The author merely offers some solutions and points out certain fundamental principles which are usually employed, and which he thinks will assist his readers in solving these mysteries for themselves. No literary merit or perfection of style is attempted in this little volume for it is written in every-day language, but I hope it may prove of interest and value to my readers.
DR. HERMAN PINETTI.
CHAPTER I.
CABINET TRICKS.
Cabinet tricks have always been a great stand-by for performers in spiritualism. A committee from the audience is usually chosen, and after tying the performer securely to a chair or board or in some other way binding him very securely, he is then placed in a cabinet, the curtains drawn, and immediately manifestations take place, such as the ringing of bells, the banging of tambourines and playing of guitars.
I will now explain three of the latest and best cabinet tricks which I know. The first is known as the “Mahatma Miracles,” and the effect of same is as follows:—
A cabinet with a translucent gauze opening in the front curtain stands on the stage and is freely inspected by a committee to see that there are no double backs, sides or tops. The medium then takes a seat in the cabinet and passes his or her hands through two apertures in the sides of the cabinet, where they are tied with ribbons and the ribbons held on the outside of the cabinet by the committee. The curtains are now closed, but due to the translucent gauze opening in the front of the curtain the medium’s head and shoulders are seen by all. In spite of this, however, bells are rung, tambourines played, a glass of water is raised to the medium’s mouth, a newspaper which is placed on the floor of the cabinet is cut into beautiful designs, and many other manifestations take place.
The secret of this trick lies in the cabinet. It is an ordinary cloth one, with a raised platform about four feet square. The front curtain, as above mentioned, has a gauze opening about eighteen inches in diameter, and the two side curtains have openings large enough to allow the medium to pass his hands through. The legs of the cabinet are about six inches high and five inches in diameter. The secret of this cabinet lies in one of the front legs, which is hollow. The floor of the cabinet is laid off in squares so that one of the squares comes over the hollow leg and acts as a trap. A strong screw-eye is screwed in the under side of the trap and a rope attached to same. This rope passes down through a hole in the floor to an assistant underneath the stage, who holds the trap down while the committee inspects the cabinet.
The medium takes his seat on a chair in the cabinet, and passes one hand through each aperture in the sides, where they are securely fastened with ribbons or ropes, the ends of which are held by the committee. The curtains are now closed and the tests occur. The assistant under the stage works everything by pushing his hand and arm up through the hollow leg. He is thus able to ring the bells and play the musical instruments which are placed on the floor. In the glass-of-water test the assistant has a stuffed glove, with wires running up each finger, which is painted flesh color, and is fastened to a stick. He bends the wire fingers of this glove around the glass of water and pushes same up to the medium’s mouth. In regard to the paper test. An ordinary newspaper is placed on the floor of the cabinet with a pair of scissors. The assistant promptly draws this paper down through the hole in the floor and places another paper, cut into beautiful designs, on the floor of the cabinet, where it is found when the curtain is drawn aside. Many other tests can be performed, all of which I think will now be clear. It is needless to say that the assistant must always pull the trap down and hold it tightly by the rope after each test so the committee can discover nothing upon examining the cabinet. The medium gives the assistant a signal when to open the trap by tapping his foot on the trap. The cloth of the cabinet should be of some dark material.
The spiritualistic post test is the next which I will describe. In the most common form it consists of a post of pine wood two and a half feet long. This is given to the committee, one of whose members bores a hole through it, near its upper edge, and then passes an ordinary rope through the hole. A knot is then tied in the rope on each side of the post. The knots are pressed against the sides of the post to prevent the rope from being pulled through the hole. The ends of the rope are now unravelled, and the post is fastened to the floor with spikes. The medium takes a seat behind the post and his hands are securely tied to the post with the unravelled ends of the rope. Small pieces of court plaster are pasted over the knots so as to prevent him from slipping his hands from the fastenings. A nail is driven into the top of the post and a rope is secured to it. This second rope is held by the committee. A screen is now placed around the medium. Bells are rung, etc., showing that the medium has the use of his hands.