the slate, placed it on tin- table and 
 covere<l it with another slate. Mr. Leonard suggested that a newspaper should envelo]i the 
 whole. The slates were again examined, and a newspap<>r wrapped round tluui, the fold of 
 which was nearest Mr. Eglinton, and the open ends facing the other sitters. Mi-. I'lobnton 
 [ilaced his hands on the newspaper, one of them being joined to Major Tavlor'.s, and while both 
 the hands of the medium were in full \-ii-w of both gentlemen, the sound of writing was heard. 
 
 Major Taylor removed the newspaper and then the top slate, and ^ixtau was found lo have 
 b((n written on the bottom .slate. Major Taylor opened the match-box, and he and Mr. 
 l.(onard counted the matches, finding sixteen of them. The slate pencil was found to be 
 slightly abraded. The box and cover were identified as the same that hatl been marked. It 
 was thought that all possibility of fraud had been eliminated in this experiment, and it was 
 therefore concluded — from this and other results of a similar nature — cither (i) that there was 
 an intelligent entity at work apart from the medium and the sitters; or (3) that (a) in addition 
 to ha\'ing clairvoyant power (/;) the medium was able, consciously o|- unconsciouslv, to inlluence 
 matter in some abnormal way. 
 
 Perhaps, however, the most conclusive case is that which I have the good fortune to be 
 able to i-ecord. On 'Tuesdaj', September 29th, 1885, at 12 a.m., I, in companj' with Mi-. ). (\. 
 Keulemans, attended at 6, Nottingham-place, London, W., for the purpose of conducting 
 experiments in ps^cbogr.ipby with Mr. Lglinton. 'The se'anee connnenced at 12.15 a.m., .and 
 terminated at 12.55 a.m. In reference to an inrpiiry, Mr. Eglinton cordially agreed thai, as far 
 as he was concerned, we shouUl conduct our experiments in our own manner. I h;\d not 
 previously mentioned my proposed course of action to any on<-. It was to obtain ]isychor>r,iphv 
 in four different colours in a rotation unknown to the medium, the pai-tic\dar words to be chosen 
 at random from a book unknown to all present. 
 
 'The number of a page in the book from which I wished certain words in a given liiu- to 
 be tiansciibed on the slate by ps3'chography I chose in the following manner: — I look a piece of 
 money at random from my pocket out of fourteen coins then in my possession. The last two 
 figures of the date I wrote down on a slate, secretly to Mr. Eglinton and Mr. Keulemans. A 
 similar result, ie., the last figure of the date on another coin, written down .secretly as before on 
 my slate, was to indicate the number of the line. Eour woi-ds in tin- line having to be transcribed, 
 I also wrote down secretly their lunnbers, placing the slate, on which I had written, face down- 
 wards on the table. I then asked Mr. Keulemans to select a book haphazard from a bookcase 
 in the room, containing upwards of 250 volumes. I requested him not to look at the title or 
 in any way to seek to discover its contents, or to so place it, when selected, as to iTvt'al its 
 natme either to Mr. ICglinton or myself. My instructions weie faithfully followed, and not 
 until the end of the experiment did either of those visibly ]insent know what the book was. 
 To make assurance doubly sure, Mr. Keulemans chose a volume witho\ii an}' title lettered on
 
 i6o ' Ticixt Ti^'o Jl'or/cis. 
 
 its back. As 1 dcsiicd U> ulitain f.'ur lines ul" ps3-cli(ii,n-a|>iiy in as many dil'lirciU (-(ilonrs, 1 then 
 requested IMr. KcnK'nians l.i (K cidc this p^int and tn write down secrell}- nn a slate the names 
 of tlie I'mn- dldnrs chosen in the order in which lie wish( d thtni nM(l. lliis was d'Uie, and 
 tlic slate upon which he had wiitten these details placed lace downwards on the talile. N( ither 
 Mr. Ei;linton nur my.self toucheil this slate until the i nd of the sc'nutr. My ne.\t pniceeding 
 was to request Ml'. Keulemans to decide whether the wnnls I had clmsen slmuld he cuunted 
 forwards or backwards, i.e., from the beginning of the line or froui the end. This he did, 
 electing that they should be counted ft'om the conimeiicement. 
 
 It should be nuted : — (i) That the title or character of the book chosen at random was 
 unknown to a// the persons \isiblv present. (2) Mi'. Keulemans selected the foui- colours from 
 a luuiiber lying on the tahk-. (3) The an/ir in which these were to be used was known onl^' 
 to Mr. Keulemans, (4) 'I he- numbers of the page and line chosen by chance from which I 
 desired four particular words transcribed, and the nundK-rs of the particular words, were known 
 only to myself. (5) Mr. Eglinton knew nothing Qi) of the title or character of the book ; (/>) 
 of the order of the colours ; (c) of the nund^er of page ; (if) of the number of the line, and (c) 
 of the numbers of the particular words in that line. (G) Not any of these details were decided 
 upon imtil immediatel}' preceding the experiment. 
 
 These pi'eliminaries completed, Mr. Eglinton took another slate, which was cleaned and 
 examined by Mr. Keulemans and myself. It was destitute of writing or marks on either side. 
 Upon the upper face of this slate were placed the four crayons. Upon these, and comiiletcly 
 covering them from view, was put the book. .So arranged, the slate was tlien held by 
 Mr. Eglinton's right hand just under the edge of the table, his left being all the time firmly 
 grasped in mj' left, and both Mr. Keulemans' hands being jdaceil in my right hand. 1 closel}' 
 scrutinised what took place. At no time was the slate resting on Mr. Eglinton's knees, nor 
 was there any support lor a slate on. the under surface of the table. 
 
 I then inquired of Mr. ICglinton's invisible co-workers, presumably present, whether the 
 experiment v.'as satisfactory to themselves ; also whether we were likely to be successful. Mr. 
 Keulemans desired aloud that the replj' shoukl be written in while, that being one of tin- four 
 colours then on the slate. We shortly heard the sound of wiitiug, the completion of the 
 message being indicated by the customary tiiree raps with the |)encil on the slate. On exami- 
 nation we found the book ant! the four crayons as we had placed them, but (ju the slate under 
 the book, written with the while crayon that had been placed on it, were the words, " JFc 
 will try:' 
 
 Another slate, with the book and crayons similarly arranged, was then held in the position 
 previously described. After the- lapse of some minutes writing was again heard, ultimately 
 followed by thne taps. On examination we fuiuul written on the lop .surface of the slate (and 
 of course undei- tlie book) the words :—(i) "Enforced" m white, (2) "This" in blue, (3) 
 " Ilvri" in red, (4) "A/ns/" in grey. The crayons in each case rested at the tnd (.f the word 
 written in the respective colours. A facsimile of this writing has been executed by Mr. I. G. 
 Keulemans. (See Chromos, plate I\'.) 
 
 The slates upon which Mr. Keulemans and myself iiad writt.n the directions were now, 
 for the first time, turned up. The order of the colours chosen and written down by Mr. 
 Keulemans was found t.i be— ist, white; 2nd, blue; 3rd, red; and 4th, grey. The iiumher
 
 I'.vuhiiic for Indcpiiidcul Miiid-.h/ioi/ in rsViliOi^rap/iy. 161 
 
 of tlie page written dcuii by myself was the s,\/y-Ji,s/, and the |.a.ticular w.nls chosen 
 for transcription fidni the /omi/i line wore the six/Zi. the ///"//;, the firs/, and the //i,h/ words 
 
 respectively. 
 
 On tinning to the fourth line of tlie sixty-first page of the hnok— which tniiied ont tn he 
 Crooke.V "Researches"— it ran as follows: -" //m- / iiitisf hriii!; litis ni/orcr<l vimlicniian In n 
 close," the sixth, the fifll,, the first, and the third words of which are as writt<n on the slate. 
 'I'lie trial had heen perft ctly successful. 
 
 A further CNiierinient was then ti ied. Mr. Keuleninns to(,|< another slate, and drew upon 
 it a |>arallelograni. This he divided into two ecpial squares. In one he drew an owl's head, 
 and requested that the sketch shovdd he copied in the l.Iank square. A piece of grey crayon 
 was put on .the slate, which was held under the talile in the usual way, and in a few seconds, 
 on being withdrawn, this had been accomplished, with the addition of the words " / am not an 
 artist, as yon sir. Good-liyr ; Coii hicss you." (.See Chromos, plate I\'.) 
 
 On submitting this account to my fellow investigator he writes to me: — "The al)ove account 
 of tliis most successful saiiiir is perfectly correct. J. G. Ktili-mans, 34, Matilda Street, 
 Barnsbury. P.S. — Although 1 had requested to have the colours used in a certain rotation, 
 I had, at the moment Mr. Eglinton held the slates, quite forgotten how they were to follow, 
 except that ivhitc was to come first. — j. G. K." 
 
 Apropos of this truly remarkable sraiicr it may be interesting and instructive to compare 
 the various theories which may be broached to explain it audits congeners: — (i) A disembodied 
 spirit was able to perceive, either in the minds or clairvoj'antly upon the slates of the 
 experimenters, the complex method by which the paiticular words were to be selected. It 
 was able to perceive clairvoyantly the words themselves. .'\nil it wa^ abli; to use a force, 
 derived from the medium, whereby to write the words. (2) The conq)lex methoil aforesaid 
 was conveyed i/i toto to the unconscious mind of the medium by thought-transference. The 
 unconscious mind of the nudium, either fnnn the stores of lati-nl memory or by clairvoyance, 
 was able to ]i('rceive the particular words requireil, and it was able by using the force of 
 till' niidiuui to write the words. riie diflerence between these two theories is so little, as far 
 as my argmiiciit is coiirrnic<l, that if one be true the other may also be true ; although, 
 taken in conjunction with other evidence, it seems to me that m\' first proposition is the only 
 one which can legitimately be held as covering all the facts. (3) The complex method was 
 conveyed by thought-transference to the conscious mind of the mediuni. lie then with a 
 sort of "divine dexterity" managed to overcome all obstacles, and to write himself the words 
 required. In this case, however, my direct statements as to tlx; way in which the slate with 
 the book and pencils on it was held beneath the table, |)Uts altogetli( r out of court 
 any theory of fraud on the part of the medium. (4) Thcie was no thought-transference and no 
 psychograph}'. Mr. Keulemans and 1 have deliberately concocted this account after, perhaps, 
 going through the mockery of an exjierinKnt. Therefore either i and 2, that is, psychogi-ajiliy, 
 must be true ; or 4 must be trvie ; and I and hosts of otherwise acknowlcilged sane and 
 responsible witnesses must be charged with fraud. The sceptic cannot be ]vrmitted to go 
 halting off with lame excuses to seek a via iitalia in 3. 
 
 This evidence taken ni bloc seems to inc most conclusive, and fatal to any theory of 
 an " vuiconscious secondary self," and, even if it storfl alone, it would form an insuperable 
 
 21
 
 l62 
 
 ' Twixf Two IVorlds. 
 
 barrier to the wild theories unsupported by sound evidence so widely prevalent in some 
 quarters. There is happily, however, a large body of testimony to experiments, both witli 
 Mr. Eglinton and other mediums, going far to prove the identity of these communicating in- 
 telligences with our common humanity. And this view is supported in divers other ways. 
 It is, however, no part of my present purpose to go at length into this question. I am 
 content to record facts and to leave them to speak for themselves. Speak they do with no 
 uncertain sound.
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 ON MATERIALISATIONS AND APPARITIONS FORMED WITH THE MEDHJM 
 
 IN FULL VIEW. 
 
 CATTERED through the records I have already dealt with arc many allusions 
 
 to materialisation, or the presentation of portions or the whole of a human 
 
 figure apart from the medium. I now proceed to give (i) a few additional 
 
 testimonies for the phenomena of materialisation under ordinary conditions ; 
 
 and (2) evidence for the formation of these "apparitions" in the light in 
 
 full view of the witnesses, and while the medium is in their midst. 
 
 Before doing so, however, I desire to describe briefly the Chromo plates appearing in 
 
 this volume, as by so doing the reader will be in a better position to understand many of 
 
 the references in the narratives I shall shortly have to quote. 
 
 Mr. Keulomans, one of the most painstaking investigators in Spiritualism that I know, has 
 exercised his artistic gifts to depict a few of the phenomena incident to materialisation seances, and 
 he has kindly reproduced some of these for this work. 
 
 Description of the Eight Chromo Plates. 
 
 These representations of spiritual phenomena will be readily recognised by those who 
 have ]iersonally investigated the subject. They are reproductions of original pencil sketches, 
 water-colour, and crayon drawings, prepared immediately after the seances, and the originals 
 are, in their turn, as nearly as possible, faithful representations of tiie phenomena ; Mr. Keulemans, 
 I may niention, being accustomed to sketciiing from life (moving life) and from memory. I 
 may now briefly describe the series of plates, and in doing so shall present, in abstract, 
 Mr. Keulemans' own already published description. 
 
 Fig. I (plate 1) represents a light, or a substance radiating " light," a term used in 
 contradistinction to the cloudy luminosities frequently witnessed near the medium's person, 
 and whicli appear to be connected with, or to indicate the presence of, the »o«-materiaIi.sed 
 spirit. Fig. ta is the same luminous substance seen from the side. These two figures should 
 be compared witii Figs. 2 and 2a. Fig. 2a is also a side view of Fig. 2, and represents the 
 same light under different conditions. The cause of these enormous variations in power of 
 luminosity is believed to be principally atmospheric. Fig. 2. This light varies from a bright 
 greenish blue to a pale greenish yellow, and is at times transparent like crystal, but more often
 
 164 ' Ttc'i.v/ T-u'o ITorA/s. 
 
 opaque or SLiiii-opaque, and a linger held behind it can be but faintly discerned. The power of 
 luminosity is equal to tiiat of a piece of white-hot iron of double tiiat size, but is far more 
 permanent, lasting from four or five seconds to half a minute. It can be revivified by tin- 
 "spirit" breathing over it ; yef, when it is touched by a "spirit finger," there immediately 
 appears, where the contact takes place, a reddish spot, of ill-defined outline, which gradually 
 disappears by further "breathing," or even without this if the light be very powerful and 
 permanent. The size and thickness of the luminous substance also vary ; sometimes it is a 
 little larger, but generally of the size as represented in Fig. 2. The most important and peculiar 
 features of this strange luminous substance are : — Apparition— sudden. Duration — variable. Power 
 of luminosity — variable, and depending on certain conditions. Extinction — gradual, but far ijuicker 
 than that of white-heated iron cooling down. Temperature— blood warm. Weight and appearance, 
 to the touch— like hard wax. Now let us return to Fig. i. On the right side an extensive blood- 
 coloured patch is visible. From the point of the thumb there are seen to proceed two thin lines 
 with dotted ramifications joining the blood-like spot. These two lines are of a pale greyish red, 
 exactly the colour of living brain matter. The red spot is of the colour of human blood, and is, 
 besides, a substance in a liquid state ; for, in most cases, when the light is carried, this liquid 
 sinks deeper into the "disc," and can be seen to assume a globular form, like a big drop of oil 
 in a glass of water. Mr. Keulemans records tiiat he has also noticed slight, but rapid, vibrations 
 in the ramifications referred to, as though the substance (bioplasm ?) still retains its vitality. 
 From these appearances, and from the fact that the light is seen to proceed directly from oNer 
 the entranced medium's head, it seems that the substance composing the disc is living matter 
 abstracted by occult means from the person. The lights represented in Fig. i and Fig. 2 are, 
 besides, the extremes, and not actual types ; for, in the majority of cases, neither a spotless 
 nor a blood-and-brain-marked substance is exhibited. Fig. i is a specimen of infeiiorly 
 manufactured light. The conditions were that night unfavourable — December and foggy weather. 
 Sometimes, when, for instance, the atmosphere is charged with electricity, or the temperature 
 very low, or when the medimn is fatigued, and the circle, perhaps, a little out of sorts, no 
 large lights are produced, but the smaller ones. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, are substituted. These 
 being smaller in volume, require less substance for their formation, and hence will produce 
 less exhaustion to either medium or circle. Figs. 3 and 4 are apparently of tlie same chemical 
 composition as Figs. I and 2. Figs. 5 and 6 appear to be less solid. In the s(|uare light, 
 Fig. 4, as in the dome-shaped Fig. 5, two adhering drops of matter are visible, indicating that 
 probably these, if not all the solid luminous bodies, were likewise liqLiid in the first stages of 
 their formation. In Fig. 4 the adjacent drop had become hardened ; that in Fig. 5 was still 
 liquid and shivering like a drop of quicksilver. Another peculiarity in buth Fig^. 5 and is 
 that they ha\e a tendency' of contracting into a more solid state, in which case tiie top 
 becomes detaehetl, and remains hovering will-o'-the-wisp-like above the dome. 1 now come 
 to a dilVerent class of "lights" (Figs. /, 8, and 9). Fig. 7 is a somewhat condensed ii^iiis 
 fntiius, and lights of this nature are apparently never carried by the " spirit-hand," but iiover 
 about space, expanding and contracting continuously during the short time of their duration. 
 Like the first series, they are first noticed near the medium's head, and from thence tiavel 
 away ai distances varying from a few feet to several yards. These lights, viz., thiise behinging 
 to tile group of whicii Fig. 7 is a typical representation, may asbume any bluqje or loi m.
 
 Oil Material jsatious a,ia Af^/^anlious fonnax 7.<il/, ll,c Mcdtuni i„ Full Via.: ih^ 
 
 Sometimes they are more elongated or take tl.e form of a ring, a cross ( + ), or a crucKix. 
 Their powei- of imninosity, /.,•., of radiancy, is, comparatively speaking, very infcn.r. Fig. S is 
 anotli. r example of a floating luminosity, but presenting the strange peculiarity of going out 
 with a drtonation. I he light represented in Fig. 9 is, in most cases, of a whitish blue; 
 sometimes it is ,,f a brighter blue, with a tendency to purple. Similar lights may be noticed' 
 suddenly in the vicinity of the medium's head, where they remain stationary for several 
 .seconds, leaving, when fading away, a short after-glow of a very intense, often fierce, red 
 colour. Such an after-glow, by its reddish vapour, is not at all unlike some kinds of artilicial 
 light seen at a di.stance; and often it is bright enough to make surrounding objects faintly 
 visible. Fiut the strange characteristic of this after-glow is that, as a luminary, it is far more 
 powerful than the original " spark " itself, for the latter never casts any light of suflicient 
 strength to render even the nearest object visible. It is probable that in this brilliant spark 
 (like Fig. 8) wc observe in reality but the radiation of a very minute point of an exceedingly 
 powerful sort of light, just as in the heavens we see but the radiation of the luminaries called 
 stars, and not their real surface ; for the refractory action of the telescope reduces them to 
 mere points. .And the fact that the after-glow is the more hiininous of the two, may be 
 attributed to the diffusion of its luminiferous properties in space. In addition to the s|)irit- 
 lights figuretl, there remain several others to which I need not now refer. 
 
 The hand rejinsented in Plate II. is, Mr. Keulemans believes, that of Mr. Kglinton's control 
 " Joey," at any rate his voice was insu/c an ever accumulating mass of dra|)ery developing 
 itself over the medium's lap. The medium, resting in an easy-chair, could be seen by the 
 yellowish light emanating from this drapery. Plate \^ will be interesting in this 
 connection. The rooni on that occasion was dark, the gas having, on request, been turned 
 out, and soon after Mr. I''glinton had retired into his chair, clouds of light were noticed 
 over the region of his chest, and large quantities of thin substance were seen to form and 
 condense themselves into a semi-solid mass of something like drapi'ry falling in soft pleats 
 on his lap. After a short while, some dark object could be observed inside this heap of 
 flimsy substance, turning and twisting it in a lateral and circular direction. l'|i to that time, 
 no other light but the [jhosphorescent glow emanating from the medium's chest had been 
 noticed (unless the cloudy mass of semi-solid drapery was, |Hihaps, to a certain extent, 
 self-luniinousj. Puit now, a most brilliant light suddenly appeareil in front ol the medium, 
 inside the whitish mass. At first the movements were too agitated to enable uu- to observe 
 the nature of the light itself, but, after a few seconds, it became more tran(|uil, and it was 
 then noticeil that it was carried liy a hand. It had the api)earance of a rounded crystal, 
 ami was not unlike the semi-transparent waxy discs (Figs. I and 2, plate 1), though more 
 perfectly clear, and of a light bluish colour. The upper portion of Mr. l'"glinton's body was 
 then tlistinctly seen, and afterwards his right hand nsting upon his knee. The hand holding 
 the light was also a " right " one, which proved that it cf)uld not have been that of the medium. 
 
 Plate 111. is generally illustrative of the subject, while a description of Plate IV. has 
 already been given on page 160. Plates \'., \'I., and \'ll. are representations of various 
 stages of materialisation, and a general description of which \\\\\ l)e found in the preceding 
 paragra|>h ; while Plate \lll. gives a general idea of what takes place when the form is 
 evolved from the mi diiim's side, se\eial instances ot which will be found on pages 171 178.
 
 1 66 ' Tioixi Two Worlds. 
 
 or the plunomena presented under ordinary conditions, Mr. Dawson Rogers relates one 
 instance. "On the evening of tiie 23rd May, 1884, 1 had the opportunity of witnessing 
 various pliases of Mr. Eghntoii's niediuniship at a private seance held at my own residence. 
 Tile company consisted — besides Mr. Eglinton— of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pearce, my wife, my 
 son and two daughters, and myself. As soon as the light was extinguished, a manifestation 
 was given which was of su unusual and so marvellous a character tiiat — though it was produced 
 under the most satisfactory conditions — I hesitate to rccmd it. This, however, was followed 
 by one which I think it well to mention, namely, the successRil materialisation of two forms. 
 No cabinet was used. Mr. Eglinton was sitting in the circle, between my wife and myself, 
 when an illuminated head and bust appeared above the table. I saw it distinctly several limes. 
 The face was, beyond a doubt, that of my son Erank, who departed this lite twelve montiis 
 ago. Me put his arms round my neck twice. He also put bis arms round the neck ol his 
 mother and kissed her. The head and face of Mrs. IVarce's mother also appeared, so well 
 lighted, and showing every feature so distinctly', that no one who knew and remembered her 
 could have failed to recognise her." 
 
 The following is an instructive incident relaletl b}' Mr. J. d. Keulemans, the signilicance 
 of which will be luiderstood by the reader later on. It is a case in which the form 
 was sufliciently substantial to move objects, but also " thin " enough to pass Ibrougb 
 human bodies sitting round the table. It throws considerable light on some of these 
 mysterious manifestations : — " In Februar}', 1SS4, I was present at a seance willi Mr. 
 Eglinton. We had arranged with him that be should remain seated with the cucle, 
 and that a subdued light should remain throughout the seance. This light was a mere 
 glimmer, but there was enough of it to see the crystal ornaments of the gaselier. I coidd 
 also distinguish white from black in the clothing of those piesent. After some moments' silence 
 and expectation, a cloudy mass was noticed over the table, which contracted and rose to the 
 height of the gaselier. It was very difficult to detect any form or outline. Though it seemed 
 to gradually grow denser and more symmetrical in its shape, it wanted the peculiar ' rounding ; ' 
 it did not look like a human form, but appeared flat, like a kite. It remained moving upwards 
 and downwards, and each time the upper portion approached the light its substance seemed 
 to have increased (after one or two slow movements in a sideward direction, when the light 
 lell more clearly on it, there was drapery visible). After some seconds, it rose again, this 
 time right underneath the ga.selier, which it touched, causing the crystal pendants to swing 
 and tinkle. We all saw the form, saw the crystals swing', and we all beard the tinkling noise. 
 Yet, this strange, white mass, moving over the table, did not present any resemblance to a 
 human form—it was too Hat. When the upper portion of it touched the gaselier, it made a 
 sudden downward movement, as though to avoid collision, which induces me to believe in its 
 reality as an intelligent being. Drapery was now plainly visible, although it looked far moie 
 ethereal than I lountl it on other previous occasions with other forms. If it was not material 
 drapery, it certainly represented something suggesting drapery, for there were broad folds and 
 pleats, especially over the head or rather over that part wiiere the head should have been. 
 Whilst I lixedly gazed at this strange being, turning my head a little to the right to follow its 
 movements, it seemed to be annoyed at my searching looks, and it suddenly came down, as I 
 fancied, straight upon my head. So it did ; but 1 could not feel any sen.-,ible contact beyond a
 
 Ou i]fa/cj-iij/isaf!ous and Apparitions formed 'a'it It the Mediiiv; in Full J 'ier^: 167 
 
 very stran_i;t!y (lisagrcrahlf cliill, wliidi slmok Imtli my aims convulsively, 'riicn tlic strange 
 being was seen luliind mv. I liid iifit rccnver my senses c|uick rnoii},'!) t<> witness its downward 
 fliglit ; hut tiio nearest sitter to my left followed it with the eye, and, as 1 saw his head 
 turned towards the floor behind us, looked also in that direction and just caught the last sight 
 of the spectre. After it had vanished a glow of phosphorescent light remained visible on the 
 carpet. The gentleman sitting next to me also felt a chill when the ' form ' came down. It 
 must have passed through him as well ; there was no room to pass hiin'icii us, as we were 
 closely packed together round the table. If this were a shadowy form, how could it produce 
 the derangement in the crystal pendants? Yet it was visible to all of us (nine persons), and 
 visible by the gas/igh/, not .self-luminous. If visibility implies substance, I ought to have felt 
 something more solid than a disagreeable sensation when it came in contact with my own 
 person." 
 
 These shadowy and shapeless formations were probably the incipient stages of materiali- 
 sation, of which, as regards its methods, we know so little. Happily the time seems near 
 at hand when regular and systematic investigation b^' experts will be taken in hand. In no 
 other way will the key to this mj'ster}' of all m3'steries be obtained. 
 
 Mrs. Burchett, the wiiter of the following account, is a lady well known to me, and 
 whose report can be absolutely relied upon. After describing some phenomena of an elementary 
 character, she says: — "There was a very faint light, sufficient, however, to distinguish each 
 other's features. After two forms had made their appearance a male figure came out, and 
 advanced straight to me; he was robed in white, but more closely than the otlu is, and had 
 his head uncovered except with his own dark hair. I recognised my beloved friend ' \'.,' 
 with what feelings I will not attempt to describe. He came close to me, and I held out my 
 hand to him, which he clasped, his hand feeling warm and natural as in life ; he touched 
 me on the cheek with his li]is, whispering something I could not make out. He then retired 
 behind the curtain, but came out again almost imnietliately and took up from the table my 
 fan (his last present to me). I asked him if he recognised it. He said 'Yes,' and carried 
 it away with him behind the curtains ; soon, however, he re-appeared bringing the fan with 
 him, which he pressed to his li[)s and then ga\'e me back, and as 1 thought linally retiicd. 
 Two other female figures appeared, and went to different persons of the conipany. One bore 
 a bright light upon her dress, which disappeared as slu' ,-ip[)roached the circle, and other 
 lights were frequently seen during the sniiirc. 'Joey' then directed tli.it the gas should 
 be turned up a little, and when this was done V. came out again, but was only able to come 
 a little way, though he seemed most anxious I should see his face distinctly. 'Joey' then 
 told me that I might leave the circle and go within two feet of the curtain, Inmiediately 
 I had done this, V. joined me, and we stood close together ; he took my hand and tried to 
 speak to me, but I could not distinctly hear what he said except the word 'letter' (referring 
 doubtless to one I had recently written to him). He then raised his hands as though blessing 
 me, after which he retreated through the curtains. When I regained my seat a lady remarked 
 that he had a foreign look, u|ion whi. h 1 tuld her he was an Austrian ; and after tln' siniirr, 
 was concluded I showed her and the others a photograph of him which I carried in my 
 pocket, and they all recognised the likeness." 
 
 Mr. J. II. Mitchener, F.A.S., of Burgos House, Croydon, contributes a narrative v( a
 
 i(5S '7'7^'i.\i 7'u'o Jl'cr/i/s. 
 
 niatcrialiHatiuii si'uiur, which took place on Monday, November luth, I1SS4, and wliicli 1 
 now quote : " The circle consisted of six persons only, viz., myself and wife, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Amos and Mr. and Mrs. William Theobald. A preliminarj' e-\amination was made 
 of the- inner room l>y the gentlemen present. The i.nly door leading from this room 
 was Idckd, the Uey removed, and, as an additional test, a piece of adhesive |iaper was 
 affixed to dncir and lintel-post, rendering entrance from witii..ut impossible without dislmbing and 
 parting the paper. The circle was arranged in the usual way. Mr. Eglintim passrd quickly 
 under contnil, and seemed unusually agitated, marching up and down the iinier mom in a restless, 
 disturbed manner, and coming out twice to gather btrength before fuially retiring. 'Vi> the 
 experienced sitter this uneasiness of the medium afforded every indication nl a gdn,] si'diirc. 
 Mr. Eglinton liad scarcely reached the sofa, on which we heard him throw him-elf, before 
 our first visitor lifted the curtain. He was of average height, slenderly built, and apparently 
 about thirty years of age. As, with increasing power, he was able to approach the' circle, I 
 instantly recognised, beyond all question, the form and features of the spirit, and involuntarily 
 
 exclaimed aloud, 'Why, yon are 11- d C r!' In reply, tiie form bowed more than once, 
 
 seemed delighted at being recognised, and came forward, peeriiig closely into my face. This 
 spirit is the brother of a lady who was present with me at a previous srancc. Hardly had 
 the form left before the curtain was again raised, discovering to us a lovely female figure, clad 
 in the accustomed drapery, but in this instance fitting closely to the person. The [ujwer not 
 permitting her to come forward sufficiently near to enable us to determine tin features, absolute 
 identification was not possible. But the outline of the figure so closely resembled, and so 
 
 forcibly reminded me of my deceased sister-in-law, that I inquired, 'Are you L e?' She 
 
 bowed in acquiescence. 1 asked, 'Could you bring the little child.-'' She again liowed and 
 retired, but reappeared immediately, holding by the hand a little girl of between 'i\\\: and six 
 years of age. As the two forms, clad in snow-white garments, stood side by side in the tiim 
 gaslight, they presented a picture suggestive of spotless ])urity, and a charm of outline and 
 grace of attitude that defy description. The legs and feet of the child were bare, aiul, as 
 it kissed one of its tiny hands to the circle, clinging lovingly with the other to the beauteous 
 figure by its side, it elicited from all exclamations of delight. It was a group of beaut}', whose 
 image will long remain in the memory of those privileged to witness it. Our fourth visitor was 
 unknown to the circle. It was a tall, dignified male figure, with haiKlst)me features, and was 
 perhaps forty yiars of age. After intimating that he came to Mr. W. Fheobald, he went 
 straight up to that gentleman, grasping him by the hand, ami looking closely into his face. 1 asked 
 the spirit to shake hands with me. He complied with a hearty grip, and finally, with deliberation, 
 lifted my hand to his lij^s and kissed it. A peculiarity of this seance was the rapidity with 
 which, hitherto, the materialisations had followed each other. Not more than fifteen seconds 
 elapsed between the tleparture of the abo\e and the appearance ot' 'Dais^-.' Her dark, almost 
 black face formed a striking contrast to the dazzling whiteness of her drapery. jMthougli she 
 spoke se\eral tiiiU'S, we were unable tej understand a worii. Whether thi> arose from lack of 
 power, or from addressing us in an unknown tongue, 1 was unable to deteiiiiine. Number six 
 was a woman of sixty years of age. She seemed to have eyes for no one in the circle but 
 Mr. Amos, to whom she repeatedly kissed her hand. Conjecturing who she might be, Mr. 
 Amos iiKiuired — 'Are you my UKJlher?' In response she bowed sever. 1 linns \\iili marks
 
 On Maicrialisaiions and Appaiilions formed 7vitli the Medium -in Full ]'ic7.<. i6y 
 
 (if gratification, and made repeated but incflectual efforts to reach Mr. Amos. She seemed, when 
 walking, to be encumbered by tlie drapery, wliich she Iicld extended in front of licr person. 
 Up to this time, with the exception of ' Daisy,' not one of the materiaHsed furms Iiad been 
 able to speak. A male figure next stepped before the cuitaiii, and, adviiiiring two strides only, 
 paused, and gazed earnestly round the circle. lie held up t<i his mouth a purtion nf his 
 drapery, partly concealing thereby the lower part of his face. We inquired of each other 
 in turn, but he was declared by all to be an entire stranger. I asked, 'Have you come to 
 any one in particular?' To our surprise the form replied in an audible voiei-, 'No,' and 
 then carried on a conversation of some minutes' duration. A powerfully built, broad-shouldered, 
 male figure, with a dark Oriental face and handsome features, but quite unknown to the circle, 
 now walked forward. After traversing the room he grasped the back of one of the chairs, 
 and raising it steadily with one arm, flourished it several times over his head, and brought it 
 noiselessly to the ground. At my request he shook hands, with a vigour for which I was 
 not prepared, completely pulling me forward from my seat. Before leaving, he also shook 
 hands with Mrs. W. Theobald. During the time this powerful spirit was in the circle the 
 curtain was partially lifted, revealing a tall, white form in the inner room. On my remarking 
 it, the well-known voice of 'Joey' responded from behind the curtain, 'It is I.' Some little 
 time elapsed after the departure of our muscular friend before the appearance of our ninth and 
 last visitor. lie gazed earnestly at the circle, but did not attempt to come forward. This 
 seance was noteworthy in three particulars. (i) The ajipearance of two forms in the circle 
 at the same time. (2) The manifestation of physical strength in the action witli the chair. 
 (3) The incident of a materialised form speaking and holding a conversation with the circle. 
 An examination of the inner room, at the close of the faiiicr, revealeil that nothing had been 
 disturbed. The adhesive slip of paper was intact, and by no possibility could anyone have 
 gained access to the apartment." 
 
 A good case of materialisation, in which the identit}' of the manifesting spirit is clearly 
 revealed, is related by Colonel Lean : " In the year 1878, 1 attended some remarkable 
 seances, whicii 1 think are worth recording. Mr. Eglinton, whom at that time 1 had nut 
 the pleasure of knowing ]X'rsonally, was then giving a scries of seances, at tin- rooms of 
 the British National Association of Spiritualists, in Great Russell Street. M}- wife and I 
 arranged with the secretary to be present at three of them. On tiie first evening we 
 found several well-known persons assembled in the large seance room of tiiat association. 
 There was a cabinet with a black curtain prepared for the medium, which we examined. 
 The door was then locked, and w-e sat in a half-circle facing the cabinet, with the gas 
 burning in a gaselier pendant from tiie ceiling, giving sufficient light for us to see distinctly 
 all that happened, thus precluding the possibility of any accomplice entering the room (Fig. 
 31). Various phenomena occurred, and then Mr. Eglinton, dressed in evening clothes, 
 came out of the cabinet in a state of semi-trance, and walking up to my w^ife and self, 
 appeared to be absorbing our magnetism by waving his hands over us. lie then returned 
 to the cabinet, and we heard him diop heavil}' into his chair. At the same nuiment the 
 curtain was drawn on one side, and the materialised form of a woman, robed in white, 
 stood before us. In this figure we both instantly recognised a sister of my wife, called 
 Emily, who liad been deatl about six years. As Emily had been of a sallow com]ilc.\ion 
 
 22
 
 I70 
 
 'Twi'.xi Tijo Worlds. 
 
 with black liair and eyes, rccogiiitiun was easy. We both expressed mir belief in the 
 appcainnce of our relative, but the other members of the circle thought it was some one 
 else. I may here state that our sister Emily had been in the habit of communicating 
 with us by means of a table. On our return home, when niy wife had retired to 
 bed, I heard her calling me. On answering her summons, she told me that the spirits 
 were tapping on the wardmbe, and evidently wanted us to sit at the table. As my 
 wife is a wonderful medium for this form of correspondence, we sat at our small table, 
 which instantly began to rock, and the communication that came was to this effect : ' It 
 is I, your sister Emily, and it was I who came to you this evening.' I said, ' Will you 
 come again at the ne.xt seance ? ' She answered, ' 1 will if I can.' I then asked her to 
 give me a sign, when she did come, that it was really herself. She said, ' 1 will hold up 
 my hand. God bless 3'ou ; good night ; ' when the table ceased moving. On the occasion of 
 the next sitting, under similar conditions, the same spirit materialised, but this time gave the 
 
 
 
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 Fig. 
 
 -Plan of Siiiiicc-room. 
 
 signal by hnKling up her hand. I\ly wife and 1 buth saw it, anil to make still nujre 
 certain that it was \v> fanry of ours, I asked the circle if they could see what the ligure 
 vyas doing. One or two inunediately hastened to inform me that it was holding u[i its 
 hand. Of course we had nut tnUl any of the other sitters then of the sccvicc in our 
 bedroom. 1 always ha\'e thought this to be one of the most satisfactory evidences of the 
 truth of Spiritualism and of the identity of the manifesting sjiirit. It seems to be like 
 proving a [iroposition in Euclid. 'i'he sc'diicci; are so connectetl, the same spirit coming to 
 all three. The sign gi\en in the i>rivacy of our ciiamber, verified in the large sr'aiuc, 
 seen by oui'selves, and confirmed by the remainder of the circle; who were ignorant that it 
 had ixen given there, seems to leave no opening fir imposition. So incredulous is the human 
 mind as to the possibility of the phenomena of Spiritualism being genuine, that it has 
 always been my effort to test the truth of what I see and hear, so as to be able to silence 
 the sceptic with facts, and to prove my argument that the phenomena called spiritual 
 are unquestionably true, and not the result of legerdemain. Beyond that, I nnist lca\e others 
 to form their own opinion of what it is. There is a wide field for discussion, and the 
 more it is examined by intiuiring minds, the sooner shall we arrive at more satisfactory 
 knowledge. Since the savicc which I have just recorded, I have had the pleasure of 
 enrolling Mr. Eglinton amongst my best friends, and have had the privilege of witnessing far
 
 Oil J/a/(na//M!/n>//s ixud Apptxyiliouf^ fanned -i.'illi I lie Mcdiinii in I'ull I 'n;.: 
 
 I 
 
 grcntcr wonders than those I have just described— in every instance hut the ,„k- now ren.nled 
 in his n..n-pn.fessionaI capacity. 1 consider that his niediumistic powers are marvellous; as 
 I have seen them displayed in my li.mse, in tiiose of my friends, and in his Mwn, as 
 well as in public en the occasion of his giving a lecture in St. James's Mall. ! have 
 sat with liim wluii the spirit was formetl frum iiis side und.r the gaslight in ..ur nii<lst, 
 and I iiave sat with him m..rc tiian once wiien his desire t.. i)lease his iViends l)y the 
 disphiy <<( his powers was great, and yit n<ithing has appeared— to me a stmng pr.M.f of the 
 genuineness in'tii of the mech'um and the manifestations." 
 
 " Lily," a noiii-ilr-phiiiic icnown tn many Spiritualists, advances our knowledge of these 
 matters a step, hy a narrative whicii forms a fitting link between cases such as those 
 I Jiave been treating, and instances where the actual process of formation has been 
 witnessed: "There is a phase of Mr. Eglinton's marvellous mcdiumship that I propose, 
 witii your permission, to draw attention to, as I believe it to he uniciuc. I refer to 
 tiic full-form materialisations that take place in the light in his presence, when he is 
 not cnly in the same room with the sitters, but close to them — nl/soliite/y one re///; them. I 
 have lately been twice a witness to this extraordinary display of spirit power, each time 
 in the jircscnce of only one other person, a lady friend of my own. On tlie first 
 occasion, Mr. Eglinton had to leave the room to search for some small article he had 
 mislaid, and for which we also searched diligently, in his absence, in butii rooms. The 
 curtains that formed, when drawn, the only division between the moms, were undrawn, and 
 remained so after Mr. Eglinton's return into the front room (the door of the back room or 
 cabinet being locked inside), until he passed, while talking to us, into a trance state, when 
 he went to the curtains, and drew them automatically ; then made passes over ns, then over 
 himself, and finally over the curtains ; then knelt hy my side, uttering a beautiful piayer, 
 which he had not concluded when a grand male form, fully and perfectly materialised from 
 head tn fddt, threw back the curtains, and came forward slowly and majestically, remaining 
 with us siMue minutes, and (inallj- retired. In the second sitting, about a week later the 
 materialisation of the same beautiful s|)irit was e(iually perfect; Mr. I'^gliiit'iu cui this occasion 
 kneeling in front of us instead of side by side, when the spirit came fni th and placed his 
 hand in blessing on Mr. Eglinton's head ; and on retiiing, Mr. Eglintipn followed him into 
 the cabinet. In an instant the spirit again came forth, leading by the hand a beautiful 
 female spirit, as fully and perfectly materialised as himself" 
 
 From this to Florence Marryat's experience, now narrated, is but a step : — " Mr. Eglinton 
 is an intimate friend of mine, and during the course of a friendship of several years' 
 standing, 1 have witnessed many wonderful manifestations of his extraordinar3' powei", hut nothing 
 so marvellous as I have to relate now. The first of these two seances took place on Friday 
 evening, September 5th, on which occasion the circle consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart, Colonel 
 and Mrs. Wynch, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Russell-Davies, Colonel and Mrs. Lean, Mr. A., and Mr. 
 Morgan. We sat in the front drawing-room in a semicircle, with one gas-bmner alight ; and 
 the douis having Ijeen properly secured against any intrusion, Mr. Eglinton took up a jmsition 
 in the back drawing-room, which is divided by a pair of curtains from the front, lie had not 
 left ns a cou[)Ie of minutes, before a man stepped out from the povtiiie anil walked into the 
 midst of us. lie was a large, stmit man, ,ind scry daik, and nic-^t I'f the sitters noticed
 
 172 'Twixt T-aio Worlds. 
 
 that he liad a very peculiar smell. No one recognised him, and after appearing two or three 
 times he left, and was immediately succeeded by a woman, not unlike him in appearance, who 
 was also unrecognised by any present. These two spirits, before re tiring, came out toi^dhcr, 
 and seemed to examine the circle curiously. After a short interval, a much smaller and 
 slighter man came forward, and darted in a peculiar slouching attitude round the circle. He 
 had also a dark face, but with very refined and handsome features. Colonel Lean asked 
 him to shake hands. He replied by seizing his hand, and nearly pulling him off his 
 seat on to the floor. He then darted across the room, and gave a similar proof of his 
 muscular power to Mrs. Stuart. But wlien 1 asked him to notice me, he took my hand 
 and squeezed it firmly between both his own. He had scarcely disappeared before 
 ' Abd-u-lah,' with his one arm and his si.x feet of height, stood before us, and salaamed 
 all iciuiid. Then came my daughter ' Florence,' a girl of nineteen years old, very slight 
 antl feminine in appearance. She advanced once or twice, near enough to touch me 
 with her hand, but, seeming fearful to venture farther, retreated again. But the next 
 moment she rc-appeared, dragging Mr. Eglinton after iier. He was in dt'cp trance, breathing 
 with dillicult}-, but 'Florence' held him by the liand and brought him up to my side, when 
 he detached my hands from those of the sitters either side of me, and making me stand up, 
 took my daughter and placed her in my arms. As I stood enfolded in her embrace, she 
 whisjiered a few words to me relative to a subject known to no one bill niysclf, and she 
 placed both my hands upcui her heart and bosom that 1 might feel she was a living ^voman. 
 Colonel Lean asked her to go to iiim. She tried and failed, but after having retired for a 
 minute behind the curtain to gather strength, she appeared again 'anth Mr. Eglinton, and, 
 calling Colonel Lean to her, embraced him. This is one of the most perfect instances on 
 record of a medium being distinctly seen by ten witnesses ivitli the spirit, under gas. The 
 next materialisation that appeared was for Mr. Stuart. This gentleman was newly arrived from 
 Australia, and was almost a stranger to Mr. Eglinton. As soon as he saw the lady who 
 called him to the portiric to speak to her, his exclamation of genuine surprise and conviction 
 mingled with awe was unmistakable. He said, 'My God! Pauline.' The spirit then whispered 
 to him, and putting lu r arms round his neck, affectionately kissed him. He turned after a 
 while and addn .ssed his wife, telling her that the spirit bore the very features and expression 
 of their niece, I'anline, wlinm they had lost the year before. Mrs. Stuart asked if she also 
 might not advance and luok at the spirit, but it was intimated she must wait for the 
 next time, as all the jxjwer had been exhausted in producing an exact materialisation, so 
 perfectly recognisable on the first occasion of its return to earth. Mr. Stuart expressed 
 himself as entirely satisfied of the identity of his niece, and said she looked just as she did 
 before she was taken ill. I must not onfit to say that the medium afso appeared with this 
 figure, making the third time of showing himself in one evening with the spirit-form. The 
 next appearance was of a little child, apparently about two years old, who supported itself 
 in walking by clinging to a chair. The attention of the circle was diverted from this sight 
 by seeing 'Abd-u-lah,' six feet high, dart from behind the curtains at the same moment, and 
 stand with the child in our view, whilst Mr. Eglinton appeared between the two forms, making 
 a tnti juncta in itno. 
 
 "The second seance took place on Saturday, September 27th, and under very similar
 
 On Mafcn'd/isa/ioits aiu^ .\[>pariliom formed ',^nlli the .'Sfidiitin in Fn// I '/i;<'. i 73 
 
 circumstances. The circle this time consisted of Mrs. Wheeler, Mi\ Woods, Miss S., 
 Mrs. r., Mrs. Victor Stevens, Mr. Frank RIarrj'at, Colonel and Mrs. Lean, Mr. Morgan, and 
 the Iliin, G<}idon Sandeman, and \vc sat as before, and under the same conditions. Mr. 
 Eglintcin appeared on this evening to find some difliculty in passing under control, and he 
 came out into the circle so nianj' times to gather magnetism that 1 guessed we were about 
 to enjoy some • unusually good manifestations. The voice of 'Joey,' too, requested us, under 
 no circunislancfs tvlialcvrr, to loose hands, as they were going to try something very tlillicult, 
 and we might defeat their efforts at the very moment of victory. When the medium was 
 at last imder control in the back drawing-room, a tall man with an uncovered head of dark 
 hair, and a large beard, appeared and walked up to Mrs. I'. She was very much afiectcd 
 by the recognition of the spirit, who was her brother. She called him by name, and kissed 
 him, and informed us that his face was just as it had been in carth-lifc. Her emotion was 
 so great we were afraid she would faint, but after a while she became calm again. Then a 
 lady came forward, the mother of Miss S., and gave her some advice relative to her private 
 nITairs. We next heard the notes of a clarionet. I was aware that Mr. Woods (a stranger, 
 until a few days before this sconce, to Mr. Egliuton) had lost a brother under peculiar circum- 
 stances (all of which had been detailed satisfactorily to him by slate-writing through Mr. 
 Eglinton), and that he had been promised and expected to see his brother this evening. It 
 was the first time, however, that I had ever seen Mr. Woods, and yet, so remarkable was 
 the likeness between the brothers, that when a spirit now ajipcarcd with a clarionet in its 
 hand, I could not lielp knowing at once who it was, and saying so to my next neighbour. 
 The spirit advanced to Mr. Woods and grasped his hand. As they appeared thus, with their 
 profiles turned to one another, they were strihingly similar in feature and expression. This 
 spirit's head was also bare— an uncommon occurrence — and covered with thick hair. lie 
 appeared twice, and said distinctly, ' God bless you,' more than once. Mrs. Wheeler, wh<i 
 had only seen the spirit once in earth-life, was startled by the tone of the voice, which 
 she recognised at once, and Mr. Morgan, who intimately knew the deceased gentleman in 
 Australia, confirmed the recognition by saying it was a perfect likeness of him. My 
 daughter, 'Florence,' then came out, but only a little way, not far enough to reach us. 
 I was disappointed at her want of boldness, which 'Joey' explained by saying she was weak 
 to-night as they wanted to reserve the strength for a manifestation by-and-by. He then 
 said, 'Here comes a friend for Mr. Sandeman,' and a man wearing the Masonic badge and scarf 
 appeared, and made the tour of the circle, giving the Masonic grip to those of the craft 
 present. He was a very good-looking young man, and said he had met some of those 
 present in Australia, but no one seemed to recognise him. lie was succeeded by a male 
 spirit who had materialised on a previous occasion. As he appeared through the curtains, 
 a female form, bearing a very bright light, appeared with him as if to show the way. 
 She did not come beyond the portiere, but everyone in the room saw her distinctly. On 
 account of the dress and complexion of the male figure, we had wrongly called him 'the 
 Bedouin,' but Mr. Frank Marryat now discovered he was an Fast Indian, by addressing him 
 in Hindustani, to which he responded in a low voice. Someone asked him to take a seat 
 amongst us, upon which he seized a heavy chair in one hand and nourished it above his 
 head. He then squatted, native fashion, on the ground, and left us, as before, by vanishing
 
 174 ' 7'ii.'/.v/ I\'o Jl'or/ds. 
 
 SLiddt'iil}-. ',|()L-3'' iiuw aimoimcrd that tlie}' were going to try the experiment of s/iuwiiii^ 
 us how Ihe spirilA arir evolved from the iiudimii. Tliis was tiic crowning triumpii of tlie 
 evening. Mr. ICglinton appcaretl in tiie very midst of us, in trance. lie came into the 
 room baclvwards, antl as if figliting with tlie power, his eyes siuit, and his breatii drawn with 
 labour. As he stood thus, holding a chair for suppoit, a white, flimsy mass was seen on iiis 
 hip, his legs became illuminated with lights travelling up and down tiiem, and a white cloud 
 settled about iiis head and shoulders. The mass increased, antl he breatiied iiartlcr and hartler, 
 whilst invisible hands pulled the flimsy drapery out of his liips in long strips that amalgamated 
 as soon as formed, and the cloud grew thicker. All at once, in a moment, as we eagerly 
 watched the i)rocess, \.\\v spirit, full formed, stood besitle him. No one saw it had been 
 raised in the midst of us, but it was there. Mr. Eglinton then retired witii iiis new-born 
 spirit behind the porliir-e, but in another moment he came, or he was thrown out, amongst 
 us again, and lell upon tiie floor. The curtains opened, and tlie figure of 'Ernest' appeared, 
 and raised the medium by the hand. As he saw him, Mr. Eglinton fell on his knees, and 
 'Ernest' drew him out eif sight; this ended a most marvellous seance. 1 have written down 
 the mere facts as they occurred, forbearing to comment on what has filled me (after fifteen 
 years' active experience of Spiritualism in all its phases) with tiie supremest wonder. I 
 cannot close this paper without adding my testimony to that of so many others, that William 
 Eglinton is, witlnuit an}' exception, the most wonderl'ul uieilium of liis time, either lor slate- 
 writing or materialisation, and those who have n(jt witnessed what takes place through his 
 mediumship, have a great deal still to learn." 
 
 Most of those who were present at either or both of these seances have assured me that 
 this description is perfectly accurate, that they occurred under strict test conditions, the doors 
 being locked and the keys in the possession of one of the company, and the rooms having 
 been thoroughly searched beforehand. I append the fiill names and addresses, and it must 
 be understood that where initials are given in the narrative, family reasons exist for the names 
 not appearing in full. Those signing the report are : — Colonel l'"rancis Lean, 20, Regent's I'ark 
 Terrace, N.W. ; Mr. R. It. Russell-Uavies, I2, Westhourne Park Road, N.W. ; Mr. R. -Stuart, 
 24, Ebury Street, S.W. ; Colonel Alexander Wynch, United Service Club, Pall Mall, S.W. ; 
 Mrs. Eva Florence Stevens, 20, Mimosa Street, Eulham, S.W. ; Mr. Frank Marryat, 20, Regent's 
 Park Terrace, N.W. ; Mr. W. P. Morgan, I, Queen Victoria Street, E.C. 
 
 As all acklilional testimony to this remarkable phennmencju is valuable, 1 now ijuote in 
 order of tiate the following, hom the pen of Mr. J. II. IMitchener, who has already been 
 referred to in this chai)ter. lie says: — "Mr. Eglinton kindl}' consented to favour me with a 
 seance for Tuesda}', October 28th, 1884, and, as some of the manifestations were remarkahle 
 and luivisual, you may be interested in a brief relation of the leading phenomena. The circle 
 was a large one, comprising eleven persons — four ladies and seven gentlemen. It was quite 
 harmonious, and the physical and meteorological conditions were all that cuuld be desired. 
 Chairs were arranged in the usual semicircle, and one gas-burner was kept alight iluring the 
 continuance of the seance. I occupied a chair at one extremity of the circle, and within three 
 feet of the curtain. I)in-ing the evening we were favoured with se\'en materialisations. Most 
 of them, if not all, were of the highest order; which, considering the number of sitters, was 
 :ertainly remarkable. 'Ihe whole of the forms this evening were, in my opii.inn, true material- 
 
 ce
 
 On ^fa/cn'a/jsa/ioiis and Appayitiom formed u<illt I lie ^Tcdiul>l in Full I'ira: 175 
 
 isations. Twd of tlic figures made great efforts to obtain recognition, l)Ut neiliur of the sitters, 
 to whom tiie materialised spirits pointedly addressed themselves, was able to recognise them 
 witli ahs.ilute certaint}-. The following singular phenonieiicm then occurred. An object, dark 
 as pitili, am! resembling a black cluud more than an\'thing else, came from undrr the curtain 
 and remained in front of where I was sitting. It was not more than eighteen inches from the 
 ground, and swayed backwards and forwards. In process of time it assumed a rotary motion, 
 and two patches of white vapoiu" became visible. As the process continued, I could dimly 
 trace the outline of a form, apparently sitting on the ground at my feet, with its arms moving 
 continuously backwards and feirwards with a circular motion. At this stage, the arms only of 
 the figure wore clearly developed. Gradually the white material increased, and a face and bust 
 arose, the arms still keeping up the same motion as if weaving. By degrees, and rapidly at the 
 close, a tall male figure, dressed in the usual beautiful white material, was perfectly evolved, the 
 darkness from which it had first emerged having disappeared as if absorbed, or dispersed like 
 mist before the sun. Thus eleven persons had an opjiortunity of witnessing, in front of the 
 curtain .uicl within the circle, the \vhole process of a form materialisation. As a matter of 
 evidence, it is worth noting, too, that during the seance, at the time that one of the appearances 
 was in the circle, the medium in the dark room was taken with a fit of coughing, which was 
 heard by all and commented upon. The most remarkable phenomenon occurred at the close of 
 the seance. A noise as if two persons were wrestling was heard in the cal)inet. It increased 
 as if a struggle were taking place. At this juncture, and when we were wondering what it 
 meant, the curtains were parted, and the medium was literally thrown forward into the circle. 
 Behind him, and holding back both curtains with his outstretched arms, stood the materialised 
 form of ' Ernest.' As the medium staggered backwards in a state of insensibilitv, In- would 
 have fallen to the ground had he not been caught in the arms of the materialised spirit. 
 Momentary as it was, it sufficed for the whole of the eleven spectators to witness the presence 
 of the spirit and the medium in the circle at one and the same time. Inmiediateh' the curtain 
 closed on Eglinton, I was directed by ' Joey ' to enter the dark room aiul take the medium a 
 glass of water. Having it ready at my sitle I lost not a moment in complying. Feeling my 
 way to the sofa 1 found the medium reclining, and still in a state of trance. Raising his head 
 1 gave him the water, and while doing so, 'Joej' spoke to me in a direct voice and requested 
 me on retuining to increase the light. The medium after the sranee was painfully exhausted." 
 
 It is new my pleasure to relate an unmistakable instance of this special phiinMnenun in 
 which there cannot be the least shadow of a doubt as to its realit}'. Such invaluable facts 
 deserve to be placed on permanent record in the most complete manner. This seance is one of 
 the crowning glories of Mr. Eglinton's mediumship, and I, for one, feel I can never repay the 
 obligation he has thus personally imposed upon me. 
 
 Early in 1885, I was placed in a position to commence experimental research in connectior 
 with what is commonly known as "form manifestation," or " matciialisation." I have lonj; 
 and persistently lugcd upnn Spiritualists the necessity of I'egular and systematic investigation 
 of these matters. Hitherto the evidence, with one or two notable exceptions, has been chiefly 
 spasmodic in character ; and important clues not having been followed up as they were |irc- 
 sented, a perplexing incompleteness characterises much of the evidence brought forward in 
 support of till' most delicate, as well as the most wonderful, df the many [ihases of psychical
 
 176 ^ Tivixt Tt^<o ]Vorlds. 
 
 phenomena. I am nut unmiiidrul of tlie close scrutiny and the rigid scientilic methods brought 
 to bear upon the subject in the past by such observers as Mr. Alfred Russel Wallace, Professor 
 Crookes, and others ; but, since their inquiries, ten or a dozen years have elapsed, and, with 
 the course of time, vast strides have been made not only in the character of the phenomena, 
 but also in regard to the methods adopted in their investigation. Therefore, I believe myself 
 to be well within the bounds of truth when I say that my own narrative, and those of my 
 fellow-witnesses, contain valuable additions to our present stock of knowledge. This is more 
 especially the case when we remember that, since the e.xperiments conducted by Mr. Wallace 
 and Professor Crookes, no regular course of study has been engaged in — even by Spiritualists, 
 who of all people should have been the first to recognise its absolute necessity and paramount 
 importance. It is needless to discuss the cause of this; many reasons are obvious. It is 
 sufficient now to emphasise the fact that it is only by such regular and searching inquiry that 
 we can hope to establish spiritual phenomena upon a fnin and unassailable basis. 
 
 Practical e.xperiment has fully justified this position. Short as this series of seances 
 was, there has been obtained, in my view, an incomparable result. I by no means wish to 
 infer that we have exhausted the question. Personally, I am inclined to the belief that our 
 experience, remarkable though it is, has been confined to the mere threshold of the inquiry. 
 
 A series of twelve sc'mtces was arranged for with Mr. Eglinton. Of these, nine were 
 given to circles varying in number from nine to fourteen persons, exclusive of the psychic. 
 We have taken into account, as a working hypothesis, the existence of an intelligent force 
 external to the sensitive. Such a position has in no way militated against the full and free 
 use of reason and common-sense ; indeed, my experience has been that, by this method, I have 
 been enabled to establish a bond of sympathy between myself and the medium which has 
 proved of inestimable value in the conduct of the inquiry, and I know my experience has by 
 no means been singular. In this way it has been rendered possible for us to suggest crucial 
 experiments, discuss perjilexing features and incidents — in fact, to speak fully and freely what 
 has been in our minds, and to obtain sanction for the employment of such measures as seemed 
 to be desirable in order to settle moot points. 
 
 I entered upon the inquiry in a frame of mind which I can only describe as one of 
 suspension of judgment on .some particulars, and a reasonable scepticism witli regard to others, 
 while on several points I was in a state of utter disbelief Now, although I have by no means 
 arrived at full conviction on all the questions at issue, in my mind the uniform and unvarying 
 willingness of Mr. Eglinton to (jlace every facility for investigation before me, and the patient, 
 earnest co-operation of the ".sentient forces" working through him, have removed many doubts, 
 shaken my scepticism, and in some respects given me an absolute conviction. 
 
 The ninth seance of the series took place on Tuesday evening, February 17th. Upon 
 reference to Fig. 32, it will be seen that the events described do not depend upon illusive tests. 
 The plan of the .sf(?«a'-room, the constitution of the circle, and the position of observers, are 
 there given. 
 
 The room is an ordinarily furnished sitting-room with doors leading on to a landing and 
 into a bath-room, the latter also opening on the landing. The doors E and F (Fig. 32), I 
 locked, securing that at E, leading from the bath-room to the passage, by pasting postage-stamp 
 salvage from the jamb, across the marble shield covering the key-hole, to the panel of the door.
 
 Oj! I\Talcrialisations ami Af^paridom fornicii icitli llic Jlfci/iinu in Full I 'icn: 177 
 
 To be doubl}' sure tlint wliilc tlic circle was being iield there was no possibility of communication 
 by means of the bath-room door for a confederate without my knowledge, I made private marks 
 on the door and door-post to indicate the exact position of the stamp-salvage, so that, assuming 
 for a moment that it was removed to allow the ingress of a confederatt-, it is liardly possible it 
 could have been replaced so exactly as to deceive subsequent scrutiny. 1 also examined the 
 bath inside. The windows — the rooms are on the second floor — look out on to the street ; they 
 
 
 Window 
 
 
 
 Wiiuiow 
 
 
 Window 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . - " 
 
 Duor. 
 
 
 
 Talili; 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 D 
 
 A 
 
 2 
 
 B 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 Iblli 
 
 3 
 
 — 
 
 14 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 - 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 _ 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 _ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 II 
 
 
 
 W.i-lislan.l 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 C 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 
 E 
 
 
 
 Door 
 
 
 
 
 F D 
 
 oor 
 
 ^.Tiulin^ 
 
 1. Mrs. EvERlTT, Lilian Villa, Holder's Hill, Heiulon, N.W. 
 
 2. Mr. E. DA\vso^J Rogers, Rose \'ill.i. Church End, Einchley, N. 
 
 3. Miss Helen Witiiall, 5, Angell Park G.irdens, Brixlon, S.W. 
 
 4. Mr. Everitt, Lilian Villa, Holder's Hill, Hendon. 
 
 5. Mr. H. Withali., 5, Anpcll Park Gardens, lirixton, S.^\^ 
 
 6. Mr. [■". M. Taylor, 6, I'insbury Chambers, E.C. 
 
 7. Mrs. Fearn, 23, Ledbury Road, W. 
 
 8. Mr. D. ViiiiNoKI!, 2-„ Lc.Umt) Roa.l, W. 
 
 ' 
 
 10. Mrs. X. 
 
 rr. Mr. John S. Farmer, 16, Craven Street, Strand, W.C. 
 
 12. Mr. R. I^EARi e, I.anarth House, Holder's Hill, Hendon. 
 
 13. Mrs. Peakce, Lanarth House, Holder's Hill, Hendon. 
 
 14. Mrs. Rogers, Rose Villa, Church End, Finchley, N. 
 
 Fig. 32. — Plan of Smi/rc-rooin. 
 
 are therefore, duly accounted for. Our experience on this particular evening, however, in no 
 wise depended on these precautions. 
 
 The circle consisted of fourteen persons, exclusive of Mr. Eglinton. Their names and 
 addresses arc given in Fig. 32, and tin figure opposite each name corresponds with tiie actual 
 position occupied in the circle, as indicated by a corresponding numeral on the diagram. 
 
 Across the door between sraitce-room and bath-room were hung two heavy curtains, and 
 I\Ir. Eglinton, when using the bath-room as a cabinet, sal at, or near the spot marked Q. 
 
 23
 
 178 'Twixt Tzvo Worlds. 
 
 1 have always louiid it dilTicull to describe the amount of hglit available for observation. 
 Comparisons are unsatisfactory, and yet I know of no means by which the amount of light 
 can be accurately gauged. On the present occasion 1 can only say that, though the gas-jjurner 
 at A was turned low, compared with the light actually used for lighting purposes in a small room, 
 yet it was sufficient to ehable me clearly to observe everybody and everytiiing in the apartment. 
 When the form that appeared walked to the spot at which I was sitting (No. 11), and stood 
 before me, I was able distinctly to note every feature ; indeed, were 1 to see the same face 
 amidst the crowds of Regent Street, 1 should positively be able to identify it. Moreox'er, tiie 
 night was a "light" one, and although a "long" blind was drawn down over tiie window at 
 the back of No. i sitter, yet a considerable amount of light came from tiiat source. After 
 the scaiuc, I tested tiiis by turning out the gas, and by this light alone I was able to distinguish 
 the subjects of pictures on the walls, being, however, unable to read the titles of some of the 
 engravings. It will thus be seen that although the light was technically "low" it was sufficient 
 for the clear and accurate observation of what occurred. On that point I am perfectl}' clear. 
 
 Passing by the preliminary occurrences on the evening in question as irrelevant to the 
 |)henomenon of the presentation of a form, e\olved in presence of all the observers and witii 
 the psychic in the circle in full view the whole time, 1 will give my observations in detail. 
 If my readers will note tiie position I occupied (No. 11), the^' will better understand my 
 narrative. 
 
 Coming from the iiuier room, apparently in a state of deep trance, ]\Ir. Eglinti_in i)aced up 
 and down the space formed by the circle. lie was restlessly spasmodic in his mo\ements, and 
 his hands, at times, convulsively clutched dilTerent parts of the upper portion of his bod}'. Twice 
 he paused, and, approaching Mr. Younger and Mr. Taylor, made passes over tliem. This parade 
 lasted for upwards of ii\e minutes, during tiie last three of which a brilliajit light — in size like 
 a half-crown piece — was observed by me, at first on his right side only, but just previous to the 
 next stage of the process, on his left side also, finally fluttering all over his breast. At the 
 last turn these tlisappeared, and upon Mr. Eglinton taking up his position at the point indicated 
 in tile diagram at B ••'"->' were not to be seen. All this time tlle breatiling of tlie ps^'chic had 
 been increasingly laboured and deep, accompanied at times with groans. 
 
 Now, standing at g, half-sideways towards me, 1 saw him (Mr. Kglinton), by a i[uick 
 movement of the fingers, gently draw, apparently from umler liis morning-coat, tlie top button 
 of which was fastened, a dingy, white-looking substance, if 1 may so describe what I have never 
 handled, and of the texture and make of which I have no knowledge. The movement of the 
 fingers was such as to draw it at right angles from him, allowing it to fall and hang by its 
 own weight down his left side. As it emerged from under his coat and fell, it gradually increased 
 in volume until it readied the ground, covering Mr. Eglintoii's left leg from the knee downwards, 
 the connecting link betw'een this portion and his side being preserved the wiiole time. The 
 mass of white material on the ground increased in breadth, and now commenced to pulsate and 
 move up and down, also swaying from side to side, the motor power being underneath the mass 
 of material, and concealed fioni sight by it. The dimensions of the mass would be about two 
 feet in height and, say, about three feet in length and breadth; but 1 was not favourably placed 
 to observe the last two dimensions. Looking at the facts in the light of the result, I should 
 say the upward pulsatory and the lateral swaying movements were caused by the action of the
 
 On Ma/cria/isa/ioiis and Appiiri/ions foniicd .ivV// ///c Mcdiitiu in l-'iill ]^icu\ 179 
 
 head of the " form " striking ngninst the material re'sling on the floor. The height incrtased 
 to three feet, and, shortly afterwards, tiie " form " quiei<ly ami quietly grew to its full stature, 
 carrying the above-mentioned tlingy white material with it. This Mr. Eglinton, by a (|uick 
 niovrmcnt of the hand, drew olV thr In ad of the " furni," the stulT itself falling back over the 
 shoulders and forming part of the dress of our visiter, it being in s(i'me way Ih-ndy fi.xed to 
 the rest of his apparel. All this time the link (^of the same white ajipearance as already 
 described) was maintained between the growing "form" and Mr. Kglinton, wlm had remained 
 in sight of all of us during the whole operaticm. The connecting link was either now com- 
 pletely severed, or became so attenuated as to be invisible, and the " form," with a majesty 
 and dignity one can ill describe, advanced to Mr. Everitt (No. 4), shook hands with iiim, and 
 passed round the circle, treating nearly every one in the same manner. rrom my position I 
 had an opportunity for prolonged and careful scrutiny. Upon his shaking hands with mc, 
 1, somewhat loth to loose my grasp, greeted him in this way three times. Passing on to Mr. 
 and Mrs. Pearcc (Nos. 12 and 13) and Mrs. Rogers (No. 14), he crossed the room to where 
 Mr. Rogers (No. 2) was sitting, shook hands with him and those sitting on cither side, and 
 then, stepping out into the room, neared the curtains of the bath-room door, re-approached 
 Mr. Eglinton, who was now partially supported from falling by Mr. Rogers, and, taking tlie 
 psychic firmly by the shonldcrs, dragged him into the cabinet. This is an accurate account of 
 what I observed of the actual formation and disappearance of the figure. I will now deal 
 with the other characteristics. 
 
 ,. /Jn-,>._The "form" was that of a man of middle age. Judging by usual methods, I 
 should put his age as fifty, more or less. It is obviously impossible, however, to state this 
 with any degree of accuracy, and I only mention it to sh.nv th.it its appearance was entirely 
 dilVercnt" from that of Mr. Eglinton, who attained his twenty-eighth year in the following 
 
 July. 
 
 2. //<■;;§///.— The figure was certainly taller than Mr. Eglinton— upon actual measurement 
 f.un- inches. I decided this by noting the stature by means of objects on the walls and after- 
 wards comparing the height of the medium in the same manner. y\nother means of testing this 
 fact was afforded on two occasions, when the " form " and the psychic were standing side by 
 side, both being firmly planted on the ground. The estimate obtained in this way tallied with 
 that obtained in the other way. 
 
 3. /rtcr.—The features were regular, full, and animated. I distinctly saw the forehead, 
 eyes, nose, and ears; the mouth was hidden by a full growth of dark hair on the upper 
 and 'lower' lips and chin. The beard, also dark, but tinged with grey, was long and (lowing, 
 divi<led in the centre, and falling upon the chest. The eyes were deeply .set, and the forehead 
 high. The hair on the head, though dark in colour, <Iid not appear to me so dark as that 
 
 of the beard. 
 
 4 /,7„,„.,.._This was massively built, an<l appeared solid and substantial. When passmg 
 nmnd th.'' circle the tread, though unheard, was distinctly felt. The shoulders were broad, 
 and the head was well set back upon then,. The feet 1 saw were naked, but 1 had no 
 o,,ponunity for further obs.Mvation. The hand to the touch was warm, .soft, and l.fe-hke, 
 and, although as broad as that -f Mr. Eglint-m, was longer, and its grip was firm and 
 hearty.
 
 i8o ' Tivixt Two ]\\i)-lth. 
 
 5. Clothing.- — Tliu " fi)iin " was apparelled in a white, flowing robe, fastened round the 
 waist by a girdle. It hung in folds upon the frame of the figure. That portion hanging 
 like a hood frnui the shoulders, and which formed the canopy under which the " form " 
 was made, was darker in cohjur and more substantial to the sight than the rest of the 
 garment. 
 
 6. Other Characteristics. — The whole " form " was full of life and animation. Though it 
 did not speak, it clearly understood and responded to every request made to it. Gratification 
 was indubitably e.xpressed by the face at the success of the experiment. A careful 
 solicitude was apparent on account of Mr. Eglinton. Twice when the latter was staggering 
 to the ground, the " form " turned away from the circle towards him, and grasped the white 
 connecting link between them, which again became visible towards tlic close of the experiment. 
 After the " form " had had a separate existence for some minutes, the medium, still in an 
 unconscious state, again drew forth the white material above-mentioned from his side and 
 under his coat, and stretched it out towards the " form," which eagerly grasped it. 
 
 Another noteworthy feature is the distance the " form " receded from the medium. The 
 farthest point reached was ten feet, as represented by the dotted line in diagram from B to 
 C- rhe distance from bath-room door to B was six feet. It must, however, be borne in 
 mind that the dotted lines from B to C tlo not represent the track taken by the form : it 
 approached within six inches of nearly everyone in the circle. 
 
 When the medium had returned to the cabinet, water was asked for by means of 
 rappings, and up<jn my entering the room with a glass of water, and while fiimbling in 
 the dark to reach Mr. Kglinton's mouth, 1 felt a " form " by my side, and my arm was 
 gently guided. 
 
 Tlie next day I wrote to each member of the circle, asking them to write out and 
 send me an independent account of what took jilace. This was done by nine of the other 
 witnesses. On some points of detail there were differences of opinion arising solely from 
 the \arinus positions occupied by the witnesses. i\ll the members of the circle were, 
 howexer, in complete .iccord as to the general facts. Those present who did nut send 
 independent acccumts of what took place, autlmrise me t<i state that they, after reading the 
 report, approved of it as a cormi st.itement. 
 
 Such an astounding phenomenon chd not pass without criticism. One critic considered the 
 evidence complete, but thought that, for tlie satisfaction of sceptics of a certain school, it 
 would have been as well to have added, " We all examined the floor and were satisfied 
 there was no trap-door below the pile of muslin, and we are also satisfied that no human 
 being could have crept along the floor under cover of the said pile of muslin fR)m the inner 
 room unobserved." In reply, 1 have to state, that I had not lost sight of these pleas, nor 
 had others of the witnesses done so. As regards the trap-door, there were many little 
 incidents in the scaucc incompatible with such a suggestion. I satisfied myself, however, 
 that nn]ic existed, and subsequently I had an opportunity of thoroughly examining the house 
 when empty, and I need hardly say 1 failed to discover any traces whatever of apparatus of this 
 kind. The fact is, the "trap-doors," and "fishing-rods," and "broom-sticks" are invented by 
 those who do not knoiu, and those who write from experience only laugh at such vagaries 
 of the imagination. As regards the possibility of a human being creeping along the floor under
 
 On Jfcr/iriir is //io/!s and Apparitions formed with tin- Midiiiiii in Full J 'ic7i'. iSi 
 
 cover of the " dnipcr}-," iinsccii by those present, I consider that it could not be dune. 
 1 sliould most certainly have observed such an occurrence, and sonic of the other sitters 
 were even more favourably placed for the observation of such an evint. 
 
 I also received a comt\nniirntioii in respect to this ])iienonienon from Mr. .S. \V. Watson, 
 of Birkb}', Huddersfield. This letter is a representative one ; therefore I (|uotc the relevant 
 passages, and deal seriatim with the points raised : — " It seems to me that the sr'ance, when 
 viewed by tiic unregenerate luti polloi, or by those who, like myself, occupy that border line 
 where we halt between two upinitMis, will appear most unsatisfactory and inconclusive. The first 
 weak point that occurs to me is — tiiat the scctucc should have taken place at the house of 
 the medium. On his men i^roiind, a clever conjurer is more than a match for the sharpest 
 and severest scrutiny. I think one might also ask — First, Was the ligiit sufficiently good to 
 enalile the nearest sitters, notably No. I and No. 14, to distinguish the curtain in front of 
 the bath-room door, and, as a matter of course, the space between the curtain and the spot 
 marked B in the plan ? Secondly, Assuming there was a sullicicncy of light, was strict watch kept 
 upon that part of the room previous to the appearance of the figure, and most particularly 
 during that remarkable downpour of muslin or whatever it might be ? It is a well-known plan 
 of conjurers to distract the attention of their audience, and this they can do in the fullest 
 light, and with the largest audience. Mow much easier, then, will it be in a darkened room, 
 and with a small audience, consisting, too — I tliink I am right in assuming— if not entirely, 
 principally of devout Spiritualists. I can conceive it pi,-rfectly easy to a skilful hand to 
 introduce his spirit, or rather for the spirit to introduce himself, while all eyes and attentions 
 were directed to that mystical manufacture of muslin; which latter, when piled in a large heap, 
 as it appears to have been, would afford a convenient shield while the figure was approaching. 
 Mind, I do not .say that it was so ; I only state the doubts and suspicions that arise in me. 
 But, to my mind, the weakest part, by far, in the whole seance is this, that when the 
 figure and the psychic disappeared through the curtain, there appears to be no record of any 
 prompt and accurate scrutiny of the batli-room. What ought to have been d..nc is this: some- 
 one should have been placed at the door leading into the bath-room, then the moment the 
 medium and tiie form had retired through the curtain, another person should have stationed 
 himself there ; after that, it docs not matter how many minutes you allow, it only remains to 
 search the bath-room carefully, very carefully, remembering it is his own house. Assuming all 
 this to have been done by shrewd, and at the same time by known trustworthy persons, 
 and better still if they were outsiders not connected with the circle — then, if no trace of the 
 mysterious visitant were discovered, I cannot conceive of but one opinion on the matter." 
 
 Although in some cases the fact of the seance having taken place at the residence of the 
 medium might be considered as detrimental to the value of the evidence, yet in this instance 
 the argument cannot fairly be held as applicable. The strength of the testimony for the 
 phenomenon lies in the fact of its being entirely independent of such precautions. Diligent and 
 careful search luas made, both previous and snh^cjnent to the seance, of the adjoining room, and all 
 means of access for a possible confederate were carefully barred. Even, however, if these 
 precautions had not been observed, the value of the evidence would not have been, in the 
 least degree, vitiated. If the testimony is carefully read it will he observed that (i) Mr. 
 Eglinton came alone from tiie inner n.om; (2) tiiat his every movement was plainly discernible ;
 
 1 82 ' Tioixt 7-iL'o Woi'Ids. 
 
 and (3) tliat tlie light was siifncicut for cartful obsci vatinn. How, then, even assuming, for 
 the sake of argument, that a confederate gained access to the iiuwr room, could he (the 
 confederate) have passed into the room in wiiich the "apparition" was formed unknown to one 
 or two at least of the fourteen witnesses ? Such an idea is the more manifestly absurd if it is 
 remembered that all testify that the light was good ; quite sufficient indeed to enable everyone 
 to see what was taking place, and enough to enable most of those present to observe in detail 
 the various stages of the phenomenon. Moreover, from the position occupied by Mr. I'^glinton 
 during the process, the gaze of all the observers was directed to that portion of the room in 
 which, to take part in what occurred, a confederate must have made his or her appearance. 
 I am personally perfectly satisfied that no man, woman, or child, could possibly' have passed 
 -through the door leading from the inner room to the sc'ancc-voom without my instantly 
 having become aware of it ; this also is the testimony of all my fellow-witnesses. In addition to 
 this, it must be remembered that I carefully secured the only means of ingress, searched the 
 room both before and after the sc'aiur, and found everything to my satisfaction. I have also 
 satisfied myself that the door in question is not "a trick door," as was suggested by the 
 notorious " broom-stick " investigator ; nor is there a trap-door at or near the spot at which 
 the apparition was developed, nor indeed in any part of the two rooms. This has been 
 ascertained by the most careful scrutiny. I do not, however, place much importance on this 
 fact, inasmuch as the results of this scaiicc were entirely independent of whether the door 
 was secured or not. But — that inevitable " but " — I did not look up the chimney (the circle 
 was between it and the "form"), and possibly someone got himself tied to the end of the 
 apparatus of some chimney sweeper and in that way gained access to the room, and tlwn — 
 why, all would be very easy ! 
 
 In answer to the question about the light, 1 must refer to the account already gixen. It 
 was, as a matter of fact — the description given is under rather than over-stated — sullicienlly 
 good to enable every person present to observe the curtains in question, and I have already 
 said .strict watch was kept. No amount of by-play would have so distracted my attention (nor, 
 1 am as.sureil, did it distract the attention of other witnesses to whom I have nienti-aud this 
 point) as to have rendered possible what is suggested. Mr. Watson's third question has 
 already been answered in dealing with the other points raised. 
 
 The whole matter really resolves itself into these alternatives: FJther fourteen persons 
 have united to perjure themselves, or tiiey were, one and all, siiiudtaneously di reived. 
 Whether either of these hypotheses is credible, or whether it is more likely that the fointeen 
 witnesses possessed just sufUcient every-day common-sense to observe accurately, and to record 
 faithfully, what they saw, I leave to others to judge. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that 
 to .some minds, "projecting teeth," "broom-sticks," "fishing-rods," an I " chinniey sweep's 
 tackle " are formidable obstacles to the acceptance of plain unvarnislied btatements of fact ! 
 As to the investigators being Spiritualists— 1 pass by the question as to whether they are 
 "devout" or not— such is the case. But that fact is no disqualification, provided tiny are, 
 111 addition, careful and |.atient sec kers for truth ; and caieriii paribus, their experience in 
 research of this kind would undoubtedly stand tlieiu in go<.d steail, compaird with the facilities 
 for observation and judgment at the command of those wIk, are conRsM.lly novices in tin-se 
 studies.
 
 (hi Mii/Liia/isa/ioiis and Apparitions formed -ioith the Afediiiiii in Full I'ienK 1S3 
 
 This seance was not tlic only occasiim on \vliii-li I liad obscrvi.-d this piicnuniinon "f tlic 
 presentation of an apparition in tiic light with the incciiuni in full view. M3' ohservatinn nn 
 the first occasion was, however, far from perfect, and so I abstained fi'oin a pul)licati(jn of llu 
 details. Olhirs, Imwivei', had been more fortunate, an<l I received a relation of a similar 
 experience from I\Ii'. j. 11. Mitrhener. Ills account is very interesting, as corroborating in many 
 respects the evidence just adduced. lie desires me, if I pidjlish it, to stale that he has simply 
 narrated facts as he observed them, and that the statement has not been submitted to the other 
 sitters. lie sa3's : — " Tlu^ srana' took place on the I Ith I'ebiLiary, 1SS5, the psychic being Mr. 
 Eglinton, whose character is so highly esteemed. The circle comprised eight persons, exclusive 
 of the sensitive or medium : four ladies and four gentlemen. By request, the gas was slightly 
 lowered, and, shortly afterwaids, the medium — or sensitive, as I prefer calling iiim- -came 
 intii the room where we were seated, and, in a state of apparent trance, marched backwards 
 and forwards in front of the sitters. In a few minutes, an appeaiance resembling a white 
 handkerciiief was seen to hang from his side, as from the trousers pocket. The sensitive then 
 pau.sed in front of me (I occupied a chair at one end of the circle), and seizing my hand, 
 retained it in his own with a coiuulsive gi"i|i dining the (irogress of the phenomen"n that 
 followed. Meanwhile the white vapour continued to come forth fioin the left side of the 
 sensitive, momentarily increasing both in volume and density. As it commenced to assume 
 the outline of a human form, it was watched by all with close attention and absorbing interest. 
 The sensitive struggled, as if to disengage his arm from me, yet never relaxing the death-like 
 grip of his hand. As the spectators continued gazing, the vapour— if vapour it can be called— 
 condensed, or if it were a substance, it contiacted, gradually assuming the shape of a human 
 being until the complete figure of a tall, handsome-looking man, with a dark beard, was 
 materialised before the eyes of the eight persons composing the circle. When fully developed, 
 the ' spirit ' was several inches taller than the sensitive. For several moments, ' spirit ' and 
 sensitive stood side by side— the sensitive being supported by the outstretched arm of tiie 
 'spirit' placed lovingly around him. At this point the sensitive released my iiand, and with- 
 drawing from tlie 'spirit' a distance of from three to four feet, revealed a white band, about 
 four inches in width, connecting his side with that of the spirit. The cord of spiritual 
 parturition was then severed. Mr. Kglinton stumbled backwards into iiis chair, which had 
 been placed behind the curtain, leaving the sitters alone with the 'spirit.' Our mateiialiseci 
 IViend then walked before the circle, siiook hands with me, anil wilii one or two others. 
 His hand was warm, and as firm to the touch, anil as powerful in the grip as that of 
 
 any human being." 
 
 Such testimony might be indefinitely prolonged ; and amongst otiiei witnesses who have 
 observed the same phenomenon may be mentioned Mr. C. Blackburn, Mr. Ilensleigh Wedgwood, 
 Miss Symons, of 43, Beaufort Street, Chelsea; Mrs. Lewis, of Weybridge Heath; Mr. F. W. 
 Benthall, of Heybridge ; Mrs. Raeburn, of Edinburgh ; Dr. Morell, LL.D. (late one of H.M. Inspectors 
 of Schools); Mr. M. Theobald, of Granville Park, S.F.. ; the Rev. J. K. I'liillips, of Oldiiam ; and 
 Miss Corner, of 3, St. Thomas Square, Haekney, but I have no room for further cases. Scattered 
 througii the periodical literature of Spiritualism, tiiere are nund.erless instances of the kind. 
 Surely, however, those I have <|uoted are sullicient to picxe the reality of this, the crowning 
 phase of spiritual phenomena ?
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 J'JLISES OF OPI'USITION ; SI'IRITUALISM AND ART ; AND A PROBLEM 
 
 FOR CONJURERS. 
 
 T liad liing been a moot point among intclligtnt Spiritualists whtther it was 
 permissible to admit neophytes or inquirers, with little prior knowledge, to mate- 
 rialisation seances. Having through long experience come to regard indiscriminate 
 introductions to meetings of this nature as injurious to the medium, and pro- 
 ductive of little, if any good to Spiritualism, Mr. Eglinton determined to make a 
 bold stand in the matter, as far as he was personally concerned, with, 1 think, 
 good results. Looseness of conditions has ever been the curse of Spiritualism. In a letter replying 
 to one received by him containing a request for a materialisation seance, at which it was con- 
 fessed there would be present several persons entirely ignorant of the subject, he pointed out 
 his position, and as the reasons given are sound and sufficient, I think it desirable to place them 
 on record in his own words : " I hold that a medium is placed in a very responsible position, 
 and that he has a right to satisfy, as far as he possibly can, those who come to him. Now, 
 my experience, which is a varied one, leads me to the conclusion that no sceptic, however well- 
 intentioned or honest, can be convinced by the conditions prevailing at a materialisation seance, 
 and the result is further scepticism on his part, and condenuiation of tlie medium. It is different 
 when there is a harmonious circle of Spiritualists, wh.i are advanced enough to witness such 
 phenomena, and with whum 1 shall always be delighted to sit ; but a neophyte nuist be 
 prepared by other methods. If yoiu" friend cares to come to a slate-writing seance 1 shall 
 be happy to arrange an hour, otherwise I must decline to sit for the reasons stated above, and 
 which must commend themselves to you as to all thinking Spiritualists." His correspondent, 
 I am pleased to say, saw the force and wisdom of these remarks. 
 
 1 have, as previously intimated, only quoted sample cases out of hundreds of reports of Mr. 
 Eglinton's seances which, during 1884 and 1885 especially, have flooded the Spiritualistic press, 
 and I am again obliged to do little more than briefly mention what were in reality very 
 important j)icces of evidence. 
 
 The Whitehall Rcviezu had for a long time, while under the able editorshii) of Mr. Watson 
 Lyall, himself a candid and patient investigator, preserved a calm, philosophical attitude 
 towards Spiritualism, if it could not be said to have thoroughly endorsed it. " But a king 
 arose in Egypt that knew not Joseph," and on Mr. Lyall's retirement it fell into evil courses. 
 Amongst its regular correspondents, however, were some who had had practical experience in 
 Spiritualism through Mr. Eglinton's instrumentality, and a well-deserved rebuke was forth-
 
 Phases of Opposition : Spiritualism and Art ; and a Problem for Conjurers. 185 
 
 o 
 
 witli administered. A correspondent wrote : — " I liave just seen a copy of a recent issue of 
 your paper, and I much regret to find tiiat you sneer, in an ignorant way, over the wonderful 
 gifts that Mr. Eglinton has received from his Maker. 1 say ' ignorant ' advisedly, because you 
 have no rigiit to sneer at anything that you know only by hearsay." A description of the 
 writer's experiences follows, and he winds up by assuring the Whtkhall Review that altiiough 
 there might be plenty of humbug mixed up with Spiritualistic phenomena, yet that " does 
 not the least affect the facts, absolute facts, such as 1 have just roughly laid before you, and 
 you will make a strange mistake if you allow your paper to sneer at the marvellous, yet most 
 simple acts of communion that are daily occurring between the spirit world and our own. The 
 Bible is one long history of this communion between the liea%'ens and the hells and earth. 
 Why should this have ceased, or how can it have ceased ? Our parsons' asseverations will 
 not alter God's laws." 
 
 TriitJi followed suit, but while the Whitehall Review was never vulgar or abusive, the 
 foiiner paper indulged in the most malignant and rancorous language, finding an able lieutenant 
 in Dr. Ray Lankester, of Bow Street notoriety. A lengthy correspondence took place in 
 the Pall Mall Gazette, introduced by a self-styled thought-reader, who, partly seeing an 
 pportunity of making some cajMtal for himself, and partly acting as a decoy of Mr. Labouchere, 
 entered the lists with a pseudo-challenge, the circumstances connected with which are already 
 familiar to the public. Dr. Lankester, however, deserves inmiortalising, and I am not altogether 
 unwilling to oblige him and his confrere. I cannot do this more elTectually than by quoting 
 some of the opprobrious terms used by him concerning Spiritualists in general and Mr. Eglinton 
 in particular. Mr. Labouchere was good enough to employ such epithets as "knave," "rogue,' 
 "cheat," "vagabond," while Dr. Lankester's superior erudition gave him a somewhat wider 
 choice in "sludge," "pickpocket," "unsavoury specimen of natural history," "vermin and skunk." 
 No wonder Mr. Eglinton was disinclined to meet the authors of bantlings like these, and I, 
 in common with the majority of Spiritualists, rejoice he did not fall into the trap, and demean 
 himself in such company. As he remarked, with true dignity, he could alTord to bide his 
 time. The facts will be acknowledged some day, when prejudice has grown tired of its vain 
 attempts to strangle them. There was, however, no lack of defenders, and a tribute is due to 
 Mr. A. P. Sinnett and Mr. C. C. Massey, amongst many others, for the loyalty to truth evinced 
 in connection with this matter. The Manchester Evening News was fair and courteous, and 
 pointed out that " to call an opponent by names, not usual in well-conducted society, might be 
 hard hitting, but it was not good manners," and it then proceede'd to give a short account 
 of one of Mr. Eglinton's psychographic seances. Figaro, in presenting a portrait of Mr. Eglinton 
 to its readers, thought it could not be denied that he was a " very clever individual," and con- 
 tented itself with a few very general observations, while ni the "greatest humbug" competition 
 started by the Pall Mall Gazette, he comes fourteenth on the list with only nine votes, out- 
 running, however, Madame Blavatsky, who only polled four. Such is the distinction made 
 between fame and notoriety. 
 
 Mr. C. B. Ilankey, of Stanstead, Emsvvorth, had a curious experience at a seance at Mr. 
 Eglinton's, in the course of which he recovered some lost projierty by spirit agency; and a 
 little later Mrs. Cowley, well known to many Spiritualists, relates some interesting incidents which 
 succeeded other remarkable experiments in psychography. She states :—" Mr. Eglint..n, who 
 
 24
 
 1 86 ''I\i.'ixl 'J\'o ll'oi'/cis. 
 
 bccaine much agitatLil, said lie saw a \'ision. Closing his eyes, he slowly narrated llie par- 
 ticulars of a scene in the earl}' life of a departed relative, which was at once recognised 
 as true by my friend and myself Still holding my hand, Mr. Eglinton became more and 
 more agitated, at the same time describing the unhappy state of the lady in some part of 
 her earth-life. Me rose from his seat, and paced the room in great apparent suflering and 
 agitation. His left arm began moving convulsively, and suddenl}' he sat down, begging I 
 would hold fast his right hand, saying, ' Look ! look ! Your friend is trying to show you her 
 name on the back of my hand!' llis left hand was now clenched on tlie table. We could 
 see nothing at first on the back of his hand, but presently faint red lines began to appear, 
 rising, as it were, under the skin, growing darker by degrees, until the, to me, well-known 
 name of the lad}' — not a very common one — appeared distinctly complete. After remaining for 
 a few seconds for our inspection, the letters faded away. After other manifestations, I was 
 patted se\-eral times on my knees, and arms, and wrists by in\isible lingers. My Iriend's 
 handkereliief was taken several times frcim her lap, and at length ajipeared on the opposite side 
 of the room. Materialised hands then made their ai)peaiance from under the edge ol the table. 
 They Were tif difl'erent forms. One a|)peared close to me, sitting as 1 was some ilistance Iroui 
 Mr. l'"glinton, which was disciilKd by my fi iend as a ' hing-lingi. red one.' Mr. I'.glinlun's lelt 
 hand during these occurieiices continued to hold the slates, while his right hand was grasped by 
 my C(.ini[Kinion, and his feet were in full \iew thrnuyluiut. The phenomena were rapidly 
 produced, with great powei', but it is ilillicult to describe the continuous occLU'rence of character- 
 istic cijmnuniicati(jns on faiiiil}' and [)ri\ate matters, which could not but convince us of the 
 identity of our spirit friends." 
 
 In February, 1885, out of tlefercnce to the efforts of Mr. J. (i. Speed, the editor of the 
 I'lvosloii Mirror, to extenil a knowletlge of Spiritualism, a Hying visit was niaile to the Furness 
 district, and se\'en seances were given to scinie of the leading inhabitants of LHverston. The 
 admissiiin ol (uie uneducated and unscrnpulnus person, however, caused sonu- little ainidyance, as 
 he eiideav.iuivd In make capital by asserting that I\lr. Fglinl'jn had used a "trick table." It is 
 true, a tahlr was taken nn the occasion by him lo L'lvei.ston, but it consisted simply of a llat 
 piece ol board with ioui K gs to it, and was taken owing to the dillicidty sometimes e.xpeiienced 
 in getting one which wonkl allow the slate to be pressed lirndy against the "bed" of the table. 
 At the time it was used it was [Jionounced satisfactory, and a certificate to that effect was 
 volunteered li)' llu individiud in (|uestion. It was only when some idea of making money out 
 of the altair entered his mind that he began to cavil, and liually his untruthful statements and 
 false representations showed that the man was not worth notice. Though the table was taken 
 by Mr. Lglinton with the best of motives, he, in \iew of [jossible misconcei)tion, never used it 
 again. A li\el}- correspondence on Spiritualism in Uie local [laper ensued, resulting in a 
 considerable impetus being given to the movement. 
 
 In the meantime arrangements had been made for another Continental trip, \'ienna being 
 the most important resting place, and he left London on the 2jrd February lor Paris iii roiilc 
 for that city. In i'aris he became the guest of i\L Pilo, a Swedish friend whom he had con- 
 verted in Stockholm. While in Paris he had the pleasure of meeting RL Fissot, the celebrated 
 French i^osrc [lainter, whose attention had been drawn to Spiritualism by reading a translation in 
 one ol the f rench papers of Florence Marryat's account of a materialisation to which 1 have
 
 P/iascs oj Ojijiosi/ioii : Spirittialism and ylr/ ; and a Probhiu for Conjurers. \^i 
 
 already advc itoil. The sniiicr.'^ hr liad witli Mr. I'^lint.'n quite won liim over to our ranks, 
 and resulted in a determination on his part to visit England later in the year to y" ihrongh a 
 regular course of investigation. This he did with the most satisfactory results, ohtaining clear 
 and irrefragahle e\'idencc as to the identity of the spirits communicating with him through Mr. 
 Eglinton's mcdiumship, lioth in connection with psychography and inaterialisatioii. At the last 
 and culminating scniicc he had a touching and iMiic|uc experience. The veil was lifted, and he saw 
 one whose sweet companionship had lieen his joy and solace in years gone by. It is not 
 ]iossible or right that such sacred e.\[Hriences should be revealid in their fullest expression to 
 an unsympathetic world, hut the few details of the si'micr 1 am enabled to give will no douht be 
 acceptable to those whose knowledge bids them lend a listening ear. 
 
 The s/'(Ui;-f (a private one) took place on the 20th May, and there were present, besides 
 M. Tissot and the me-Jium, three ladies and one gentleman. After the usual prelimiuaiies of a 
 dark si'tviir, Mr. Eglinton took his place in an easy-chair close to M. Tissot's right hand, and 
 so remained the whole time. The doois were all locked, and the room otherwise secured. 
 After conversing for a time two figures were seen standing side by side on M. Tissot's left 
 hand. They were at first seen very indistinctly, but gradually they became more and more 
 plainly visible, until those nearest could distinguish every feature. The light carried by the 
 male figure ("Ernest") was exceptionally bright, and was so used as to light up in a most 
 cficctive manner the features of his companion. M. Tissot, looking into her face, immediately 
 recognised the latter, ami, much overcome, asked her to kiss him. This she did several times, 
 the lips being observed to move. One of the sitters distinctly saw "Ernest" [ilace the light 
 in such a position that while M. Tissot was gazing at the face of the female form her features 
 were "brilliantly illuminated;'' it also lighted M. Tissot's face. After staying with him for 
 S'Mne minutes, she again kissed him, shook hands, and vanished. 
 
 'This incident M. Tissot subsequently chose as the subject for a mezzotint entitled 
 "Apparition Mediumiquc," which has now become the wonder and talk of the artistic world. 
 Two figures are disclosed, set against a dark backgronnd— one a sweetly pretty female form, 
 with the head Mightly thrown back and resting on the shoulder of the companion by her 
 side. Her face bears an expression of wistful tenderness, wliich tells its own tale of ha|>py 
 reunion. 
 
 "Peace, let it be. T love him still, and slinll Invo him for ever; 
 The dead are not dead, but alive." 
 
 "Ernest's" face reveals the noble spirit he is— full of solicitude and compassionate love of 
 his kind. The ideal which those who have cune in contact with him must have formed (I 
 can speak for myself j is here fully portrayed. In both figures the hands are held half open in 
 front, "Ernest" bearing the light with which their faces are illumined. 
 
 As a work of art there is no question of its merit. Powerfully conceived and happily 
 rendered, the picture tells its own tale, and is a lasting monument -.f the artist's appreciation 
 of the blessing bestowed by spirit communion. 
 
 This is not the only acknowledgment which M. Tissot has rendered of his indebtedness 
 to Mr. Eglinlon-s mcdiumship. When made aware of the proposed publication of this volume, 
 l,e very kindly offered to present Mr. Eglinton with a portrait etching to serve as a frontis-
 
 I 88 
 
 Tivixl Tii'o JJ'(>r/(/s. 
 
 piLCc, his idea being tu iiupicss his pencil and graver into the service of SpirituaMsiii, by 
 depicting from tiie life one of the many nceting but, if accurately recorded, valuable aspects 
 of niediumsJiip. lie, in coMUiicm with otJier keen observers, iiad often noticed the change in 
 
 Mr. Willi, nil K^lilltull. 
 
 the facial expression of tlie medium while inider contidl, ur whiii direct writing was being 
 obtained. This transformation is most marl<ed at tin- perind when the phenomenon actually 
 takes place, and M. Tissot believed he should b- tloing a sei-vice to spiritual science, which few 
 could 'render, it he placed on permanent record this strange feature of niediuniship. Those who
 
 /V/i/sis of (^/>/>t>.u7/oi/ : Sp/n'/ii i/isiii mid ./;-/,• nitd a Proh/ciii for Coii/iiiris. iS) 
 
 arc engaged in tliis reseaicli need all tlic light that can be obtained fron) any source vvliatcvei", 
 and speaking from ni}' own jiersonal observation and what others have told nie, M. 'lissot has 
 been singularly successful in his object. How great the change which takis |ilaec at such 
 times may be seen by comparing M. Tissot's etching with the pmtrail of .Mr, ICglinton 
 facing this page. The latter is from a photograph taken in Vienna in Marcii, 18.S5. 
 
 While Mr. Kglinton was in Paris, he had a sr'iiiirr with M. Detailie, the great painter 
 of battle scenes. M. Richet, the distinguished savaiil and editor of the Nrritr Bibliolliiqiir, 
 also hail some startling exjierienees, an account of whi<h he promiseil to publish in that 
 work. Wisliing, however, to verify his results, he abstained from doing so until he iiad 
 had i'urther experience, and on the occasion of a subsequent visit to London, he, in company 
 with Dr. Myers, brother of Mr. W. F. 11. Myers, of I ler Majesty's ICducation Department (who, 
 by tlie wav, has also had several interesting sittings), obtained the most absoluti- conlirmation 
 of the I'acts, and in such ;i manner as completely to upset the " thought transference," or 
 " unconscious secondary-self" theories, he had devised as an explanation of them, and an 
 aceciunt of which, 1 believe, he has prepared for publication. 
 
 Amongst other old friends whom Mr. Eglinton met during his short stay in the I'rencii 
 capital was Mr. J. II. Gledstancs, of Bordeau.x, who came specially to Paris to meet him. 
 IC.xcecdingly loth to say good-bye to this and other friends, he, after three days' stay, left 
 Paris for Vienna, where he arrived on the 28th February. Baron du Prel, the well-known 
 Munich sat'diil and litttratrni; had come specially to meet Mr. Kglinton, and to be present at 
 some seances. He has since published a most interesting and valuable account of his 
 experiences under the title of "A Problem for Conjurers." He describes four out of the 
 many seances at which he was present, three of which were in full light and the fourth 
 only in darkness. Pointing out the fallacy of the argument that the .slates used for the 
 direct writing are prepared beforehand, and also the inadequacy of similar stock arguments, 
 he proceeds to narrate his personal experience. This is similar in character to much of 
 the best evidence I have already recorded, but 1 must forbear the temptation to n peat, and 
 pass on to a brief summary of the conclusions at which he arrived, giving, however, a 
 representative and unique case. He says, describing a seaiur which took place at the 
 residence of Baron Hellcnbach, "Our slates lay upon a table illuminated by three gas- 
 burners ; Eglinton, whom we left completely to himself, evidently soon lapsed to a state of 
 semi-consciousness, acting instinctively and without conscious will. He asked Baron Ilellenbach 
 for a blank sheet of paper, and when a packet was handed to him (taken out of a 
 writing-case, of rather stitT note-paper, about the size of a post-card) he took a sheet, 
 laid it upon the table, then went to a bookcase, took out a book at hazard, which he 
 likewise laid upon the table. He then tore off a corner of the sheet of note-paper, which 
 he put in my hand, after which he placed the blank sheet in the book, placing likewise a 
 morsel of lead pencil in it, and then closed it. We then united our six hands together 
 above the book, Eglinton kneeling between us on the floor, when Baron Hellcnbach put a 
 question on a matter connected with his private affairs and studies, which demanded a long 
 answer. In a very few seconds I thought I felt the vibration of the writing in one of 
 my hands ; and when I put my ear down to the book, I distinctly heard the muffled sound 
 that rapid writing, under such circumstances, W(juld produce. 'ihree quick raps, coming in the
 
 \cjo ' Ti^<ixt T%co ]\'orld.s. 
 
 .s;inic imifllecl inanncr fniiii iIil- I)oc)1<, iiifuniicd us (as iisiialj that \vc slioiikl oiilii it, and mi 
 doing so \vc fouiul tlic laid}- i)laiik slieet of iiotc-papcr covered witli tjiiity ilubcly-wiittci) 
 lines. The corner of thi- pa[)cr which was torn off, witii its edges sharji and jagged, on 
 account of the thickness cjf the paper, fitted exactly ; while a later examination showed a slight 
 impression of this on the tiiji page of the book, though not the slightest mark of the- pencil. 
 'I he message was written in the English language, but was not finished, and onl}' [lartly 
 answeied the qnestidii which had been put. Mr. ICgliiitun now jiushed the slates lying upmi 
 tlu' talile neaiei' to ns, .and placed a blank sheet of jiajier in one of them, which was a double- 
 lolding slate, and another .siniil.u' bluet betwieii two oidinaiy slates, laiil one on the other, 
 providing each with a jioint of pencil, and, with obx'ious eftbrt, made several magnetic passes 
 above the iolding slate, probably because the wooden frame in which it was bound rtiulered 
 the experiment more difficult. We then spread our hands on both slates, and Baron Ilcllenbach 
 declared, after a few seconds, that he could feel tlie wiiting going on inside the slates on which 
 Ills hands alone were resting. I laid m}' head di.wn to tiie other, and distinctly heaul the 
 writing going on within them. Now, again, the raps were heard; we opened the slates, and 
 found on one sheet twenty-eight, and on the other twenty-four closely-written lines, completing 
 the answer already begun on the first sheet, which had lieen placed inside the book, and 
 written in well-chosen language, and \ery intelligently. The writing was quite unlike that of 
 Eglinton himself, with wliich 1 afterwards compared it. On the other hand, it e.xactly 
 resembled not only the signature of ' Ernest,' but the handwriting on another slate, which 
 had been given whiii 1 was ncjt present, in the English, German, and Greek languages. If 
 the sceptic denies us the cajiacity of sight, and asserts that Eglinton was able to write with 
 rapidity eighty-two lines unseen by us, by the light of three gas-burners, in answer to a 
 question which had not yd been put, on the sheets of jiaper which had been handed to 
 him, it heie really seeing as though siepticibir, carrieil !■ ■ an undue point, strongly re semiiles 
 idi(jtc3'." 
 
 The Ingical deductions drawn b}' Haron iln I'rel are thus stated: " ( )ne' thing is cli ar ; 
 that ib, that these slate-writings nuist be asciil)ed to a transcendental oi igin. We shall find 
 (l) that the h^'pothesis of pre|iaied .slates is inadmissible. (Z) The [ilace on which the writing 
 is foiiiid is quite inaccessible to the hands of the nieiliunr In some cases the dnuble slat(; 
 is secmely loek( d, having only luom inside fur the tiny morsel of slate pencil. (3) That the 
 writing is actually done at the time. (4) That the nudium is not writing. (5; The writing 
 nnist be actually diaie with the morsel of slate or lead pencil. (6j The writing is tlone by 
 an intelligent being, since the answers are exactly pertinent to the questions. (7) This being 
 can read, write, and understand the language of human beings, fre(|uently such as is unkmavn 
 to the medium. (8) It strongly resembles a human being, as well in the degree of its intelligence 
 as in the mistakes sometimes made. These beings are therefore, although invisible, of human 
 nature, or species. It is no use whatever to fight against this proposition. (9) If these beings 
 speak, they do so in human lajiguage. (10) If they are asked who they are, they answer that 
 they are beings who have left this world. (11) When these appearances become partly visible, 
 perhaps only their hands, the hands seen are of human form. (12) When these things become 
 entirely visible, they exhibit the human form and countenance. . . . Spiritualism must be investigated 
 by science. I should look upon myself as a coward if 1 did not openly express my convictions.
 
 P/tascs of Opposition: Spij'iiit.i/isiii and . I >/ . and a Prohlcni for Conjurers. 191 
 
 For tliroiigh Eglintoii I have received the proof tliat Zolliu r, who was the first in Germany to 
 have courage to speak of these slate-writings, discovered a grand truth, and that all iiis 
 opponents wlio have neither read nor seen anything in this domain arc in the wrong."' 
 
 During Mr. Kglintoii's residence in X'ienna he had twenty-tiuee sconces, every one of 
 which was eminently successful, only two ot them being given at his hotel. Among those 
 attendijig these seances were the Baron and Baroness Urasche, Prince Auersperg, I'rincc and 
 Princess Trautmansdorff, Count Esterhazy, Count Lemberg, Prince Lcmberg, Count Meklenburgh, 
 Count and Countess Traun, Marquis and Marcliioness Pallavicini, Count Jennison, Count Cs;iky, 
 Prince Batthyany, Countess Kuhnborg, Ilcinrich and Madame Ma.\ (Ma.\-EherK r, the celebrated 
 painter). Count and Countess Ilarrach, and many otiicrs of note. 
 
 One remarkable materialisation seance took place at Baron Drasclic's, Mr. Eglinton being 
 held by Baron du I'n-l and the P)aroness Drasche. On tiiis occasion the materialised form 
 Went to the extreme end of a large room. These and other equally satisfactory results all 
 tended to extend |niblic interest and conlidence in Spiritualism, and Mr. Eglinton left Vienna 
 c-in the lytli Mnreli, ha\ing been the means of giving a great and lasting impetus to the movement. 
 In view of the opposition and piejudice wiiich existed against Spiritualism in consequence of 
 previous events, Mi". Eglinton exhibited considerable pluck in going to Vienna at all, and deserves 
 congratulation for the unpriialleled success he achieved. An engagement had been made for him 
 witli the Crown Prince, but he was nuich disappointed at the event not coming off, in consequence 
 of urgent .Stjite alTairs inevenling Prince Rudolph keeping the appointment. 
 
 Froiu X'ienna he went to Venice, and there gave several seances with great success. .These 
 were attended by the Princess Mettcrnich, Count Esterh.izy, Prince Chctwertinski, and many 
 others He afterwards discovered Venice is a veritable hotbed of Spiritualism, and that meetings 
 arc regularly held there, an account of some of which appeared in a recent number of the 
 5/. James's Gazelle. Eroiu \'enice his mute lay b}' Milan to Basle, and fiom tlicnce to Paris, 
 wliere he was again the guest of M. Pilo. 
 
 Ml". I'^glinton was naturallj' ver}' proud of his successful tour, made under spiritual direction, 
 in the face of much adverse counsel, and In- returned to London, where he has since remained, 
 liivinn seances with renewed success, but it is his inlenlion shortly to \'isit Russia ;uiil .\ustralia, 
 thus jiulting a girdle round the world.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 CONCLL'SIUN. 
 
 'ORD BLACKBURN, one of the soundest lawyers wliu has ever sat on the 
 Englisli bench, has laid it down as a |)rinciple uf evidence that a fact can 
 be established by credible testimony as to the time, place, and circumstances 
 of its occurrence. Applying this dictmii to the phenomena recorded in the 
 foregoing pages, there seems little to be desired in reference to the com- 
 pleteness of the evidence. The witnesses are credible, sane, and otherwise 
 competent persons ; their testimony is given in a clear, straightforward manner ; and the 
 facts to which they testif}' do not moreover rest upon the isolated assertion of any one 
 man, or set of men. 
 
 On the other hand, when we come to deal with those who deny the occurrence of 
 phenomena such as those in question, we liiid that they are persons in whom experience 
 is either altogether absent, or meagre in the extreme. Moreover, the testimony I have 
 presented is affirmative ; negative evidence, no matter how abundant, is absolutely valueless 
 in face of it. Ten men only may observe, for example, a transit of Venus, but their 
 testimony to this fact would outweigh that of ten thousand, or indeed that of ten luiUion 
 nun who might assert that thej' haii not seen such a phenomennn. The same 
 reasoning may be ap[)lied with equal force to si)iritual phenomena, and, bearing in mind 
 the fact that experience shows human testimony is, as a rule, reliable, it seems legitimate 
 to conclude that the facts recorded in this volume are real and true. 
 
 I have just pointed out that the witnesses 1 have called fulfil the necessary conditions. 
 They are credible, reputable, and of acknowledged sanity as regards the general affairs of 
 every-day life. In many cases the bare mention of their names sufliciently establishes that 
 fact. All the learned, civil, and military professions are represented, and the list ct)ntains 
 the names of many who are, in other walks of life, honoured and resi)ected of their 
 fellows. In short, this record of upwards of ten years' jniblic work is specially remarkable 
 for the wealth and weight of the evidence it contains. So abundant, however, were the 
 materials at my command, that the chief difficulty I have encountered has been the con- 
 densation of my narrative within reasonable limits. Otherwise 1 could ha\e filled at least 
 three volumes similar to this one. 
 
 In addition to those who have been already referred to in these Jiages, the under- 
 nieiitioiied have had seances with Mr. Eglinton. Here again, however, these do not
 
 Conclusion. 193 
 
 represent a tithe of tlie luiiiiber of ilistinguislicd persons who have been or are investigators 
 into Spirituahsni ; many names, especially of those moving in the highest social circles, I 
 am not pcmiitteii to gi\e. The Duchess of Manchester, Julia Countess of Jersey, Countess 
 of Caithness, Countess Wachtmeister, Countess of Portsmouth, Lady Graiuillc Gordon, Lady 
 Macdiinald, Lady Alice Montague, Countess dc Grey, Countess of Halhousie, Larl Stanhope, 
 Earl of Dunraven, Earl of Crawford and Balcarrcs, Lord Poltiiiiore, Lord Ednam (now Earl 
 Dudley), Lord Rayleigh, Sir Charles Nicholson, Sir William Topham, Sir Edward Inglcfield, 
 Sir Stuart Hogg, Hon. Anberon llcrbi-rt, Mr. Jacob Hrighl, M.l'., RiLjht Ibm. Henry 
 Chaplin, M.P., Mr. Charles McLaren, M.P., Right Hon. A. Halfour, M.P., Mr. Chaml)erlaiii 
 (son of Right ll(jn. J. Chamberlain), Colonel the Hon. Oliver Montague, Colonel Ellis 
 (equerr}' to the Prince of Wales), Mr. Hamilton Aide, Mr. Richard llutton, editor of 
 the Spectator, Professors Crookes, Wallace, Sidgwick, Barret, Balfour Stewart, Oliver Lodge, 
 etc., may, however, be mentioned. 
 
 Taking a list of sitters for the past year, I fiiul the military element — next to 
 persons of social distinction — predominant ; and next in order come the clergy, followed by 
 doctors of medicine, barristers, solicitors, and litterateurs, men of science coming last, 
 
 I am not now concerned to give a detailed analysis of Mr. Eglinton's public work 
 for Spiritualism ; the time for that is not yet ripe ; nor is it part of my purpose to 
 discuss tlieorics. I may, liowever, be permitted to indicate a few characteristic features of 
 Mr. Eglinton's career which, even at this early date, stand out in b.)ld relief. In paying 
 a high tribute to his character as a man and a medium, I am speaking as the chosen 
 mouthpiece of thousands of Spiritualists who have for him nothing but the warmest feelings 
 of regard and esteem : of that he may rest fully assured. As an indication of the 
 estimate in which his character and al)ilities are held, I may menti<'n that a prominent 
 member of the present administration offered him an important Government appointment 
 abroad— a fitting honour after ten years' public work. This, however, he did not sec his 
 way to accept. 
 
 Chiefest amongst his characteristics as a medium is the intelligent interest he has 
 always shown in his work. Placed in a situation of rare temptation and danger— for 
 such the profession of public mcdiumship assuredly is— he has never to my knowledge 
 (and my opportunities for observation have extended over thirteen years) prostituted or 
 abused his wonderful gifts. On the contrary, he has ever aimed at a high ideal, and 
 has sought to raise the tone, not only of mcdiumship, but likewise that <if the movement 
 generally— oftentimes in face of much that was calculated to discourage and dishearten all 
 but the most steadfast worker. Those who imagine mcdiumship to be an uiK|ualilied 
 blessing do not know how much is suffered and endured by those who, like the subject 
 of this volume, are the pioneers of the New Reformation. They are the prey of envy, 
 malice, and suspicion ; their very manhood is too frequently lowered by the frequent 
 indignities they are called upon to suffer on behalf of the truth which they promulgate ; 
 whilst the too great readiness of many Spiritualists to sei/.e upon every littl.- breath of 
 scandal circulated to the detriment of public characters, is nothing short of a burning 
 shame. Alas that such should be tin case! but I should not be doing my duty did 
 1 not piotest strongly in this respect, and raise my voice against those who, instead of 
 
 25
 
 191 
 
 'Twixl Ttjo I Vol ids. 
 
 being tlic fir.st lo exercise chaiit3' ami exteiicl tlicir pnilecting iiinueiice, arc only luo keen 
 to add to the list of trouble endured by those who do so much for the cause. 
 
 As 1 iiave said, Mr. Eglinton has ever loyally striven to raise the tone of uiediunishi|). 
 A striking instance of this occurred when he cordially extended his sympathy and assistance 
 to those who, in spite of overwhelming odds, carried to a victorious issue the crusade against 
 the abuses which had crept into public circles, damaging the reputation of all mediums, and 
 making Spiritualists ridiculous in the eyes of the world. Nor does his record show him to have 
 been at all backward in placing every reasonable facility in the way of honest sceptics in 
 order to remove doubts and difficulties. I know from personal experience (for only recently 
 has full satisfaction come to me in regard to some of the mysteries of spiritual inquiry) 
 that he places great stress on absolute frankness and good faith on the part of the 
 investigator, and desiderates almost beyond everything else the necessity of the confidence 
 thus generated in order to obtain the best results. To this 1 attribute nuich of my 
 own success in this investigation. 1 have ne\er failed to speak openly and hankly to 
 Mr. Eglinton and his controls on any doubtful or inexplicable point, and as frankly and 
 openly have he and they met me. 
 
 With regard to the \'alue of Mr. Eglinton's public work there can be no question. 
 This book is a standing monument to that end. My narrative will have told its own 
 tale with reference to the quality of the evidence ; of the quantit}', the subjoined table is 
 equally explicit. 
 
 Veur. 
 
 Profession.il 
 Sc'a/tars. 
 
 Non- 
 professional 
 Seances. 
 
 bucccsses. 
 
 Absolute 
 Failures. 
 
 Total No. 
 of Str'tinit-s 
 per year. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 ' Mr. I'^LjIinloii did not keep any record 
 during these years. 
 
 - Until these two years Mr. EyUiUon 
 did not give a single scarce on his own 
 premises. Tims, 1972 sittings were lield 
 in various private liouses in all quarters 
 of llie worl<l, but a large proportion of 
 the 1884-5 J-'^'w^'i liave also not been held 
 at his residence. 
 
 ■' Since 1880 Mr. Eglinton ke|n a fairly 
 accurate record of the alniospherie con- 
 ditions (hiring his u'iu/<,-i, and it is found 
 that of the i7otot,il faihucs in 1884-5 '1'^' 
 weather has been cither very wet, damp, 
 or depressing in the majority of instances. 
 
 ' It \sill be observed that out of the 
 ttjial number of ulaiucs of which Mr. 
 Kglinton has any record, viz., 3,335, 
 more than onc-tkhd have been given 
 apart from any pecuniary consideration. 
 
 1874 
 
 187s 
 1876 
 
 1877 
 1878 
 1879 
 1880 
 1881 
 1882 
 
 i88j 
 1884^ 
 i885-' 
 
 70 
 128 
 
 204 
 193 
 
 7 
 109 
 
 123 
 
 72 
 
 5 
 
 659 
 
 605 
 
 135 
 112 
 
 "35 
 78 
 87 
 
 '31 
 72 
 
 104 
 
 III 
 96 
 48 
 51 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 170 
 
 158 
 
 99 
 
 "5 
 146 
 
 I 
 
 5-n 
 425 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 85 
 91 
 31 
 
 '^ 
 
 1 
 
 91 
 133 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 27 
 31 
 
 8 
 
 22 
 35 
 24 
 >3 
 
 <¥ 
 
 330 
 
 155 
 182 
 263 
 282 
 280 
 ■38 
 181 
 227 
 
 •8j 
 
 1 101 
 707 
 656 
 
 Total... 
 
 2.175' 
 
 1,160' 
 
 1.664 
 
 522 
 
 3.335 
 
 The range of his niediumship beeiiis only to have been limited by the boinids of the 
 subject Itself, although psychugraphy and materialisation stand out most prominently. It is, 
 I think, a matter for congratulation that in their far-seeing wisdom his controls directed his 
 attention more especially to psychography— by far the most suitable of the phenomena 
 for general demonstration. Few people are aware, however, of the prolonged course of 
 development tlirotigli which Mr. Eglinton passed before his power in thi= respect reached the 
 re.iuisite degree of perfection, allowing him, at tlie commencement of 1884, to devote his special 
 attention to it. For upwards of three 3'ears he bat almobt daily for thib phenomenon, and not a 
 scratch was obtained. Sustained, however, by an assurance from his invisible co-workers of
 
 Coiic/tision. 195 
 
 ultimate success, In- pcrscvcrcil, anil at length gut sini|)le marks; then short Wiictls; and llnally 
 connected, intelligible messages, but imt until another weary six months of expei-iinent liad 
 passetl. A distinct development can also be traced din'ing the past two years, until success is 
 now almost uniform. Just failures enough occurring to remind him and his visitors that it is not 
 always permitted to men, or spirits cither, to couimaiul success. These failures are in many 
 cases the result ol' a manifest hostility to the subject on the part of the sitl<r. Such an 
 attitude is an iid'allible barrier to success. Honest sceptics, however, though more diflicult to 
 deal with than sympatbetie sitters, are sooner or later sure to iililain cousiction. Amongst the 
 causes of failure constant observation shows the contlition of the weather to bt the most prolilic. 
 Ill foggy, damp, or thundery weather, or during extreme heat, or if there is any ilisturbanee of 
 the atmosphere, the siviircs are usually poor, if not total failures. The best phenomena have 
 occurred in ctild, dry, crisp weather. 
 
 The readiness with which manifestations have been obtaineil at the private residences of 
 iincstigators is another noteworthy feature. For a long period lie never gave a single sconce on 
 his own premises, and he is still at all times ready to comply with any reasonable re([uest of 
 this nature. In practice, however, he soon fouiul that few people deemed it convenient to hold 
 sc'diiccs at their own rooms. 
 
 Not the least valuable' of the contiibulions to oiu' store of knowledge concerning 
 Spiritualism obtained through Mr. Eglinton's mediumshiii have been those illustrating the 
 identity of returning spirits with our common humanity. Scattered through the foregoing pages 
 there are many instances in which it is recorded that the communicating intelligences have 
 exhibited the special peculiarities of personal appearance, and have disjilayed the same 
 idiosyncrasies of character and habit which they possessed during their term of earthly life. 
 They are reported to ha\e given information oftentimes unknown to any one save themselves 
 and those for whom they wished to establish their identity — and in some instances they have 
 revealed facts concerning themselves unknown to any one present, which have only been 
 verified after prolonged inquiry. They have written their messages in a style of handwriting 
 characteristic of the persons they claim to be, and in many ways have given all reasonable 
 jiroof in supiiort of their iilentity. Therefore, viewing the question in all its bearings, it 
 seems to me that unless we are i)repared to reject human testimony altogellui, and to consider 
 proof of identity (in the absolute) as unattainable, we cannot legitimately refuse to regard the 
 continuity of human personality after death as an established fact. If, however, this matter of 
 spirit identity is looked upon as lying outside the range of absolute proof, then, to be logical, 
 those who assume this position must also view the question of proving the identity of their own 
 individualities from the same standpoint. The argument is as potent in the latter case as in 
 the former; indeed the absence of the chief motive (pecuniary gain), which tempts a man in 
 the body to personate another, makes the theory of personating spirits more dillicull ol belief. 
 I say nothing here of tin- view which reganls these returning spirits as emissaries of the 
 prince of evil sent forth to delude and lead men astray, for 1 look upon that theory as 
 utterly inadequate, as a monstrous perversion of the truth — in short, as too silly, absurd, and 
 dishonouring both to God and man. 
 
 1 have one more duty to perform before I clo.se. It is to urge upon Spiritualists the 
 necessity and value of a comparative study of experimeulal Si)iritualism. In this respect a
 
 196 ' Tioixl Two IVorlds. 
 
 great boon lias yet to be bestowed on tlie movement. Only by comparing tlie evidence 
 obtained througb a long course of investigation, by considering tlie testimony as a whole, 
 and by placing the results obtained through one medium side by side with tliose observed 
 ill llie presence of another, shall we make much progress in the inquiry. Thi-s \(jhime 
 is a slight contribution to this end ; but its value would be enormously enhanced if these 
 records of materialisation and ps3-chography could be studied in connection witii a narrative 
 of similar phenomena obtained through, for example, among many others, Miss Katie Cook 
 and Mrs. Corner, two excellent mediums with whom Mr. Crookes has had a large experience. 
 To my knowledge there are in existence records of this character, some of them of extreme 
 value. Mr. Crookes, Mr. C. Blackburn, and others, have, I believe, kept full accounts of 
 their i)rivate investigations with \'ari<His mediums, and they will, no doubt, in due course, 
 give the public tlie benefit of their researches. It is, I hope, not unlikely that the comparative 
 study of Spiritualism will be rendered possible in the not distant future. 
 
 I began this narrative with a record of a family seance: let me end it with one. It is 
 a phase of Mr. Eglinton's niediumship which I would fain emphasise. On such occasions 
 only is its full scope and power ever put foitli. I have touched but briefl}' upon this 
 special phase in the course of my narrative, but my inability to speak more plainly in this 
 connection is my deep regret and the reader's .lasting loss. LInless experiences of this nature 
 have come home to one it is nut possible to conceive the full meaning or sacredness of 
 meiliumship ; nor can the res[ionsibilities it entails on metlium and S[)iritualists alike be 
 realised. Intimate friends uf Mr. I'Iglinton wlm have bi'eii thus privileged bear giateful 
 evidence of the Ijlessiiig he has been instrumental in bringing to them, and in these, the 
 closing words of what has been to me a Wnik of unmixed pleasine, I desire U> place on 
 record my added testimony. 
 
 I remember well on one occasion — a Sunilay evening — I was sitting with Mr. Kglinton 
 alone in my own house. Through the partly open door of my stud}' streamed the light 
 from the gas in the hall outside. Between the two of us (Mr. Eglinton was sitting 0[)posite 
 to me about three feet away) there came a mist, and gradually there formed in its centi'e a 
 human face. As it became more and more distinctly visible 1 can only ilescribe it as 
 radiant with a glory which we mortals only associate with that land where " the dead are 
 many but the living few." 1 well reiiieniber and shall ever bear in mind tliat scene. Before 
 me, the medium entranced and breathing heavily; "Joey Sandy" near at liaml ami giving 
 instructions in the direct voice; and in our midst the face and form uf nne whose mortal 
 voice had not been heard for many a month before. She bent her heatl, her lips touched 
 mine, and a simple but unmistakable sign of recognition was given. Could 1 make public 
 all that occurred a fitting reason weuKl appear wliy at that moineiit the doubts of years 
 disappeared, and the absolute reality uf spirit communion was made manifest U> me. It w.is in.t 
 altogether the seitntific evidence 1 then obtained, tlieugh there is no question in my mind as 
 to its capability of being so described, or of the weight which these facts had with nie. There 
 was ill addition sometiiiiig more- a new sense in which spiritual things were siiiritually conceived 
 — which brought conviction home to me, and made me realise that 
 
 " As unseen hands roll back the doors, (lie liglit ihat tloods the \cny air 
 Is but the shadow Iroin within, of the great secret hidden llieie."

 
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