My Library

To the same entities must be attributed a large portion of what are called physical phenomena at spiritualistic * seances — indeed, many a seance has been given entirely by these mischievous creatures. Such a perfyrmance might easily include many very striking items, such as the Answering of questions and delivery of pretended messages io8
by raps or tilts, the exhibition of ‘ ‘ spirit lights,” the apport of objects from a distance, the reading of thoughts which were in the mind of ail)- person present, the precipitation of writings or drawings, and even materialization?.
In fact, the nature-spirits alone, if any of them happened to be disposed to take the trouble, could give a seance equal to the most wonderful of which" we read; for though there may be certain phenomena which they would not find it easy to reproduce, their marvellous power of glamour \yould enable them without difficulty' to persuade-the entire circle that these phenomena also had duly* occurred—unless, indeed, there were present a trained observer who understood their arts and knew hpw to defeat them. As a general rule, whenever silly tricks or practical jokes are played at a seance, we may infer the presence either of low-class nature- spirits, or of human