When our countrymen are told of their performances, they usually answer, 'Go to the regular magicians; they will show you the same things.'

"To enable the reader to appreciate the grounds of this opinion, it seems necessary to show how the Fakirs operate. The following are facts which no traveller has ventured to contradict:--

"_First._--They never give public representations in places where the presence of several hundred persons makes it impossible to exercise the proper scrutiny.

"_Second._--They are accompanied by no a.s.sistant, or confederate, as they are usually termed.

"_Third._--They present themselves in the interior of the house, completely naked, except that they wear, for modesty's sake, a small piece of linen about as large as the hand.

"_Fourth._--They are not acquainted with goblets, or magic bags, or double-bottomed boxes, or prepared tables, or any of the thousand and one things which our European conjurers find necessary.

"_Fifth._--They have absolutely nothing in their possession save a small wand of seven knots of bamboo, as big as the handle of a pen-holder, which they hold in their right hand, and a small whistle, about three inches long, which they fasten to one of the locks of their long, straight hair; for, having no clothes, and consequently no pockets, they would otherwise be obliged to hold it constantly in the hand.

"_Sixth._--They operate, as desired by the person whom they are visiting, either in a sitting or standing posture, or, as the case may require, upon the marble, granite, or stucco pavement of the veranda, or upon the bare ground in the garden.

"_Seventh._--When they need a subject for the exhibition of magnetic or somnambulistic phenomena, they take any of your servants whom you may designate, no matter whom, and they act with the same facility upon a European in case he is willing to serve.

"_Eighth._--If they need any article, such as a musical instrument, a cane, a piece of paper, a pencil, etc., they ask you to furnish it.

"_Ninth._--They will repeat any experiments in your presence as many times as you require, and will submit to any test you may apply.

"_Tenth._--They never ask any pay, merely accepting, as alms for the temple to which they are attached, whatever you choose to offer them.

"I have travelled through India in every direction for many years, and I can truthfully state that I have never seen a single Fakir who was not willing to comply with any of these conditions.

"It only remains for us to ask whether our more popular magicians would ever consent to dispense with any of their numerous accompaniments, and perform under the same conditions.

There is no doubt what the answer would be."

Whether the forms or articles exhibited are considered as objects invisibly brought into the room, or created from the atmosphere, they are alike astonishing manifestations of an occult power. It does not simplify or explain these singular phenomena to deny their relation to beings of another life, and refer them to a supposed power in man, the laws of which are unknown to us. We have to deal with them as we would with any of the natural manifestations of life.

To a.s.sume that these things are not honest,--that these beings, who come to us claiming to be our friends and relatives, are deceiving us, playing on our credulity,--is to decide the question without evidence.

CHAPTER IV.

MATERIALIZATION AND DEMATERIALIZATION UNDER TEST CONDITIONS.

At Mrs. Fay's, on Thursday, Oct. 6, 1885, previous to the seance, Mrs.

Fay came into the room under the control of "Auntie," and requested that four ladies should be selected by the audience to go with the medium to her dressing-room. The request was complied with, and the ladies returned with Mrs. Fay, still under control, and stated that they had dressed her entirely in dark clothes; that there was not one particle of white fabric about her, except the little collar around her neck. The control then asked me to take a light into the cabinet, and all were requested to examine it and see that there was no possible chance for a confederate, or the concealment of drapery. This was done to the entire satisfaction of all present.

Mrs. Fay was not allowed to leave the room, but, as soon as the audience was seated, went directly into the cabinet. She had not time to take her seat before a form, dressed in white, came out into the room. This was followed by several others similarly dressed.

Then the light was lowered, and a tall female form came out, dressed in brilliantly illuminated garments. A white handkerchief held against this drapery had the appearance of a dark object. This figure walked about the room for a few minutes, and vanished within three feet from where I sat, and at least eight feet from the cabinet.

Then, in the middle of the room, on the carpet, appeared a small light, not larger than the palm of my hand. It gradually grew larger, until it a.s.sumed the tall, angular form of "Auntie," the control, who, in her hoa.r.s.e voice, greeted us with, "Good afternoon, all: I thought I would see what I could do." She then addressed the audience in one of the most forcible speeches I ever listened to, stating her reasons for putting her medium under test conditions, ending by saying that she respected an honest skeptic, but had no patience with those who accept anything without good, substantial evidence.

She returned to the cabinet, and many forms came out and were recognized. Bertha came, and, stretching out her arms at full length, that all could see there was no chance for deception, she materialized between her hands a piece of cambric, about three yards long and one wide, brilliantly illuminated. After all who desired to do so had examined it, she gathered it up, and, pa.s.sing over to where the light was the strongest, held it up, laughingly remarking that there was enough to make a dress, proceeded to make it up, materializing sleeves, and then put it on and walked round the room. Taking it off, she dematerialized it in the presence of all.

Returning for a moment to the cabinet, she came back, and, kneeling on the floor, with the fingers of the right hand made circular movements on the carpet, with each of which it was plain to be seen that the light was increasing. She continued this until she had materialized another large piece of fabric. This gave great satisfaction to all, except one visitor, who, from some cause, was a little disturbed, and had the kindness to ask me if I had been in the habit of practising sleight-of-hand. His intimate friend, who came with him, had the good fortune to be close to Bertha, and had witnessed all that had occurred.

He rose, of his own free will, and stated to the audience that he had been investigating the subject for thirty years, and that this was the most wonderful and convincing thing he had ever seen.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, Mrs. Fay was again put under test conditions. The audience was large, crowding the room and making it so warm as to materially interfere with the manifestations, especially with those spirits who had not been accustomed to materialize. The illuminated forms and drapery were well shown. In the light seance, Bertha came and pulled me up from my chair. She complained of the closeness of the room, saying that she could not do much. She materialized a carnation in my hand, and I called Mr. Whitlock to witness it, whereupon she took both of his hands and made a flower in each.

Emma, one of the controls, soon came out, dressed in a rich white figured satin dress, which all in the front row were allowed to inspect.

Mr. Whitlock obtained a pair of scissors, and, with Emma's consent, cut quite a piece out of her dress. The damage seemed to be soon repaired.

Mr. Whitlock, in searching for the place where he had cut the piece out, lifted the skirt, which gave Emma a chance to play the coquette, and this created considerable amus.e.m.e.nt. Mr. Whitlock persevered, and I think is able to state whether he succeeded in spoiling the dress.

A fine-looking form, claiming to be a German chemist, and the control of Dr. Thomas, came out, and magnetized or medicated a tumbler of water, sparks of light flashing freely from his fingers into the water, which was then given to a lady from New Haven, Conn.,--with what effect I cannot say, except that she complained that it tasted bitter. I saw this manifestation for the first time several weeks before, and, I confess, was rather amused with it. While speaking somewhat skeptically of it to a friend who sat beside me, I was surprised when the form came across the room and asked me to take the magnetized water. I had been suffering for some weeks, and, to do the Doctor justice, I must say I was almost entirely relieved.

Mr. Whitlock's father came to him,--a fine, robust form, with a strong individuality that could not well be mistaken. Mr. Whitlock and his wife testified to the likeness. This was followed by the appearance of Dr. J.

R. Newton, the widely-known healer, some time deceased. Mr. Whitlock and I went up and greeted him. I shook hands with him, and had time to study his face well: there could be no mistake; it was a wonderful likeness of the Doctor.

The seance, although held under unfavorable circ.u.mstances, was full of strong, convincing points. To the above statement, Mr. L. L. Whitlock, Editor of _Facts_, appends the following:--

"At the above-named seance, held on Nov. 13th, the following-named ladies were asked by Mrs. Fay to examine her clothing before she entered the cabinet, viz.:--Mrs. Joseph Harris, of Dorchester, Ma.s.s.; Mrs. A. Smith, of Lynn, Ma.s.s.; Mrs. J. D. Lillie, Boston; Mrs. M. A. Estee, East Boston; and Mrs. L. L. Whitlock, Providence, R. I.

"They stated that she had nothing white about her person, except a piece of ruche around her neck, worn as a collar. The cabinet was also thoroughly examined by all who desired.

"My father, Rev. Geo. C. Whitlock, LL.D., who pa.s.sed to the spirit-life about twenty years ago, was very perfectly materialized, so much so that Mrs. Whitlock, who often sees him clairvoyantly, but never saw him in earth-life, recognized him before I saw him, my attention at the moment being attracted by conversation in another direction.

"We will not attempt a description of this seance, as Mr.

Brackett's report is substantially what we would have written.

Our experience with the dress above mentioned was wonderful, and to us as incomprehensible as was our lace experience at Mrs.

Fay's seance at Onset Bay last summer, a description of which we published in the September number of _Facts_.

"One thing is certain: I had in my hand a piece of brocaded white satin, which I know I had cut from the dress of which Mr.

Brackett speaks, and that, while I was kneeling before the form, the hole which I had made in the dress did disappear, and that I used my senses, of both sight and feeling, to convince myself of the facts.

"Over sixty forms appeared, most of whom were recognized by friends."

CHAPTER V.

AN UNEXPECTED SeANCE.

At an interview with Mr. W. C. Tallman, Mr. W. A. Hovey, and Rev. M. J.

Savage, the question of obtaining private seances, in the interest of the Committee on Psychical Research, was discussed, and it was considered desirable to make arrangements with Mrs. H. B. Fay for that purpose. I was selected to consult with her, and, if possible, obtain her consent.

As several gentlemen who intended to join us were not present, Mr.

Savage was requested to see and inform them of the conditions agreed upon; the result of his interview to be forwarded to me by letter at Mrs. Fay's, on Thursday, before the seance held on that day. These conditions were very simple, and ought to have been satisfactory to any reasonable person. They were the result of the long experience of Mr.

Tallman, Mr. Hovey, and myself, made heartily in the interest of the Committee. There was no difference of opinion, Mr. Savage fully endorsing them.

The letter was duly received, and, without stopping to read it, I informed Mrs. Fay that I was ready to talk with her. She replied that she should leave the matter entirely with her control, and if I would lay the letter on the mantel, near the cabinet, Auntie, the control, would probably speak about it. This letter was a long one,--some four pages, written by a member of the Psychological Society, in reply to Mr.