Bullets thus prepared bear an extraordinary resemblance to lead, and are easily mistaken for that metal when seen at a short distance off.

With this explanation, the trick will be easily understood.  After showing the leaden bullet to the spectators, I changed it for my hollow ball, and openly put the latter into the pistol.  By pressing the wad tightly down, the wax broke into small pieces, and could not touch me at the distance I stood.

At the moment the pistol was fired, I opened my mouth to display the lead bullet I held between my teeth, while the other pistol contained the bullet filled with blood, which bursting against the wall, left its imprint, though the wax had flown to atoms.

It is no wonder that after such exhibitions Robert-Houdin’s success was complete.  The Arabs lost all confidence in Marabout “miracles,” and thus a dangerous smoldering flame of disaffection to the French was entirely smothered.—­Editor.

David P. Abbott

Fraudulent Spiritualism Unveiled[1]

[1] As to whether communication with the departed is possible, no discussion is here attempted.  The episodes following, from experiences well authenticated, merely illustrate what sleight-of-hand experts have long known—­that most “mediums,” “astrologers,” “mind readers,” and the like, can be proven to be frauds.  Their dupes are puzzled, and sometimes won over, in the name of Spiritualism, either by the tricks familiar to all “conjurers,” or else by the psychology of deception (see page 280).  Some of the cleverness displayed is marvelous, as the following pages show.  The passages by Hereward Carrington are copyrighted by Herbert B. Turner & Co., 1907, and those by David P. Abbott are copyrighted by the Open Court Publishing Company, 1907—­editor.

THE METHODS OF A “DOCTOR OF THE OCCULT”

Not so very long ago I met a friend—­a man of wealth, who was a firm believer in spiritualism, and who frequently conversed with his dead wife and daughter.  I asked him if he could inform me whether or not there were any good mediums in the city, as I should like to consult one.

He replied that at present there were none in Omaha of any well-developed psychic powers; that he was entirely satisfied on the subject and did not require any demonstrations to convince himself of the truths of spiritual science.  He informed me that the question was settled beyond all dispute; but that if I were skeptical, there was said to be a medium in Council Bluffs who possessed most wonderful powers.

I accordingly made other inquiries from those who were in a position to know; and I learned that this medium, a celebrated “Doctor of the Occult, Astrologer, Palmist and Spirit Medium,” was at that time giving private sittings in Council Bluffs to earnest inquirers only, for the small sum of two dollars.