narrative more likely to attract attention, and, possibly, stimulate inquiry, if I confine myself to non-professional media, and refer only to what I have witnessed in private houses, and in the presence of educated and thoughtful persons.

The feeling of curiosity inspired by the narrative of my railway acquaintance subsequently induced me to investigate on my own account; but I own that, although I could not detect fraud on the part of any professional media, I was not satisfied-was not, in fact, able to carry the investigation far enough.

It is not, perhaps, generally known, but such is the fact, that for some time past persons in the best social position in the metropolis-members of the learned professions and of societies celebrated for the successful pursuit of scientific knowledge-have met together in limited circles for the development and elucidation of the phenomena called 'spiritualism.'

The manifesta

tions produced in their presence are inexplicable and irreconcilable with the known laws of science. Matter is frequently passed through matter in the presence of those persons. Objects in one portion of a house have been removed and brought through locked doors to another, and not only shadowy, evanescent forms, but apparitions materialised in all respects to the human figure are frequently seen, and touched, and heard.

In approaching this portion of my subject I do not feel that reserve is necessary, as in one instance at least I have permission to give names, dates, and localities.

In the northern suburb of the metropolis called Hackney, and close to the historic fields where crazy thousands once assembled

during the famous Gordon riots, is a street called Eleanor Road, and a terrace of modest houses, the precise name of which it is unnecessary to give. To West Londoners Hackney is an out-ofthe-way place. The cabman of St. James's is rather foggy as to the precise locality. He will go all right as far as the 'Hangel' (Angel) at Islington, as he terms it; but when he strikes a couple of miles to the right, and gets among quiet streets bearing a strong family resemblance, and passes red brick houses of the Queen Anne period that once looked over pleasant fields, and still have trees about them, he is evidently out of his latitude, and appeals to his fare to direct him. Admitting, however, that you get to Eleanor Road, and are provided with a proper introduction (without which it is absolutely hopeless to gain admission), you will be received by a very amiable family named Cook. The eldest daughter of the house (Florence) has not yet, I believe, reckoned eighteen summers. This young

girl is what is termed a medium. Her appearance is interesting. In complexion she is a brunette, and decidedly pretty. She has none of that unhealthy spirituel appearance that one is disposed to associate with persons possessing her extraordinary gift. Her figure is slight and her manner engaging. She has not a morsel of affectation about her, and is in every respect frank, girlish, and truthful. She states that when a child she used to see figures, and used to speak to them; and when asked what she was saying, her reply was, 'I am speaking to the people.' These statements were naturally regarded as infantile delusions, and after a time were not repeated.

Until two years ago Miss Cook

used to laugh at tales of tableturning, mysterious knockings, and so forth; but she subsequently became sensible of some external influence about her which she was unable to account for or control. Knockings were heard in the house, inanimate objects were moved, and, finally, voices were heard, which did not emanate from any of the family. Eventually, but not until after some months had elapsed, the invisible agent of these mysterious occurrences announced itself to be a certain 'Katie King,' and promised, if possible, to show herself. Shortly afterwards a face, or what was believed to have been a face, was seen in the breakfastparlour.

It was about this time that I was enabled to be present at a séance, in the hope of seeing 'spirit faces.' A daily journal celebrated for its sensational articles subsequently published a communication on the subject, to the accuracy of which I can bear testimony.

In order to make the narrative of my own experience intelligible it will be necessary to explain the conditions under which the faces became visible to us. The breakfast-parlour in question is a small room on the basement, and in one of the recesses formed by the pier of the chimney is an ordinary cupboard with folding doors. The shelves have been

end of it being carried through a hole in the door and held by a person outside, or tied to a chair, so that if the young lady had moved the fact must have been immediately detected. She then took her seat in the cupboard, the door was locked, the key taken out and handed to a visitor, and the light was turned down, but enough of flame left to show every object in the room. After an interval of a few minutes a voice was heard carrying on a lively conversation, sotto voce, with the medium. Presently but one voice was heard, and the presumption was that Miss Cook had become entranced. I then, for the first time, saw the 'spirit faces.' There were, I think, three on this occasion. First came Katie King, a pretty face, with a strong general resemblance to the medium, but rounder, and with, as I thought, lighter eyes. Then came a male face with black beard and moustaches, and then a dark face like that of a Parsee. Katie spoke to us and answered a variety of questions. The light was then turned up; but not to the full, and we distinctly saw the colour of the eyes, the teeth, and the motion of the lips.

On subsequent occasions other tests were imposed, to which Miss Cook invariably submitted without a moment's hesitation. Indeed, in several instances she insisted on the conditions being more rigid than those we were disposed to adopt. An accidental circumstance led to these additional precautions. The young lady had been tied with ordinary string purchased at a shop in the neighbourhood. On one occasion, the string, when cut off at the close of the séance, was given, with the seals attached, to Lady A- R--, who, on examining it, found what she believed to be a splice

or junction. This was wholly accidental. A ball of twine is not an unlimited quantity, and junctions must sometimes be made. Moreover, it was physically impossible that Miss Cook could have used her hands to break the string or join it again, or that even if she had been perfectly free and had stood upon the chair, her face could have reached the aperture through which the others had been seen.

However, to leave no room for ill-natured suspicion, disingenuous argument, or acrid insinuations of want of good faith, it was proposed, at the following séance, to make another test. Miss Cook was tied as before, but with string of a better description, that had been carefully examined by all present. She then took her seat in the cabinet, and one of her curls was passed through a hole in the door level with her head, and secured outside with a hair-pin turned at right angles, so as to be visible to us all. In a few minutes afterwards the head and face of the apparition appeared, and Katie,' exclaimed, in a tone of jubilant triumph, which those who heard are not likely to forget-'Now am I the medium?'

A great variety of other tests were afterwards, from time to time, applied, and other faces appeared. Notably came one of a young girl who had a mark over the left eye, who looked sorrowfully at us, and in reply to our questions vainly endeavoured to speak. The only sounds we could gather were, 'I can't,' accompanied by a peculiar expression of sadness, and then the face disappeared.

It now became evident that the phenomena were in rapid course of development. Miss Cook and her family expressed themselves willing to give every assistance to

proach the subject, not in levity, or to gratify an idle curiosity, but with a view to investigate phenomena, the genuine character of which no candid mind could longer deny.

The theory of psychic force was considered, and objective cerebral emanations were brought under review. More light was wanted, in a material, as well as a metaphorical sense, and more light was obtained.

As the phenomena became more developed the faces stood a higher degree of illumination. Katie then began, not only to show her hands but to use them. She put on gloves and rings, wrote notes rapidly and correctly, and allowed us to feel her hair, touch her face, and press her lips.

On one occasion she gave an explanation of the manner in which she materialised herself. She said she took more or less power from every person in the circle.

At a subsequent séance she was asked whether she would cut off and give us a piece of her headdress, which resembled a sort of turban of white cloth. 'Yes,' she said, 'give me a pair of scissors quickly.' These were handed to her, and we saw her distinctly cut off a piece of the substance about two inches square, which she handed to me, and which is now in the possession of one of the gentlemen present on that occasion. It has since been submitted to several well-known drapers, who have failed to discover of what material it is composed. It is not linen or calico, cambric or muslin. It has not been found possible to match it, and when interrogated on the subject, Messrs. Howell and James, and another house of equally high repute, said, 'they supposed it must be Indian.'

deavour, if possible, to obtain some more definite view of the apparition than could be gained through the aperture I have described.

With this end the doors of the cupboard were thrown open, and a shawl was improvised as a curtain and hung over the opening. Katie had previously promised to show herself bodily, if possible, and she proved as good as her word.

The first séance for the full figure was rather exciting, but not disappointing. Miss Cook took her place as usual, but her hands were tied and sealed, and as a further precaution, a broad white tape was tied round her waist and sealed. The end was then passed through a brass eye screwed into the floor; again sealed (as were the screws of the eye), and finally trailed along the floor of the room in view of the whole circle. In a very few minutes the curtain was gradually pushed aside; then came a white, wellfashioned arm, and then a little naked foot, and eventually the full-sized figure of a female taller than the medium and more robust. She was dressed in a white robe with a double skirt. It was gathered in at the waist, and the portion over the chest was in what, I believe, are called plaits. On her head she wore a covering very similar to that from which a portion had been cut as described. She spoke to us in a whispered voice and disappeared. Subsequently she again showed herself, but in no instance did she come out of the cabinet. There was then sufficient light to see her features and observe her movements.

and on two occasions (at one of which I was present) she stood unflinchingly under this intense and tremendous glare, and several photographs were taken of her on glass.

I am particularly desirous to mention these facts, as those who take upon themselves offhand to deny the existence of phenomena they have never witnessed, invariably exclaim, 'Why are not these wonderful manifestations seen in the light?'

The events to which I refer took place in the winter and spring of last year. I have notes of many of the séances, and can give particulars in reference to them which it is unnecessary to dilate upon here.

When the summer came I had little time for further inquiry.

Miss Cook and her family left town, of course, as everybody did, but on her return, in October last, I received an invitation from my friend Mr. Luxmoore, of 16, Gloucester Square, Hyde Park, who has long taken a deep interest, as well as a useful part, in the elucidation of the phenomena, to be present at a séance at his house, with Miss Cook as the medium.

Having heard that there had been a few developing séances since the return of our interesting little friend, I was anxious to ascertain what had been done. We assembled to the number of some fourteen or fifteen persons in the large front drawing-room of Mr. Luxmoore's house. The night was cold, and there was a bright fire on the hearth, and a moderator lamp was burning, the wick of which was turned down, but not to such an extent as to prevent us seeing clearly anything that might take place. The back drawingroom was in perfect darkness. We examined it and locked the door. The furniture, which was

of a heavy description, was pushed back from the folding-doors to a distance of some ten or twelve feet. The doors, which instead of being on hinges slid out from the wall in panel fashion were then partly drawn to, so as to leave an aperture of about two feet and a half wide by some twelve feet high, and in front of the opening thus formed was hung a curtain. An arm-chair was placed just behind one half of the sliding panel formed by the door, and Miss Cook, having been tied and otherwise secured in the same manner as at home, took her seat in it.

In a very few minutes the accustomed voice of the apparition was heard speaking to the medium, who subsequently gave a low moan and went off into a deep trance. The figure then appeared and spoke to us, recognising several of the circle and asking the names of one or two whom she did not appear to know. She then went back into the room, and returned immediately carrying a large china bowl (one of two which had stood on a round table several paces removed from the medium), and placed it on the carpet in the front room. She afterwards brought out the other bowl and some other ornamental objects. She carried on a lively conversation for a considerable time, and when a hymn was sung, joined in, in a sweet, clear contralto voice somewhat different from that of the medium. She allowed a lady who sat close to the curtain to touch her, and she put on a diamond ring which I handed to her. This she afterwards dropped into one of the china bowls, observing that she liked to look at gems, but had no need of such things.

A Russian gentleman present asked her if she would turn round, on which she made a regular pirouette, observing, naïvely,' Will

that do for you?' She remained on this occasion about an hour, and at the expiration of that time said, 'My medium is in a very uncomfortable position: her head has fallen over the arm of the chair. Let some one come and put her right.'

'Who is to come?' asked Mr. Luxmoore.

'Oh! any one-but come at once,' was the rejoinder.

I then ran through the opening, and found Miss Cook exactly as described. I looked in vain for the apparition in the snow-white robes and naked feet. I neither saw her nor heard her. Miss Cook was in a deep trance. I moved her into a more comfortable position, and returned to the circle. Katie then reappeared, bidding us goodnight and calling each person by name. The duration of this séance was one hour and five minutes.

Miss Cook has an opinion, which is shared by her friends and by those who have watched the progress of the phenomena, that they are capable of more ample development. If their genuine character be admitted, then comes the question, whether we have exhausted the exact sciences, and whether limits have been set to human knowledge? It is a bold assertion for men of science to make that things do not occur, because they are contrary to what they conceive to be the laws of nature and the quality of matter. Many earnest minds and cultivated understandings are beginning to be turned to the subject; but into its more subtle phases it would be out of place for me here to enter.

I have carefully abstained from adducing collateral evidence to show that there is reason to believe that there exists some intelligent sentient external agency that, under certain conditions, can com