The New York Herald Newspaper, December 22, 1874, Page 4

“MEDIONS” EXPOSED, How Mansfield, Foster, Slade and Others Control the Spirits.” | {Interesting Seances, Showing | Humbug anda Trickery. THE MACHINERY EXPLAINED. Dupes Made to Teach the “Professors” What to Say. THE THIN PAPER TRICK BROUGHT CLEARLY IN HRW. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD: ‘The writer of vhis, in accordance with an ex- pressed desire that some fair and honest lnvestiga- tion should be had in connection with the vexed question of so-called Spiritualism, made arrange- ments to visit the most prominent mediums of whe city. I Nave nad no diMiculty whatever in ovtain- Ing interviews, born with the medium and the ppirits themai ives, on the prompt payment of the Stipniated amount. Without my purse | fear [ should have fared pooriy, since the spirits are evidently devermined to take the best of care of Shose through whom they act, and have very few crumbs of comfort for any man who has no cash tm ms pocket. Probably no form of religion bas @ssumed such proportions in so short a time as Spiritualism. Since the Fox girls began to pro- | duce the knocks and table tippingsa tne subject | has grown to such extent and influence that no man is excused for being entirely ignorant of ir. It seems not only to have attracted the @tten‘ion of but to have strangely fascinatea whole classes in society, who do not openly confess, but who secretly believe it, Faith in its mysteries becomes a kind of fanaticism which gives color and tone to the whole life. So far as I can ascertain there are | three well outiined and completely separated Chasses of believers, Firat—A small proportion—exactly what pro- | portion it might be diMcult to say—of the men and women of taste and culture in the community. For such there is a kind of sub- | Umated Spiritualism, which looks apon merely | physical manifestations very much as the scholar Jooks at the child’s primer. They do not care tor or take any interest in tippings, Knocks or noises of any kind. Though they have iately become somewhat excited over this new phase, called ma- terialization, tney are gradually getting back to | their original exclusiveness and are putting leas and less faith in everything which appeals to the | | | senses. In this class it is claimed that some of our ripest scholars, some of our most noted states. | men and very many of our sincercly devout peuple are to be founda, Second—A very much larger group of believers, probably the bulk of the body of Spirituaiists, who delignt in pen and ink communications ‘rom the other land, who like to be startled by an unex- pected rap or the waltzing of @ piece of furniture without any apparent cause. These people hola séances during the week and fill their darkened | rooms with the wonders of @ tambourine oran | sccordeon, played witnout human hands, or with- out any visible human hands, and listen with min- gled sur) rise and awe as a ghostly voice 18 heard Attering piatiiudes aout the sunny shores of the tacure. These people are credulous, easily im- posed upon to a startling degree. Having once made up their minds that the ting is true they Swailow the most egregious and palpable blunders and accept for solemn truth what a single instants thought wouid show to be faise. | Third—a set of people—no longer a class, but | merely & set, a crowd, a borde—who use Spiritual- ism a3 a cover tor their own infamy. They put on the garments of this new religion as a disguise, and, under the name of pnilosopay, induge in free love, Dot as a theory, but asa practice. Iris Mo more than just to say that the two former | classes which I have mentioned {eel toward this latter class very much like a ship that is covered With large barpacies. Still, there is no redress they say, since there 1s no organization, Spirit: Ralists are at present only tree lances, each one going withersoever he pleases and acting accord- ing ton ts own sweet will. TOE LITERATURE OF SPIRITUALISM lg Very interesting. One would be surprised to hear of the scores and even hundred. of volumes Which have been printed in connectivn with this mystery. My impression is that you can purchase of Andrew J. Davis as many as two or three bon- dred different volumes on this subject. That the Yarions manifestations of the last few years are Bot altogether an imposture every one stands ready toadmit. That a force or forces have been developed, which at a later aate may possibly be Ssatisiactorily explained and utilized, we ail agree. ‘bhat the presenc status of Spiritualism as an ele- Ment of modern society is uniortunate iew right | minded men will Geny. There is so much Of trick- | ery and humbug connected with it that even the earnest seeker after truth be- somes utterly disgusted vefore he has gone | far, at length gives the whole thing | up as utterly unworthy of credence. Mr. Home | Sourisned for a time, but bas gone out in dark- | Besa, Ine nobility of Europe gave him diamond | Pins and purses lined with gold, but the scientists | could never get anytiing satisfactory from him, idm our day aod in our neighoorbood what are called materializations have taken place, but we Muy saiely inter from the cautious retrograde Movement which Robert Dale Owen bas made that toere is a sly dodge hidden under cover somewnere, The cabinet and clothes-lipe Spir- (tualisia was exceedingly profitacle for a while; but, since Hartzcan periorm not only what the Davenports did, but a great deai more, aud with the aid of a little machinery only, which is not visible to the naked eye, this phase of the super- Qatural has dropped out of _ sight. The spirit photograph business died a very fanny | death, At one time we had all our @unts and mothers-in-law in the dim shadow of tne piciared background, and we looked on the | Production as littie jess than a miracle. Soon, however, we found, to our horror, that every pbo- Sograpbic artist was a mighty meaium, and, with the aid of afew chemicals, could procuce whole | Broups of angels, when the tuing Maturaliy became 90 comMO. tiat We lost our interest ia that puase | Of Spiritualism. GENPRAL MISTRI Ne {am very far irom saying that there is in Spirit- G@allem po force, at present incomprehensiple, out $o be mmvestigates ana known by the seience of fature, It is aimost inconceivabie, in- feed, tbat some of the men who are its strong advocates should either ueceive themselves or be @ party co the deception of others, iu private circles, Where no price o1 admission is demauded, | occurrences Dave undoubtedly transpired whicn | are us yet to be catalogued as phenomena. | Whether their original cause is some unknown slement in the human Organization, ur woether B the next century it shall be proven to be from an honest science, whicn dilows itself wo be Tprisea at notuing, | am unwiilin; to y. Ishal ve glad at some future day to detail experiences wuich pozzie tne most astute, but just wow I have to weal with a set of mea wuom I beheve to be knaves of the fi. st water, and wiose tricks apd bumbugs ought to be exposed to the anmingied contempt ol the community. These | meu ought to be arrested for obtaining money under jalse pretences and punished ior foiug a permauent injory to certuin men and women Who act on advice Whicb bas no air of | fanctity about it because i+ purports to come from another world, vat which has no higher ori- gn than the feevie brain of ibe operator. 1 knew Boece afficted Woman Who went to one of these ums, Whose name { will shortly give, to con- pUit about achiid tuat was supposed to be dying. She asked her teariui question “Will he live? | i do anything fur mim’? and the answer back, “We are watching over you and the ; he ai certainiy recover.” The very next | day he was y law by which to | panied irauds it ongnt to be rigorously en- | torced. | THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DRCEPTION om the part Of mediums are numerous. A woman, | ander the pressure 01 @ recent amiction, visitsone | of them, is introduced into the private parior | where tne s¢ance ia to take piace, pays ner $5 and | lg DOt im @ condition to detect a trick. She gece a | long discourse about the spirit land to star: with, | faring Which sundfy apparently indimerent but | realy Very significaat questions are asked and an- swered, mn she Writes about private matters | vB sips of paper, which are adroitiy opened and | ciew to the wuole case tor / 7 | revelation that anall appe: | ward tound that the pretended to tne letters one after the other. being done and the nis ter is thrown olf her and names are all | Tread, and alter that It is an easy matter to make a | be measurably | miraculous, and the mourn joes home with the impression (hat she has received a direct comma- | nication trom on Digh. I know what i say, ve- cause [ bave seen it done time and again, and While | still better because 1 can do it myself and in the | }, be i bave mentioned. } ¥ Object DOW 13 not to decry any man’s faith | Bor interfere with his modes of worsiup and ms private Opinions, but simply to expose certain men wh» Lam morally and mathematically cer- tain huumbugged me out of money and time, giving | me as & quid pro quo certain sentences which | they said Were dictated by spi But | aiter- | pirits could pot read my question when it was written in the crease of the paper, when tt Was written in a lun- | gnage which the medium did not understand, or When the paper was so folded that it could not be undone. Neither can the spirits tell the date of @ny occurrence without having It written down on a siip of paper, none they are just as fami- Har with tt as you are, But let me give, in detail, some o! ny personal experiences during my tour of investigation. Dk&TERMINED TO EXAMINE THE QUESTION | on tts merits, and to do so Ina spirit of perfect | Wonder what tha: means? ters in your mother’s name ¢”” | Harriet, | mame of my mother. | ject, and determine to give him his Sil | that was what candor and fairness, I laid out @ plan to visit the three most celebrated mediums of New York. What I have done has been done with great care and with a conscientious desire to know the ex- act trath, so jar ag tt couid be atiained, and, furthermore, with @ hope, stronger than I care to eXpresg in ‘his place, that I might not be able to soive the problem; but, on the other han pelled to acknowledge ‘that the main Spiritualism, ag represented by these gent! are true, J peed nov say that not only I, but all otuer right minded and honorabie men, would be glad oi an opportanity w be guided dy rignt rather than by taith, We should be never so thankful to have even the dimmest glimpse of the Jur-of other shore come within range of our mortal vision, All wno o*n a lot In acemetery where lie thos? who have borne us ia their arms when we were children, and Whom we have never been able to repay for tueir kindness and seil-sacrifice; all who have seen little ones close their eyes as the great mystery, like an over- hanging cloud, has settied down Upon them, are not only interested, buat at times intensely ex- cited, over this series of phenomena, woich lays claim to @ solution of the Whole question of our immortality. This longing, however, did pot in- cline me to accept any evidence which could not bear the test of a soung Judgment. My credulity 1s | not the shortest way toconviction. Lam wiiling to believe, but it must be on such testimony as every | honest and truth loving man hasa@ right to de- mand. | say all tnis because I wish to meet an o jection which Lioresee will be thrust forward | by those who have become tanatics—namely, that a@ downright scepticism either breaks the charm or calls up from the vasty deep deceiving spiris. This cannot ve urged in my case. Doubtful I was, but, at the same time, I was eager to be coavinced, and if [haa any prejudices at all tuey leaned to the side of the meaium. 1 was, in @ word. in tne proper state of mind to receive truth in whatever shape it might come. A SEANCE WITH MANSFIELD. 1 went to Dr. Mansfleld’s residence, on Sixth avenue, and Was ustered into the room where the sittings are bol Itis filied from ceiling to floor with attractive curiosities. ‘Ihe Doctor has trav- elied all over the world, and has potiorgotten to bring home pieasant lirtle souvenirs of bis trips and experiences. It is worth one’s while to spend an hour in that room for the sake of seeing tne articles of yertu—the rare coins, stones, cameos and pictares, which must have required years in coliecnoa. Pretty soon a man, evidently advanced in lle, appearea and greeted me. It seemed to me that there was an air of suspicion about hima, as thou beach new customer was # possible trap into which he might fail, and he eyed me with a quick, restless glance, a3 though it was his custom to take his bearings and measure the motives of the visitor in an tustanr. | 1 suid, “poctor, you hold your years pretty | wel | “Yes, sir; Tam sixty, and probably have not | much longer to stay in this lower world, Wouid | you lke a sitting, sir?’ “! should, if it 18 convenient.’? “Then, sir, take your seat there, while you write | your questions,” pointing to a chair immediately | Opposite himseii at the table. THK MACHINERY AT HAND. | I wanted to Write my questions on paper of m; Own, but this it seems was against the rules. must write on his paper, which, to my surprise, and, I need not add, disappointment, was sv very thin that I could see through it alter it had been folded three times. lt seemed to me that the spirits were taking an un- fair advantage of me and saving themselves the trouble oi reading an honest sentence on honest paper by compelling me to write on a sort of Ussue, Which gave the operator ample oppor- tunity of discovering every word. However, 1 SaW at once thati [ seriously objected the séance Would end, and so let the Doctor have his own way. The trick 13 too transparent to need ex- posure. You are not allowed to ask a single ques- tiun on paper Other than that wich he has on the | tavle, aud turoagh that paper, jor | brought some O: it bome with me, 1 can readily read What is written alter it has been several times lolded over, lasked miysell, Why ¢uch very tuin paper if T am deaiing wito augeis and not With a aumbug ? 1 leit that it Was unfair to give hin so great an advantage over me, and ao fixed up the course 1 woud pursue. 1 took the paper [rom his hands | aud with a very sharp-pointed pencil wrote a ques- tion, vut instead of pressing the pepsa on the paper, a3 18 usual, I held it so lightly, so very lgutly, that though the sentence was perfectiy legible, that is, could be read tt 1t was directly be- Jore you, it could not be traced on the other side or réad at ali atver the paper was folded over. This I gave tv bim. He requested me to seat on tue other side of the room, giving as a rea- Son that the magnetic curremt would be disturbed by a closer proxinity, 1 tomk I succeeded in com- Pleteiy vbrowing nim off his guard by talking about indifferent topics aud pretenoing to examiue the curiosities, At any rate deception 1g easy on his Part, since he invariably covers the paper with his arm and banus, aod without your knowing it can unroll the giip provided that he cannot get at the question tn any otuer way. This 1 afterwards him do more than once, and in my heart pi nounced bim a churlatan and a cheat. THE TRICK AT A GLANCE. He laid my paper down on the tabie and began to iron ic out flat witu bis fingers, pressing taem down, whicu at once renders the writing legivie, but even then it was impossible to see through. My pencli marks were too light. After several Miuutes of manipulation, during whicn he partiy Uurolled the paper, the better to get at my ques. tion, he said :— “4 get no influence whatever, sir. There seems to be no spirit here. It is strange, but it is im. possible to get an answer."? He then said, “is your mother living ?? ‘No, ” T repited. ‘Then I will tell you her name, or, rather, she will teil it through me.” With that he made several dots on the paper, while [ had gose off in a reverie of disappoint. ment and chagrin at what I believed to be a piece of base trickery, by Means of which he peudies out false communications from heaven at $5 per hour. He said, as though musing, “Seven, seven, 1 ere there seven let- Llooked at him blankly and must have nodded, thougn My mind and heart were far away with toe jast scenes in that mother’s life, which were Very impressive. He caught at that slight and ac- cidental clew atonce. How many proper names are vhere, do you suppose, feminine names, with Just seven letters’ nen he mentioned, “T, T. Why that must ve the last letter, is it? “Weil,” I said, ‘go on.’ ‘Then he deliberately wrote backward the word aud triumphantly pronounced it the Her real name was Mary. At that moment Iwoke irom the reverie into whica [had fallen, and was keenly alive to the vile system of organized fraud to wnich I was sub- 1wrote in @ full round hand, on this paper which he had handed me, this question :— Dear Mother—Shall I buy those stocks you_ wanted me to purchase @ year agot WILLIAM. Alter pressing the paper with his finge.s and | Teading (oe guesiton—{ had already read it through the folds vetore [ nanded it to him—he said, innocently enoagh:— “lu urder to make sure that Ido not unfold the paper, sir, { Will use some gum arabic and ~tick it togerner.”’ Witu that oe daubed the paper wito | cmuciiage. Svon giter he wrote ip a hurried mao- | ner tis answer :— Having talked it over with conclusion is that you will mother, x I ueed only reiterate that my mother’s name was Mary; that she couid not have wanted ine to | buy stocks a year ago, because she has been dead bow sotue ten years, and Lnever vought or thought of vuying aby stocks in my lle. That answer was a@ thoroughgoug iraud Irom beginning tu end. 11 tt 13 Said I oad Do Dasiuess to ask such @ ques- tion, the answer is plain. My only motive was to getatthe tratu. If my motner haa been really tuere sue could have given me the sirongest possibie test ly ying, throagn ti medium, ‘William, | have been dead ten yea gud you know it.” hat would have satisfied me; lactuaiy lunged to get while this clever sleight of hand was going on. ASTONISHING REVELATIONS, I next asked this question :— Dear Pather—Can you tell me what is the matter with my dear son, George. WILLIAM. This time | walked round the room looking at the pictures, ana, turning suddenly, actually saw With my Own eyes the payer unrolled betore him, walle ne read the sentence, aad theo iolded it up again. Wich periect nonchalance, however, I qo, father, our conjoint weil t@ do 00. Your couttgued my Walk, and at last, as he Was writing the aoswer, sat down in the chair close to him, He gaia nothing avout tne magnetic curtent this time, aod I suspected that tus current ba 44 e trouble him aiter he had read the question. auswer wi # 10110 sto that, my soa, J amat the canse of his ailmentis. [ De tor What is, anima! magnetism = hink you neeu have any YOUR PATHER. When y that I have never had son or daugh- ter | have said enough to expose the trickery Oi a man Wuo for dojlars pretends to seli knuwiedge of hig ae 8, J coniess + sickens ne REA Ta UR oY @ ¢ 01 Y treads to abylaing, 60s to tue mouraing, ug the Gear voy. | | Woere it was, | for diamonds in who are off their guard through anxiety and sor- row. My last question was as follows, and asa dénoue- ment of this comedy was very rich:— A my wife Maggie in ar epheret: aah + “aud our lide Willie? Ba hha by os | your sphere: a PPY nee Willie! | ‘The answer came at once. Daniing, Dantixo—Mother Harriet says, Macgie an- yourself, Yes, 1 will warm pleasure. Yes, dar ‘am, inexpressibly so. Oh, could you see my house! be alarmed about dear Wille, He wall recuperate after awhile, we think, if his physique is not overtaxed. | Darling, 1 have much’ to say to You, but not able to say it now. I consider the advice given you by your purents— about buying those stocks—worthy of beeding. . ae GIB. own. You should have seen the look of blank amaze- Ment when 1} took this precious document vown and showed it to my wife, who, far trom be in heaven, 18 vigorous and healthy, and will, hope, recover from the shock caused by the an- nouncement of her demise, She threatens diretul vengeance on that spirit which dares to assume her name and ny herseli off ip the higher sphere as my wife, and L suspect that when the two meet in the upper land some pretty stormy expletives Will be used, for Maggie vows tuat, no matter where | she finds her, she will give the impostor a piece of ber mind, As to our “dear Wilile,”’ of course that boy is @ myth. My logic is simple—since I have cee had @ child that child could not be named | Ville. LEARNING THE “PROFESSION.’? J said this was the last question I asked. I ought to have said 1t was the last to which I got an answer, 1 wrote one more query, but this time, a8 at first, so lightivy that tt could not be Teaa, Tot got BO response. The spirits bad departed. e this séance | have been practisinj very vigorousiy at the tricks of Mansheld, op find that they are noc so dificult, after ali. He | did nothing that afternoon which I cannot do my seifatany time, When I say that I saw tim— though he wae hot aware of it, of course—open the paper anda look at the question, iL becomes entirely unnecessary jor me to pronounce =the oman a fraud, = E Suppose there is no Jaw against tumbuzs, | aud there ig no legisiation to prevent men and WwoineD irom making fools of themselves at $5 & | head, Still, it 18 a piry that suen an atrocious humbug as 1 have desciived should go unpun- ished, Mansfield has himself put the matter better than 1 can, When the case of Willam G. Grant et al, vs. Mansfield was up before the Second District Court, in March, 1873, one of tue witnesses swore to this remark made by Maus- fleid—this was after a juli exposure—that those who believed would stiil believe, and those who did not would come only the more to see how the | thing was cone.” | DEFRAUDING THE CONSUROR, | Iftt were an exuiviuion of sleight of nand—that | 1s, coniessedly tha'—we Could speak of the exut- bition in terms of commendation, tor the trick 18 | well Gone; out when it precends to have any con- nection with the beings of another world it be- comes blasphemy, a sacrilege, au intamy whicn all true meu should trample on in scorn, Heaven may be Close about us—douptiess 1b is—but Mans- field 1s not its prophet. 1{ Mr. Bergh could suppress this humbug be would be doing Us alia service, for Mansfield is indictable op the ground ofcrucity to abimals. All sorts of jorlorn people go to Lim tor comfort, and ior the sum of five paltry dollars | he will ausWer any question which you will write platuiy On very thin paper and_ not {old over tvo Many times. Ihave op open offer to make to this man:—If he will come to my house abd read wiat 1 will write in @ language he does not understand, and give me a definite answer, I stand ready to apologise for some severe criti- cisms, and will preseot him with # $50 note for his pains. Li some credulous soul says the spir.ts Won't do it for money, I answer that Dr. Maus- field's hoursare fiom nine A. M. to nine P. M., and that the spirits are doing it every day at a cheaper rate than offer. l1itts said, again, tuat they will not condescead to an experiment, I answer that | have a great many friends in the other wovld who know my desire, my pbonest de- sire, to believe, and Who, if auy one can come \brough Dr. Mansfield, will either come them- seives Or get some One cise to come, in order to give me this iniormation. [he offer is made Honestly, aud not in a cavilitag spirit. SPIRITUALISTS NOT MEDIUMS. Thoroughly disgusted with the resale of my first trial, I went home with the feeling tuat New York 18 o large city, and that every stripe ol roguery lurks within 1ts limits. But ior your desire watt should mat thorough examination of the wale suvject 1 spould wilhugly have left the wavter just It seetied too much hke hunting a dust heap to suit my fancy. Still, | braced myself tor another effort, and made aD engagement with Mr, Foster, who is tae second Of the trio of noted Spiritualists in this city. By a curious chance | had just veen reading a book on Meutal physiotogy, by Dr. Carpenter, of Lon- don, and ‘ran across tis estimate of the doings of this geatieman when in London, Dr. Carpenter seems tu be a periectly fair mau, and on one occasion asked the privilege of Foster of bringing together a lew of his scien ie inends to investigate the subject. Foster acquiesced and the coterie sat. But no Maniiestatious came, The conditious were ex- ceedingly unlavoraole. Either the spirits were unwilling to be subjected to the surveillance of science or else the Watcniul eyes of the scientists were too much for the operator, Mr. Foster rep- | resents that he was intimately connected with Carpenter, enjoying his hospitality and his conti- deuce. He ea has not seen tne pook just published. Mr. Carpenter bas, apparently, no doubt whatever that what koster does is mere trickery or sleight of hand, On my way down to Foster's ahop 1 stopped in at Hartz’ “Mr, Hartz, can you tell me how Mr. Foster reads questions on aiips of paper careiuily rolled up “No, gir, but Imay possibly be able to show you bow Ido it myself.” “Al, indéed! can you do it #7 “1 don’t know that I can do exactly what he does; out to read what you write on a slp of Paver, and, as you suppose, careiully fold up, 18 & INOSt transparent trick, Mr, Foster has been doing it ior Bumething like twenty years, anc doing nothing but that, and, moreover, he has been aoing it day and evening jor that full length of time. You Wili Bot expect me to be as exyert as he; buc | will sow you with pleasure what can be done in that direction.” ‘Then, to my surprise, he did, before my very eyes, tue identical things whicn 1 had seen Foster do @ great many times, and which were adduced as incontrovertible evidence of fatercuurse with | another world. [tis not necessary to say at this juncture exactly what that was, ior if I suouid tell you What Hartz did | should render a description of my interview with Foster entirely unnecessary. Tne two séances were +o nearly identical in all their salient poilts that to speak ol one ia to describe the other. Can I be taught to do that, Mr, Hartzt’” ‘Most assurediy,”’ he answered, “and Wil you teach me?!’ “Certainly, 1 will.” In haif an hour | was able to conjure up spirits from the Vasty deep aller the most approved fasiign, and several times since [ have held séances @t the wouses of my iriends, and caused them to open their eyes in blank wonder at the way in Wuicn | eatabiished 4 sort of postal ar- rangement between this world and the next. | | can periorm the trick with great accepcance, and stand ready to make Quy number of engagements atthe regular rates, vi course, and to do every- Wing whico Foster did for me t A DOUBTING FRIEND. Sull unsatisiied, however, | made a journey down to Andrew Jackson Davis’ book store, on Fourth street, to ascertain his generai estimate of | mediums, At first he Was very reticent, putin @ little while I gleaned enough to make me fee! that he had as litte confidence in the $6 an hour sys- tem as f bad. “mr. Davis, are there any trustworthy mediums inthe city? A Want to look this matter of Spir- itualism in the jace, aud have come jor advice.” “Chere are ® grew many mediums in the city, Yes, [am aware of that; buat are there any to | whom you would go ior trustworthy revela- | tions £"” “I have no heed to go, sir. I have done with all | physical manifestations, and take no interest in | them whatever.” } i saw that | was dealing with an noneat man, who had bis own opinions of the craft, but did not propose to be surprised with a deciaration. “True, sir, You dc bow need sucn things; but 1 am in the primary school, and need to be ied and taugot. Can you recommend me to any one who | J. all | wili certainiy hot deceive met"? “[ have the cards of a great many mediums, sir, | and they are at your disposal.’ “Van you vouch for any one of them #" “{ uisiike to vouch for any oue in these days. Your better plan is to take the matter into your own hands." “Pray, sit, allow me to ask one more question. Do you regard Mansfeid and Foster anu siade aa honest men f” “Really, sir, I cannot answer the question post- tively, ana 80 Ought not to answer it at all, lam out of the way 0: mediums and know nothing about them.’’ Here Was @ strange state of affairs indeed, At the headquarters of Spiritualism in the city o1 New | York tne yentieman who uad provavly nad more experience in the snvject than any living man, keeping @ bookstore Whose ample shelves were filed with spiritual literature, reiused to vouch Jor & sipgie Medium, Which means thal the honest men who are Spiritualists have no confidence whatever in the must prominent exponeuts of their own theory. ‘nis indicated a bad state of afairs, and] was jeit to find iny way with my own eyes, and with a very distinct caution sound- ing in my ears lest | sonia ve cueated. A SRANCE WITH FosTEn. With this I rang Fosver’s door veil, A servant came and ushered me into tie back parior. I must have been particularly unortunate in my choice of an hour, for tue surroundings, aitnougn decidedly spirituous, Were certainly uot spiritual. On the centre table Stood @ vottle of uraudy, sur- rounded by hall @uoZeo smai) giasses, Which nad just been emptied, it | could judge by the general ‘Darroom smell of tne place. Alter u wulle Mr. Foster appeared and beckoned | vo me and my irieud to come into whe frout room, Mr. Foster 18 @ Bran @bout jorty or forty-tve years | 01d; hut muscular, out lat, aad he wears @ huge | mustache, He vegan by 's short discourse on | Teigion, saying that tls object io this work | was simply to do good to the world. In tne | excusable, but your questions are ali false,” aud | “On, dear, take the alphabet quicaly, if he can get at the question to see it he can swer it, and 1 be fails to the first he invariavly Jails in the last. In our interview we asked the ordinary questions of those who were gone. fie answered ail in a general sort of way, but did not | give @ single tact wien could not be easily gleaned irom a Knowledge of the question. If we asked in What year some one died he compeiled us, Instead O! getting his information direct from the person who professed to be present, to write down a quantity of dates, Five times out of six he missed it, Once in a while he wouid bit right. He thought to surprise us by holding tue pencil | hgntly and calling on tue spirit to move tt, and the spirit did move it, so to speak. Buel had not been to Hartz in vain; 80 1] took the pencil, heid 16 in the same position and iound that the same spirit moved it for mem the self same way. He insisted that, though I did the same thing as he, sul) did it mechauically, Whue he uid it by apirit- uaustic forces, you know. AL the interview which I am specially describing we determined that oue Of us shoud call only for those who ure sul vmg, while tne other called only for fictitious characters, Our argument and excuse Was this: ster Sard, ‘i see a spirit here who is ready to communicate; @ beautitul spirit, and trom the celestial rather than the spiritual worid,’’ Now, tuen, that being the case, ali that spirit had to say was “Gentlemen, you can't de- ceive us; We seé through you. Your motive 1s we should have paid our $2 and received the best | Test thut couid be given As with Manstielu, L wanted to be scolded; | wanted to be upbraided; J wanted my father, who said he was present, to say through Foster, “My "oy, your questions ure unworthy,” and ti my iatner nad really come through Foster that is cercainly what he woud bave sald. One o! the questions asxed wat Dear Wilkinson, where did you die, disease? MR. POSTER HAD A FIT. He put bis hands convulsively on his chest, and declared that he felt badly. He said the spirit was a very powerlul one, At last he wrote, J died tu Boston, of lung disease, ‘Then he Was asked, how long ago did you die? | By (tis time che spirit was in a quandary. A qu. uty of digures were written down, aud, aller having tuissed it four or five umes. my ireud sald “Luat will do,’? as Poater’s pencil came down on, five | years ago. So iar irom paving died five years ago | Ot lung at-ease Mr, Wukinsou is a9 thorouguly alive ay most men tu-day, aud stands ready to give cular and muscular evidence oi nis contiauance | On this muudaue sphere to any man Wuo doubts it. | Toe uext question Wus:— Wil James Watkins tell me something about bimself? | The contortions came again, apd the reply was im sepulctiral tones, ‘‘He will write bis name in bloou on the back oO: the medium’s hand,’ And sure enough, after considerable rubbing of the part named, tue iaitials J. W. came out, This did not startie either of us, because we bad done that taing ourseives, A suarp thumb Dail is the Only tool necessary. Any one can do it. Run ; your nail over your nand anu then rub it smoothly and you will do the trick as well as Foster, I need not Say here that the alurementioned J. W. 1s sull auve, aud can make his own Initlais come out on tne back of Ins owa bund, “SLEIGHT OF HAND"? AGAIN, Perhaps it 1s unnecessary to go jurther into de- tall. it will be naturaly said, “Yes, but now could the operator read tue questions” He lasa dozen of them together; these he holds in his two hands, Manipulating thea constantly. He talks incessantly, und every now aud then attracts your attenuon to something in the rvom, or, if that ruse 1s pot successiul, he says, excitedly, Oh, dear, L teelu Very strange lutluence. Be quick.” You | turn to the alphabet, aud, having gut it im readi- | ness, Und that the Ot has pussed off, aud that he don’t need if. ‘the truth is in taat moment he has delberately unio:ded your paper aud read your question, I you ask how I Know, 1 answer in two ways—first, Ivaw him doit with my owo eyes, and not once, but several times, aud second, because | cao do it mysew and so Can avy one alter | & littie practice, It is @ most transparent trick. | in order, hoWever, to make assurance doubly sure | I took a silp of paper, while Poster retired for a moment, twice as wide as the one he gave me, and wriuug @ gues:lou thereon gave it to him. He could get Du influence whatever, Try bim U yon | are .oolsh enough to want to be humbugged in and of what n- NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2Y, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. this Way. Take your written queations with you, pasted so that by no possibility Can they be opened, and, my word ior it, you won't get an answer, Jn order tu show that { want to be en- tirely just to a man whose personal habits and whose general metnods dixgust me beyond expression, I wul place @ hundred doilar bil imathick envelope, and if ne, with ail the spirits he can conjure up, can tell we the number on it, ne Shall be Welcome lo tue money. So tar as my miend and myself are conc-rned we were most .gregiousiy numvuugged. Lo wy uatutored mind it 1s awiul, simply awiul, to Ma.e proiessions 1 persoual purity, of a phenomenal uprightness of character, calung op God and the holy angels as thouge he were periectly familiar with taeir ways, and then continue the subject by impo-ring on your credulity 12 the most baresuced aod impu- dent fashion, Ihave no hesitation whatever in affirming it aa my solemn belief tnat at that tn. | te:view Foster knowiugiy, willingly and wiifully practised a sleigut of uand trick, id the proof | | \ } adduce is that I caught bim in tue act. SLADE’S SEANCES. Ihave already tuken up So much space in giv- ing the details of my imterviews wita Mansield and Foster, that 1 Have little room in whicn to speas of the last of this noted trio, Mr. Slade. | Spiritualists have repeatedly assured me tnat with | the latier gentleman I shouid get complete sats- | Jaction, and on the Whole their prediction was 1ul- | filled. though not in exactiy the way expected. Thad also been assured that boih Foster and Mans- fleld Would snow me tuings very staruing, and by pecans upon whose jucgments I am apt to rely: ut the result, the nauseating result, of those 8 tings you already know. [ ui toid again, and this 18 # Very curious and remarkable statement or confirmed believers to make, tuat while ali these genulemen once in a while resort to juggiery, that is when they are not ‘in conattion,”” but nevertueless teel wnat tiey must have tat identical five dullar bill, yet there are times when they nave given undouvied proof of supernatural power. 1 say this becauie 10 the search alter truth absolute lairness to the opponent 1s the primary condition of success. This statement may, for aught i know, be true, and lor augotl know it may be untrue. I am speaking now of | those things alone of which | have taken personal | coguizance, ‘Thess supernatural agencies Lave not been forthcoming during my presence. On the ocher hand agencies nave been produced and | exhibited, the (rick Of wBich even @ tyro in sleight | of hand, who was not thrown off his guard by un | actual aflluction, couid detect, | Ihave neld two interviews with Slade, one at his house in Fourth avenue, and one at his re dence in Twenty-first sureet. i was ushered into parlor where I was met and greeted by a gentic- Man Who seems to have charge of the operato: Alter awnile Siade himself appeared. Agaio | was Impressed, ag I have always been by public medi- unis, by the keen and suspicious way in which all their people look at @ new comer. have never yet been received in an open, fair, honest tashion. They invariaoly look at you as though you were Setting 4 trap ior chem, ald as tnouga their spec- 1ai and daily business was to keep clear of traps. It seems to be important for them to know wheiler you are acquainted with manilestations, or whetuer you ure @ novice, a3 though that lact would decide the kind of article they Were to bring forward to startle you withal. I told slade I would like to sit, and alter a few minutes’ conver- | gation he retired to his private room, [ could not help teeing, jor the purpose of getting things in rast, and then returned to announce that he was ready. ‘The Moment 1 sat down at the table loud raps came, and Slade said :— “Isn't (oat wonderiul? That always scares me. Tam afraid o/ the spirits, though I have seen 80 much oj them.” | This, of course, I did not believe @ word of. When @ man has heard raps twenty times a day lor | twenty years they are not apt to irighten him. Now let me describe waat followed a littie care- fully. Behind me (thia was im Fourth avenue) was a secretary, Slade put my hands on the , table, sv far torward that | was compelled to lean partty on it, and pressed my hands down with one Ol his, while With Lue other he held tue mysteri- ous siate. Jn a 1ew moments the slute was kuocked out of tis hand and on to the floor, in the direction ofthe secretary. “Dear me; I can’t nold it, The spirits are very strong this morning.” } He picked the slate up, but it was again tossed | On the floor, this time & little nearer co the book- | case, With some deprecacing remark he got possession of it, When With Unusual violence it was tossed on the floor to the very edge of the bookcase, when, suddenly turning my head by partially releasing my hands, | saw him posh the tert under the vookcase abd pull anotner just @ it our, NOW HE WAS READY FOR BUSINESS, 1 haa apparentiy eXamined the siate he had in | his hand, which rendered further inspeciion un- necessary, whereas, im 1act,\ had not seen it until he pulled it out Irom beneath the book. | case. beard @ poise as Of some one writing, svon the knocks announced that the communication was complete, and the slate on being taken up con- talned a sentence written 10 a@ plain hand on some glittering generalities. | looked at the piece of slate peicil which bad been used, and it was per- Jectiy evident that it was impossible to write those words wito that pencil. “Sold again,” | said to myself, “and this time at @ very Cheap rate,” 1 lookeu at the man who was JUggliog me, aud & More wary, watchiui look I ve convinced of Can't do it as well ag as well as J hope to be aple to di If Siade and Foster and Mansfleid will meet me some eveolug at my rooms | will go through all their performances, ove aiter tne other, and not charge them $5 apiece. If 1 can do it, and ex- plain the means by which I do it, [may be excused, pernaps, for suspecting that they do it in the sell- | same way. Slade can’t get materializations out of his own house. Ihave tried to persuade him to come to Tay Toums at bis own price; but his vital force is aiways low woen I ask him, He will certaiply come in a few days, but is never ready to Mx the aate. Now. allow me to sav, in closing, that, while lam ready to admit frankly that there may be o lorce or forces 10 some phases of juodern Spiritualism which exhibit intelligence and start- ling phenomena; mueed, | am bound to admit this 41 take the word oj gentiemen who are as honest as | am and as Able to judge vet Ween the true and the false, Ido, tn the most unnesitating Way, denounce these three men as arrant jugglers and impostors. They nave deceived me, or attemptea to dy 80, by the performance of tricks sometimes | cleverly done and sometines done so bunglingly that i have caught themin the ac’. Heaven help ua all if We can receive any consolation, or If our religions faith 18 questioned by such an exhibition | of mere sleight Of hand with a orazen face and @ lying tongue vehind. Iam, sir, your obedient ser- vant, AN INQUIRER. New Yor«, Dec, 19, 1874. THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, ete diemeeeens AN APPEAL FROM PROMINENT NEW YORKERS ON | BEHALY OF THE PHILADELPHIA EXPOSI- TION—THE PLANS AND PROSPECTS. TO THE PkOPLE OF NEW YORK:— The undersigned, your fellow citizens, impelled thereto by a sense of duty, take the liberty o! ad- dressing to you a lew words about the coming celebration of the Centennial of American Inde- pendence. HISTORY OP THE ENTERPRISE, In 1871 the American Institute of this city and the Franklin institute of Philadelpnia, the coun- ciis of the latter city, the Legislature of Pennsyl- vauia, with many citizens of diferent sections of the country, brought this subject to the attention of Congress. That body, after due deliberation, decided that the movement was a proper one, and iu the preamble to the law making provisions for a fitting celebration, did commend th? same to the people in the following felicitous terms, to wi Whereas tne Declaration of Independence of the United states of America was prepared, signed and prowuigated in the year 1776, 10 the city of Philadelphia; and, whereas it penvoves the people of the United States to celebrate by appropriate | ceremonies the centennial anniversary Oo! this memorable and decisive event, whicn constituted the 4th day 0) July, anno Domin} 1776, the birthday Of the nation ; and whereas it is deemed ftung that the completion o! the first century of our national existence shall be commemorated by an exibition of tue national resources of the coun- try aud their development, and of the prygress in those arts which benefit mankind, in comparison with those of other nations; and whereas no place i8 80 appropriate for such an exibition as the city in which occurred the event it is desizned to com. memorate; and whereas, as the exhibition should be a national celebration in which the people of the whole country should participate, it snouid have the sanction of tae Congress o1 the United States. The letter and spirit of the law following this preamble shows that Congress intended that the celebration should be broadly national in its char- acter, for it intrusted the management to commis- sioners to be chosen from the several States and ‘Territories, and provided that the leading feature ofthe ceremonies should be @ national and inter- Dational exhibition of arts, Manufactures and the prodncts of the soil and mine, ‘to be conducted under the auspices of the government o! the United States.” The Commission to direct the celebration and exhibition was constituted accordingly in the sum- mer of 1871. But 1t was 800n discovered that that body was wanting in authority to raise the neces- sary capital for the erection of buildings and other proper preparations. To supply this need Con- gress in 1872 created another corporation, known as the Centenniai Board of Finance, clothed with the right to raise capital, not exceeding $10,000,000, by selling its own | capital stock, in shares of $10 each, ac- companied with the right to one vote for each share in the election of directors, ‘The proceeds of said stock, together with tne receipts from all other source: for the erection of suitable buildings, with their appropriate fixtures and appurtenances, aod tor all other expenditures required in carrying out the Objects ol the Said act of Congress of March 3, 1871, and which may be incident tnereto.” And the tenth section reads as tollows, to wit:—“Tnat 88 Soon as practicable alter tne exmibition shall have been closed It shall be the duty of said cor- poration to convert its property into cash, and, | aiter the payment of ail its lubilities, to divide its remaining assets among its stockholders pro | rata, in iuil satisiaction and discharge of 1ts vapi- | tal stock.” On the 4th of July, 1573, the proper authorities of the city of Philadelphia, in the presence of the President of the United States, by her special rep- Tesentatives and @ vast gathering o! the people, presented to the Uniteu States Centennial Com- mission @ deed dedicating to said Com- mission 450 acres of grouud in Fairmount Park toc the Uses and purposes of the said Ceuteanial Ex- hivition, The President of the United States, by his special representative, commended the pro- posed celebration to the favor and support o1 the people oi the United States, and did also cail the atrention of the governments of foreign countries tothe proposed incernational exnibition of arts, manufactures, &c., to the eud that ail might par- ucipate therein, TRE INVITATION TO FOREIGN NATIONS. Then, again, Congress, at its iast session, while adhering tu the policy tudicated in tts laws of 1871 and 1872 that the capital necessary for preparn- tions should arise irom the voluntary contribu. ons of the peopie, passed a law faciiitating the Taising Of capital, ANd another providing for the admission of articies tor exhibition irom foreign countries tree ot duty? and anotuer, tn the follow. + ing terms, to wit:—"fnat tne President be re- quested to extend, in the name of+tne Untied dStates, a respectial and cordial tuvitation to the governments of other nations to be represented and take part in tie Interuational Exnibition, to be held at Philadelphia, under the auspices of the government of tie United States, iu the year 18763’’ and We are tniormed that that cordial invi- tauion, under direction o1 the Presivent, has gone Gut to ail the civilized nations of the world, THE NATIONAL DUTY, To our minds certain conciasions flow with {rre- sistible force irom the loregoing 1acis; one 1s that the people ana government of the United Srates must accomplish the tumg watch they have told all the Worid they intend todo, on ascale befitting @ great country or bring upon themselves the just | reproach of the people und governments of other | countries, besides awukening In the minds of our own people a deep sense of uunitiation and shame because of the lature, The work 18 beloie them 88 One Of honorable success Or lasting reproach, With such alternatives we cannot douby tor a mo- ment where you will be ound. Another conclu- sion 18, that ais Undertaking, having been initiated by Congress and managed under its laws and under the auspices of tie government, in which mManagemenc every State Of the Union may be represented, must be and is peculiarly national in its character, and our State and her great metropo- | iis snould be aroused to their responsivilities in this connection. The internavional feature of the exhibition may be regarued as Only a proper recognition of the courtegies heretojore extended to the United States by European countries in demonstrations , of this character, THE DUTY OF NEW YORK. In view of all these considerations we feel con- strained to press upon each one of you the ne- cessity of exlenuing such material aid as you can aftiord toward making up vur State's quota. We deem It proper in tuis conuection to give you all the imormanuon we bave at command toncuing the present status of tie uudertaking, anu its proper to way that We gainer this mamly irom the omcial papers oi A. 1. Goshorn, Director General; Jonp Welsh, resident of the Finance Board; Wilham Bigier, Financia! Agent, and ‘thomas | Cochran, Chairman o} the Buiiding Committee. He put it in the middie of the table, wnen I | never saw on a human face, | I then asked for some materializations, hung up a Jew curtains and was ready. ‘was darkened aud I waited jor results, He The room e, don’t you see,” he suld excitedly and pointiag to the vurtain, “Don’t you see thas star. ti fuating wil round. Yon must s I jooke®, but no floating star was visible to my eye. “How it frig! 3 me,” he resumed. there comes a lace,” and, sure enough, something that might have been mistuken jor @ lace came up. There Was DOtuing distinct, neitoer au vut- iin nor @ feature, and it did vot long enough to allow mé @ g00d look, Again it me, and this time 1 eaw plainly that it had no perspective—it luitiest sirains he talked oi the pure iu peart, of Jectiy fat, and altogetner too much like the deugnts of giving comiort to heavily laden and | that Hhich wcamera turows to pel severely stricken souls. He tuen ture of irom | it was irom toe spirit land. shen 8 Slips of Mail preci hich we | the edge oO! the table, bat it came and were to write Our quertivus. Let me co that thougn } tried to grasp it it gone, Joatead of detatung tue Interv! wi 14 been the band o: the An; {’daurie: i would with nim J i of what hay have held ‘DX wil the muscle which two hua a6 *DOugh the interview was & prolonged area, pounds s aurdupots agoras, It was not ike a wi 1@ 0} mblanoe a" My theory of the, Whole thing Was and us, thas Bad the jane OF a Dash. gus is auf goe | the material “Oh, dear, | | THY BUILDINGS, The buildings are, frst, an ait gallery, covering @ Space o1 about one acre and three-quarters, the material being Of brick, granite, irou and giass, the law requiring that it shall be persectly fire- proot. For tue erection of unis buuding he Stare of Pennsylvania and tue city of Philadeipina nave appropriated $1,500,000, rhe inner wails o! this bullding are now erected up aS high as the square, and the granite js being set Witt marked rapidity. ‘The contract requires its periect completion six months iu advance of the opening of tne exnivi- ton. Tne waib ex«lbition building, covering a space of tweuly acres ana to be constructed mainiy of tron and glass, wi since; the ioundations are now nearly read is being produced at the will ana and factories. pala jor Out Of the iynds arising irom the sale of stuck, and 18 also to be completed six mouths belore the beginning of the celebration, The remaining buildings are the machinery nall of twelve acres, agricultural department of six acres, ald & couservatory of two and a naif acces, allo which Wili be under contract by tne Ist of January bext. ‘Ihe funus ior the machinery ball and'couservatory are turnisued by the city of Putiagelphi THE ASSURANCE OF SUCCE AS to the success o1 the exhibition, we ranted in sayipg that @ wide spread int been awakened, and the present indications sig- nily @ Marked success, Already the applications 1oF space irom our own people are peany aes to @ entire space set apart tor the United pistes. ba aes Hegel Lge RA peat that ip hee Bavaral productions the uispiay be » Shali be used by said corporation | contracted for some montis | At Will Cost about $2,000,000 and Will be | grander than anything of the kina heretofore wit neased, * ACTION OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES, The indications as to the Gtapiay irom foreiga countries at this date,a year and @ half in ade vance of the beginning, are far More tavoraule Shap had been anticipated by the manage: ‘ following named countries have takea action—t¢ Wii, the German Empire las accepted tne invita tion Of the rresident; France has accepted and bat uppointed commissioners resident in Philadelphia and New York; sweden and Norway ti ap: Pointed # commission, and have gone so far as ta provide tor defraying the cost of transportation of ‘ouds of their gubjects to the exhibition and ome; Engiand’s acceptance of the invitation hag been communicated by \eiegraph, bat the particu- lars are Rot Known; in several of the British col- onies—especially in Canada, Australia, New Z land, Tasmunta and otners of the Australasian Islunds—extinitions of unusual completeness and tucerest have deen prepared; in Austria @ large number Of manulacturers and arusans Dave sOl- ictted space In tue extubition buildings; the gov ernwuents of Central America and South America | have «manuested special interest in the ex- | hibition, aod the President’s invitation has been accepted by Peru, United States of Colombia, | Nicaragua, the Argentine Confederation, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Chill, Guatemala and Salvi dor, aud lor these countries commissioners Da been appointed and the money appropriated tor their expenses. Mexico, Honduras and Hayti have also accepted the tmvitauen, Brazil aad other South American nations have made applica tron for space, Io addition the Netheriands, Bel. gium, Liberia, the Sandwich Islands, China, Japaa and Switzerland have accepted tne invit on. Spain has accepted and appointed Sefior Castelar, the eminent republican statesman, to pend resident commissioner at the American exbk pLtLon. The means to the celebration provided for by Congress We regard as most 1ortunute. Gre: hibitions, displaying the progress of the several ations 1D civil arts, always impart most valuable lessons, Nothing nas done more for England and France withia the past quarter of a century than tueir great international eXxhididions, and no one cun doubt that the coming exhibition will be {dle lowed by similar results to our country. REPAYMENT OF THE STOCK. As we understand it, there was no intention ta shape Centennial operativas with spectal refers euce to remuoursing Suoscribers to the stooks bat circumstances have so shaped its affairs that the result 1s quite probable. 1his arises from the fact tuat the city of Philadelphia and tae Scate of Pennsylvania not having the right to subscribe to the stock o: the Centennial corporation, have appropriated $2,500,000 for tue erection of certaim butlaings, whicn bas the effect to give the stock- holde.s the use o1 three of the principal buildings free of cost. Besides, owing to the low price of material, the buildings will cost much less thag Was anticipated, Jae expectation of the full ree demption Of the stock is strenginened by the re Sults OL certain local exhibitions, recently held 10 this country. It may be sulely claimed that many persons, resident at remote points from tne exhir bition, iuspired by the memories orthe struggle for indevendence, will thereby be attracted to the celebration who might overlook an international exhtvition With all its interests and peculiar ak tracnions. THE BENEFITS ACCRUING TO NEW YORK. It is proper to remark also that, while regarding the exurwordinary contrivutious of Patladetpnia aa insplied in some measure by the expectation of Incidental benefits, you should not lorget that New York 18 aiso to be a beneficiary. It will not pe denied that visitors to the Exbibt- uion Irom foreign countries, with rare exceptions, will make New York their headquarters, and aa also a8 fo visitors from remote parts of our own country, and this will be rendered all tue more certain because oi the admirable railroad arrange- IMents dlready designed by tue Centennial Man- agers and Colonel Scott, of the Penusylvania Com- any—tv wit, that through trains between New York ond the Centennial grounds are to be fur+ nished, of such ample capacity and elegant equip: ment, moviug 80 irequently and at such great speed, With rates $o moderate, ag to render it @ matter of little concern to the visitors to the Ex hibition whether taoeir loagings be in Palladelphia. or New York, WAC OUR SELF-RESPECT REQUIRES, But, above these mereiy seilisn considerations stand others which coucu our pride und seli-re- spect, to wit, our “works of art and manutactare and products of the soiland mine” must appear tm the grand display. Space in the butidings ior this purpose will require Capital, and we are sure net you wil not cousent that the skilled men of New York, with their choicest products, of which We are so proud, shall occupy space turoished by tl capital of Otber States; gor will you Claim a re. duction in your share of the capital because of the surplus iurnished by the people of Pennsylvania. ‘That baiance must stand tor the reliet of remote and needy Siates who can realize no tneidental \ benefits, ‘The truth 1s, fellow citizens, there 18 DUS ove Way of rendering our position in tais matter | satisiactory to ourselves and creditable in bistory, and that 18 a prompt periormance of our full part In the ceremonies that are to commemorate the sounding of our Republic, THE PROPRIETY OF THE CELEBRATION. We cannot, within the limits, dwell upon the reasons jor the celebration, nor is it necessary, lor We are proud Of the lact that no one takes ex~ | ception w the propriety of the proposed celebra- tion, All agree that the great and decisive event that broughtthe Republic into existence ougut ta be celeprated by ceremonies no tess comprehen. Sive and fitting than those prescribed in the lawa | of Congress. indeed, it 18 universally conceded that the peopie o1 tne United states can do na more befitting sting than to come together at the very spot where lloerty and independence were enunciated, surrounded by the evidences of the great achievements 1D arcs and science that have distinguished the first sundred years of the Ree pubic. ‘They ought thus to meet from the North and the | South, trom the Kast and the West, and, while exe changing assurances Of fraternal affection for each other and devotion to the country, unite in thanksg'ving to God, who controls the destinies Ot Dativns, Jor the goodness and mercy that pa 2 et led marked the deatings with our infant e pubiic. buch intercourse would do much to eface and | put away jorever the remMemovrance of whatever has been unpleasant in the past intercourse be tween the States and the people, thereby cee ling a stronger confidence at home and abroad ia the peaceiul eudurance Of our free institatlons. Peter Cooper, A. T. Stewart, Wm. M. Evarts, Wm, C, Bryant, Cyras W. Field, Wm. E. Douge, Moses Taylor, R, 3. Storrs, D. Diy Jonn Tayior sonnston, H.W, Siocum, Samuel sloan, David Dualey Field, August Belmont, N. M. Beckwith, Fred. S. Winston, William B, Dinsmore, Jackson 8, Shultz, George Opdyke, A. H. Barney, Wiliam Orton, Robert Leaox Kennedy, Abram 8, Hewitt, | EK. Morgan & Co., Edwards S, Sanfor,§ Brown Brothers & Uo,, EK. A. Packer, Jonn J. Cisco & Son, Joshua Hanna, Morgan & Co, D. Appleton & Co., F. P. James & U0., Robert Carter & Co., George F. Hope, Wm. L. scrang & Co, Henry Butler, Pomeroy & Piummer, H. B, Clatin & Co., Wright, Bliss & Fabyan, Whittemore, Peet, Post Chase, Stewart & Co., & bv. Spauiding, Swit & 0o., William Turnbull & Co,, James F, White & Co., Upuam, Tucker & Uo, ‘Fred. Vietor & achelis, Harding, Colby & Co., Jacoo Wendell, iriman & Co., Enos Richardson & Cd, Harut & Co., S. Hawk & Co,, Jobn B, Hutehinson, Darling, Griswold & OQ». Catlin, Brundrett & Co., B, G. Arnold & Co,, ©. B. Wood, Sheldon, banks & Co, | ‘THE CHILIAN EXPOSITION. The English iine of steamers from the South Pacific to Liverpool has followed the example of the South American Steamship Company and ree Guced its iare thirty-five per cent to and from Valparaiso for ali persons going to Visit the Obile lan Exposition irom any South Al Lie MA and the directors contemplate the same red| to persons coming trom Kurope, |THE CUBAN MINISTER TO CHILL Among the passengers who lett this city yesters day by the Pacific Mall steamship City of Tokio was Enrique Plieyro, the recently appointed Minister of the Republic of Caba to the Republic of Chill, Seilor Pileyro 13 a native of Havana, thirty-five years Of age, a brilliant orator and a well knowa writer. While at college in Havana be was & pro- tégé of ne well known Cuban Professor Luz, Wao prognosticated a brilliant future for his pupil Aiter leaving college he travelled extensively im | Enrope, and upon his return to Havana com- menced his profession as a lawyer. He also be came a frequent contributor to the Havanese Newspaper £1 Siglo, and at a luter period became the euitor of the Revista det Puedlo and the Revisia det Habanero. When the revolution broke out at Yara in 1809 Seflor Pilleyro showed himsell a sympa thizer with tie patriots, and, to save himself jrom imprisonment, fled to the United states. Upon nis arrivas here he became secre. tary to the late Morales Lemus, Cubaa Minister to Washington, and while so employed compiled a book containing much interest! data with reference to the question of Caban ins dependence, Later on hé became the editor of ine Cuban patriot organ published im this city, 44 Revolucion, Leaving this paper he started, im company with his irtend, Mr. J, M, Mestre, am illustrated paper, 4! dfundo Nuevo, which recently was merged into La America [liustrada, and o! witch paper he stili remains an associate editor. He has jost a brother, Ricardo Piileyro, Vr the | Cuban revolution, who went out witu the Lillian | and Upton expeditious, and who was soted tot his dashing vravery. He is a warm perso! | imend o: the President of the Cuban Republic, FB. V. Aguilera, who thinks that at th res moment, witle the South American republ of are coaremplatiog Uuited action to pring about Cu independeuce, sedur rileyro’s presence in O may be Very advantugeous to the ‘cause,’ A MURDERER VOLUNTARILY SURINDER, Thomas J, Stee!, wno shot and Killed William Endert, in ki Paso couaty, avout two months and Who succeeaed in eluding arrent, rode Pueblo on Monday and Fosnteriy surre, aed by Ly Sheriff Kila, He waa bd: ft bi feet alsa Wat vie tlt