“Messrs. Price and Sons, the well known firm of candle makers, inform us that the fairies in this photograph are an exact reproduction of a famous poster they have used for years, to advertise their night lights.
“‘I admit on these fairies there are wings, whereas our fairies have no wings,’ said a representative of the firm to a Star reporter, ‘but, with this exception, the figures correspond line for line with our own drawing.’”
[76] I would like to say for the benefit of the reader that DeVega is a skilled magical entertainer; has invented a number of legerdemain feats; contributed a number of interesting articles to magical publications; is a skilled artist and a clever photographer. I was very fortunate in being able to secure a man of his ability for the investigation.
[77] On March 5, 1923, Harry F. Young, known as “The Human Fly,” fell ten stories from a window ledge of the Hotel Martinqiue, New York City. He succumbed before he reached the hospital.
For the benefit of those who do not know, “A Human Fly” is an acrobat who makes a specialty of scaling tall buildings, simply clinging to the apertures or crevices of the outward architecture of such building for the edification of an assembled throng, for which he receives a plate collection, a salary or is engaged especially for publicity purposes. It is not a very lucrative profession and its dangers are many.
[78] On April 14, 1922, in New York City, Sir Arthur, according to his book, “Our American Adventure,” attended a seance given by a young Italian by the name of Pecoraro. During the seance the name Palladino was given and he was told that the famous medium was present. A voice from the cabinet, supposedly Palladino’s, said, “I, who used to call back the Spirits, now come back as a Spirit myself,” to which Sir Arthur answered, “Palladino, we send you our love and our best encouragement.” However, the force was broken by “the absurd and vile dancing of the table,” and there was no physical manifestation. This shows Sir Arthur’s will to excuse even Palladino, who was on numerous occasions exposed as a fraudulent medium.
[79] ALL Spiritualists say that.
[80] Dr. A. T. Schofield wrote in the Daily Sketch, February 9, 1920, that thousands of persons were estimated by a famous mental specialist to have been driven to the asylum through Spiritualism. A truly pitiful record.
[81] Letter from Sir Arthur to H. H. (dated April 2, 1920): “I have had very conclusive evidence since my two books were written. Six times I have spoken face to face with my son, twice with my brother and once with my nephew, all beyond doubt in their own voices and on private matters, so for me there is not, nor has been for a long time, any doubt. I know it is true, but we can’t communicate that certainty to others. It will come—or not, according to how far we work for it. It is the old axiom, ‘Seek and ye shall find.’”
[82] Report of trial before Mr. Justice Darling—Morning Post, July 16, 1920.