III

We trooped into the sitting-room, where Mrs. Smiley, a plain little

woman with a sweet mouth and bright black eyes, was awaiting us. She was

perceptibly abashed by the keen glances that the men directed upon her,

but her manners were those of one natively thoughtful and refined. She

made an excellent impression on every one.

"Did you bring your magic horn, Mrs. Smiley?" I asked, to relieve her

embarrassment.

"Oh yes!" she answered, brightly. "I carry that just as a fiddler

carries his fiddle--ready for a tune at any moment."

She brought a large package from the foot of the sofa and gave it to me.

I took it, but turned it over to Miller. "Here, open this parcel

yourself, Mr. Scientist. I want you to be satisfied as to its

character."

Miller undid the package as cautiously as if it were an infernal

machine. As the paper opened and fell away, a short, truncated cone of

tin was disclosed, with another smaller one loosely held within it. The

two sections, when adjusted, made a plain megaphone, about twenty-four

inches in length and some five inches in diameter at the larger end.

"What do you do with that?" asked Mrs. Cameron.

In a perfectly matter-of-fact way Mrs. Smiley replied: "Many of the

spirit voices are very faint, and cannot be heard without this horn. I

am what they call a 'trumpet medium,'" she added, in further

explanation.

"Do you mean to say spirits speak through that horn?"

"Yes. That is my 'phone.'"

The ladies looked at one another, and Harris said: "Isn't it rather

absurd to expect an immaterial mouth to speak through a tin tube, like

the grocer's boy?"

She smiled composedly. "I suppose it seems so to you, but to me it just

happens."

I set briskly to work arranging the library for the circle. In the

middle of the room I placed a plain oaken table, which had been procured

specially for the sitting. On this I stood the tin horn, upright on its

larger end; beside it I laid a pad, a pencil, and a small slate.

"Mrs. Smiley, you are to sit here," I said, drawing an arm-chair to the

end of the table nearest the wall. She took her seat submissively; and

looking around upon my fellow-members with a full knowledge of what was

in their minds, I remarked: "If all goes well to-night, this little

woman, alone and unaided, except by this megaphone, will utterly

confound you. We have had many sittings. We understand each other

perfectly. I am going to treat her as if she were an unconscious

trickster. I am going to use every effort to discover how she

accomplishes these mysterious results, and Miller is to be notably

remorseless. We are going to concede (for the present) the dim light

required. I don't like this, but Mrs. Smiley is giving us every other

condition, and as this is but a trial sitting, we grant it." I turned to

Miller. "The theory is that light acts in direct opposition to the

psychic force, weakening it unaccountably. Nevertheless, darkness is not

absolutely essential. Maxwell secured many convincing movements in the

light, and no doubt we shall be able to do so later."

"Who is Maxwell?" asked Miss Brush.

"Dr. Joseph Maxwell, Deputy Attorney-General of the Court of Appeals at

Bordeaux and Doctor of Medicine. He is a noted experimenter with psychic

forces. Indeed, he has the power himself. Now, Mrs. Smiley, I wish to

begin my tests by tying your wrists to the arms of your chair. May I do

so?"

"Certainly," she cheerfully answered. "You may padlock me, or put me in

an iron cage, if you please. I leave it all to you."

"Well, there is a certain virtue in knotting a silk thread, for the

reason that it is almost impossible to untie, even in the light, and to

break it, we will agree, invalidates the sitting. For to-night we will

use the thread. Miller, will you watch me?"

"With the greatest pleasure in the world," he answered, "and as a

scientist I am going to treat you as a possible confederate."

"Very good. Let each watch the other."

Beneath the gaze of the smiling company, I took from my pocket a spool

of strong silk twist, and proceeded to fasten the psychic's wrists. Each

arm was tied separately in such wise that she was unable to bring her

hands together, and could not raise her wrists an inch from the chair.

Next, with the aid of Mrs. Cameron, I looped a long piece of tape about

Mrs. Smiley's ankles, knotted it to the rungs of the chair at the back,

and nailed the loose ends to the floor. I then drew chalk marks on the

floor about the chair legs, in order that any movement of the chair, no

matter how slight, might show. Finally, I pushed the table about two

feet away from the psychic's utmost reach.

"With this arrangement we ought to be able to detect any considerable

movement on your part," I said to my prisoner; "at any rate, I think we

can keep you from jumping upon the table. Miller, you are to sit at her

left; I will keep watch and ward at her right; the others of the society

may take seats as they please--only the tradition is that the sexes

should alternate. Cameron, please lock both doors and keep the keys in

your pocket."

As soon as we were all seated and Cameron had locked the doors, I asked

him to turn down the light, which he did, grumbling: "I don't like this

part of it."

"Neither do I, but at a first sitting we must not expect too much. I am

sure we shall be able to have more light later on. And now, while we are

all getting into a harmonious frame of mind, suppose we ask Mrs. Smiley

to tell us a little about herself. Where were you born, Mrs. Smiley?"

She replied, very simply and candidly: "I was born near Cincinnati. My

father was a spiritualist early in the 'craze,' as it was called, and I

was about nine when I became a medium. At first we did not know that I

was the psychic. Demons seemed to take possession of our house, and for

a few weeks nothing movable was safe. After awhile my father became sure

that I was the cause of these disturbances, because everywhere I went

raps were heard: the movement of small objects near where I sat made me

an object of aversion or of actual terror to my school-mates. So finally

my father asked me to sit. I didn't want to do so at first, but he told

me it was my duty. They used to tie me in every way and experiment with

me. It was very wearisome to me, but I submitted, and I have been

devoted to the work ever since. After my father and mother died I gave

up all opposition to my gift, and now it is a great comfort to me; for

now I get messages from my father and my little daughter almost every

day."

"Do they speak to you directly?" I asked.

"Yes. Sometimes clairaudiently, but generally through this cone when I

sit in the dark."

"What do you mean by speaking?" asked Howard. "Do you mean they sound

like actual people?"

"Just as real as you or any one," she answered.

I was waiting to say: "Don't be in haste; you will all know from actual

experience what she means by voices."

"Have you ever seen these forces at work?" asked Harris.

"No; not the way you mean. I had a terrible shock once that cured me of

being too curious. I was holding an accordion under a table by its

bellows end, as Home used to do, and while the playing was going on I

just believed if I looked under the table I could see something. So I

lifted the cover and peeped under. I didn't know any more for a long

time. When I came to my father was bathing my face and rubbing my hands.

I never tried to 'peek' after that."

"Do you mean that they did this to punish you for your peeping?"

"Yes. They don't like to have you look directly at them when they are

at work."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I never was punished again. I didn't need it."

"Would 'they' bat me if I were to peek?" asked Howard.

"They might not; but they refuse to 'work' while any one is looking."

"All that is suspicious."

"I know it is, but that is the way they act."

"You believe 'they' are spirits?"

"I _know_ they are," she repeated. "If I didn't, I would be desolate. I

have been sitting now for over thirty years, and these friendly voices

are a part of my life. They comfort me more than I can tell."

She gave this account of herself with an air of quiet conviction that

deeply impressed the circle, and at the end of her little speech I

added: "She has agreed to put herself into our hands for a series of

experiments, and if her health does not fail I think we shall be able to

rival the doings of Florence Cook and Daniel Home, whose mediumships

were the basis of Crookes's report. Now let each one of you spread his

hands, or her hands, upon the table, just touching the little fingers,

in order that a complete circuit may be established. Miller and I will

make connection with our psychic."

"It all seems childish folly, but we'll do it," said Harris.

"What may we expect to happen first, Mrs. Smiley?" asked Mrs. Cameron,

after we were in position.

"I don't know," she answered, frankly. "I have very little control over

these forces. Often, when I am most anxious, nothing happens. Please

don't expect much of anything to-night: my first sittings in a new place

are seldom very good, and so much depends upon those who make up the

circle. I never sit without a fear that my power has gone never to come

back."

I helped her out in explanation: "The honest medium does not advertise

to perform regularly, for the reason that this force, whatever it is,

seems to lie almost wholly outside the will. Flammarion says 'it may be

set down as a rule that all professional mediums cheat.' That is putting

it pretty strong; but it seems true that the condition which leads to

these phenomena is a very subtle physical and mental adjustment, and

that the slightest distraction or mental unrest defeats everything. If

the medium is paid for her work she is too eager to serve, and

everything tempts her to deceive. Furthermore, it has been proved that

the psychic is in the very nature of the case _extremely liable to

suggestion_, and the combined wills of the sitters focussed on one

desired phenomena becomes an almost irresistible force to certain

psychics. On the other hand, the best observers say that the most

striking proofs of spiritualism lies in the fact that the most amazing

phenomena come in opposition to the will of both the psychic and the

sitters. We may not secure a single movement to-night, and, indeed, we

may have two or three barren sittings, but I am confident that in the

end you will be satisfied. I am going to attempt to put Mrs. Smiley to

sleep now, and when she is in her trance we can discuss her methods

freely."

I began to hum a low, monotonous tune, and one by one the others joined

in the refrain; soon the psychic's breath became labored, and in the

pauses of the song she moaned. At length she drew her hands as far away

from Miller's and mine as the threads would permit, thus breaking the

circuit.

"She is in trance," I reported. "Now we have nothing to do but wait. You

may say anything you please, or tell stories or sing songs, only don't

argue. We will remain as we are for a while, and if the 'guides' are

dissatisfied, they will order a change. Generally speaking, the

'controls' are very notional, and when we get into full communication

with 'them' the entire present arrangement may be broken up. The theory

is that all success is due to the co-operation of those 'on the other

side.'"

"It looks to me like a plain case of hypnotism from this side,"

remarked Harris.

"Aren't there any fixed rules to the game?" asked Howard.

"After many years' exhaustive study of these antic spirits (approaching

them always from the naturalistic side), Maxwell deduces certain helpful

rules: 'Use a small room,' he says, 'and have it warm. Medium and

sitters must not have cold hands or feet.'"

"I can understand the psychic having cold feet now and then,"

interjected Harris.

"Maxwell finds dry air and clear weather most favorable; rainy and windy

weather often cause failures. There seems to be some connection with the

electrical condition of the atmosphere. After proving that a white light

deters phenomena, he uses green, violet, or yellow screens for his

lamps. 'Any kind of a table will do for the raps, or for levitation,' he

says, 'but one with a double top seems to give best results.' His

sitters use wooden chairs with cane seats, and my own experience is that

a bare floor helps. He especially directs that the guide be

consulted--'let the phenomena come as spontaneously as possible,' he

adds."

"Does he find this sandwiching of the sexes helpful?"

"Yes. He says six or eight people, men and women alternating, make the

best circle. 'Take things seriously, but not solemnly,' he advises.

'Don't argue; address the "control," and follow his advice. Avoid

confusion by electing a director and asking for only one thing at a

time. Keep the same people in the group for at least six sittings. Sit

in a circle and touch hands. Be patient and good-tempered. A worried,

irritated, sullen medium is a poor instrument. Finally'--and this is

most important--'don't overwork the medium.' And with this important

statement he ends: '_I am persuaded of the absolute harmlessness of

these experiments, provided they are properly conducted._'"

"I am glad to know that," said Mrs. Quigg. "After seeing Mrs. Harris's

trance, I was in doubt."

"Maxwell's hints are extremely valuable to me," I continued, "for they

confirm my own methods, some of which I had to learn by tedious

experience. If I had known, for instance, the folly of allowing

everybody to quiz the psychic, I might have been spared many hours of

tiresome sitting. Maxwell is, indeed, an ideal investigator--he has made

a great advance in methods, and his conclusions, though tentative, are

most suggestive. No unprejudiced reader can finish his book,

_Metapsychical Phenomena_, without feeling that its author is a brave

and fearless writer, as well as a cautious and sane reasoner. His

published experience throws a flood of light on mediums and their

puzzling peculiarities."

"But it seems to me those rules give the medium and his 'guides' the

free hand," said Miller, discontentedly.

"By no means," I retorted. "Maxwell plainly says, 'Where the "control"

is insisting upon something which I do not like, I politely resist, and

end by getting my own way.' Note the 'politely.' In short, he recognizes

that a genuine medium is a very precious instrument, and he does not

begin by clubbing him--or her--into submission. For all their wondrous

powers, the people who possess these powers are very weak. They are not

allowed to make anything more than a living out of the practise of the

magic, and they live under the threat of having the power withdrawn.

They are helpless in the face of a challenge to produce the phenomena,

and yet the hidden forces are themselves helpless without them--"

"Is the table throbbing?" asked Brierly.

"I don't feel it."

"Have you ever had any convincing evidence of this psychic force--such

as movement of objects without contact?" asked Harris.

"Yes. I have had a table rise at least twenty inches from the floor in

the full light, with no one present but the medium and myself, and while

our finger-tips alone touched the top. It felt as if it were floating in

a thick and resilient liquid, and when I pressed upon it, it oscillated,

in a curious way, as if the power were applied from below and in the

centre of the table. The psychic was a young girl, and I am certain

played no trick. I could see her feet on the floor, and her finger-tips

were, like mine, on the top of the table. This was the clearest test of

levitation I ever had, but the lifting of a pencil in independent

writing is the same thing in effect."

"I see you have acquired all the 'patter,'" remarked Miller.

"Oh, yes indeed; all the 'patter,' and some of the guile. For instance,

when I want to use 'those who have passed on' I do so, and when I don't

I invent means to deceive them."