the leaders of scientific speculation reached at length the pregnant doctrine of atoms and molecule,- the latest developments of which were set forth with such power and clearness at the last meeting of the British Association." But, if I may humbly criticize one of so lofty an intellect, it appears to me that the course of scientific inquiry has led our modern philosophers too far towards the opposite extreme from that of Euripides. To disabuse the world of the notion that the powers of nature are not subject to the domination of gods and demons, which was a common belief so late as the XVIIth Century, and upon which the persecutions for witchcraft were based, it is not necessary to deny the existence of these invisible beings to whom the ancients applied the terms quoted, but whom we classify as developed and undeveloped spirits.

To prove the potentiality of the ultimate of matter, it is not necessary that we should ignore the existence of spirit. To demonstrate the organic and inorganic constituents of the human body, does not involve the denial of the existence of the soul. If Tyndall and his associates would but once admit, that there may be forms of matter and essences so subtle as to escape the test of their crucibles and scales, they would be at a point whence a whole new universe of research would open before them, inviting them to reach out for richer rewards of fame than ever before repaid the study and labor of philosopher or chemist.

In looking back to the early days of American history, I cannot now recall any stories of "materialization" prior to the close of the seventeenth century, when the storm of fanaticism arose that cost many worthy

people their lives on the charge of witchcraft, In Mr. Upham's " History of Salem Witchcraf " will be found many instances of persons being taken hold of by visible supernatural forms, of persons being sat upon by spectres while lying in their beds, of animals suddenly entering rooms in a mysterious manner and as suddenly disappearing, to say nothing of levitations (such as that of Margaret Rule), rappings, the throwing about of heavy articles, and the hearing of spirit-voices by many witnesses. True, Mr. Upham ascribes the whole thing to trickery, assuming that by practice (acquired in the course of a single winter with the help of a half-breed Barbadoes slave-woman !) a few ignorant girls had "become wonderful adepts in the art of jugglery, and probably of ventriloquism; " but does this explanation satisfy any really candid inquirer ? Especially, does it satisfy any person who, in the presence of our modern mediums, has seen the same things repeated ?

It was the prevalent belief among the learned of all professions, at the epoch in question, that the North American Indians had migrated hither, by way of Behrings Straits, under a compact with the Devil to transfer allegiance from God to him; receiving in return certain occult powers, by which they were enabled, not only to injure their fellow men, but also exercise more or less control over the elements. Witches were persons who had entered into a secret treaty with the Evil One through his allies, the Indians, and Cotton Mather, Sam. Parris, and other theologians of influence in the infant colony inculcated the doctrine that the execution of these unfortunates would find favor in the sight of God,

and proportionately distress and cripple the power of the Arch Enemy of mankind.

The Salem witchcraft tragedies were followed by such a reaction, that tardy justice was done to the families of the victims of the popular frenzy, and nothing was said about supernaturalism- at least nothing, I think, that aroused general interest-until the present dispensation was ushered in at the little cabin of Michael Weekman, in 1847, where, in the family of John D. Fox, its then lessee, there bubbled up the tiny spring that is now so great a river. The raps and poundings which will always be known as the " Rochester Knockings " and forever perpetuate the memory of Kate and Margaret Fox, were followed by many other and more wonderful forms of manifestation, such as the lifting of heavy bodies, the phenomenal increase and diminution of their normal weight (the lightest articles acquiring marvelous ponderosity and the heaviest equally notable levity), the ringing of bells, the playing by unseen performers on instruments, and, finally, by the materialization of spirit-hands, faces, and full forms.

At the same time, however, that these things were going on and the attention of the civilized world was arrested by them, similar phenomena were happening in other private families. The Davenports, of Buffalo, N. Y., were having some slight premonitions of the future career they were destined for, but the physical manifestations did not occur in their presence until February, 1855. A year before this the Koons family, of Athens County, Ohio, had instrumental and vocal concerts by the spirits, and materialized bands wrote communications.

But the Eddys tell me that they had been seeing materialized spirit-forms from their childhood, and their mother before them, and, in the absence of conflicting evidence, I suppose that the credit will have to be awarded to them of witnessing the first instances of this highest form of physical manifestation, occurring in our time. And yet, notwithstanding this fact, and the additional one, that no family so gifted in these rare psychological traits is to be found in history, their names are not even mentioned in Epes Sargent's "Planchette," one of the most scholarly works on Spiritualism in our language. It should be remarked, however, in explanation of this fact, that Mr. Sargent informs me that he applied to the Eddys for permission to visit their home, and was refused by Horatio; who probably answered his letter in haste, not recognizing the name as that of so able an author and so enlightened a Spiritualist.

One evening, in March, 1872, the Eddy family were sitting about the fire, when an event occurred that ushered in the series of materializations that have culminated in the public séances now given nightly. William had cut his foot very badly with an axe, and was confined to his bed in an adjoining room. Suddenly, without warning, the grandmother's spirit in full materialized form appeared at the threshold, and gave instruction for some salves to apply to the wound, and a cooling draught to abate the fever that had set in ; after which she disappeared. Shortly after this, when Delia Eddy was engaged in reducing some maple-sugar over the kitchen fire, the spirit of a man of short stature suddenly materialized himself, frightening her

so that she dropped a pan of sugar she was carrying. The spirits then told the family that William was to be developed as the greatest medium of the age, and that he must no longer sit for the instrument-playing exhibitions, as he had been doing for a number of years, but must go into the cabinet or closet alone and take no bells or instruments with him.

These instructions being obeyed, spirit-faces soon began to appear, and finally Santum, the giant Winnebago chief, whom my readers will recollect my mentioning in connection with the seance at Honto's cave, stalked out in full form. For a long while no other spirit came, but finally they made their appearance. "Electa," a light-complexioned squaw, about seventeen years of age, who always brings her pet robin with her, and who forms one of the spirit-band who perform instrumental music at the dark circles, (many of which I have attended, and which will be described in due time), was among the earliest visitors. Then the deceased members of their own family appeared among them Miranda, who came hand in hand with a young man, named Griffin Grinnell, to whom she had been betrothed. The lovers, parted for a while by death, were reunited beyond the grave.

Francis and James, their deceased brothers, came too. Then, as people began to flock to the old farmhouse, their personal friends manifested their presence, the first, or nearly the first (for the family cannot definitely decide the point), being a Mrs. Anny Barker, wife of G. Barker, of Habbellton, Vt. One evening, a young lady visitor saw the shade of her father, the

late Captain Johnson, United States Navy, who came in citizen's clothes. The daughter mentally requested him to appear to her in his uniform, whereupon he retired for a moment and then returned in full naval dress, with sword and epaulettes.

This is one instance among many of the doing of something by the apparitions in response to mental requests made by spectators. The thing has occurred to me several times, as will be seen further on. It should also be noted that this supposed spirit re-appeared in the uniform of his rank, and it is hardly credible that William Eddy, in addition to all the other costumes uninformed skeptics imagine his wardrobe to contain, should have a fall assortment of army and navy uniforms, for officers and privates.

What tender memories in many minds cling about this rude apartment, where so many can say:

Ere the evening lamps are lighted, And, like phantoms grim and tall, Shadows from the fitful fire-light Dance upon the parlor wall ; Then the forms of the departed Enter at the open door ; The beloved, the true-hearted , Come to visit me once more.