ritualists, especially those who perform for money. It is high time
that the credulous portion of our community should be saved from the
deceptions, delusions, and swindles of these blasphemous mountebanks and
impostors.

CHAPTER XIII.

DEMONSTRATIONS BY "SAMPSON" UNDER A TABLE.--A MEDIUM WHO IS HANDY WITH
HER FEET.--EXPOSE OF ANOTHER OPERATOR IN DARK CIRCLES.

Considerable excitement has been created in various parts of the West by
a young woman, whose name need not here be given, who pretends to be a
"medium for physical manifestations." She is rather tall and quite
muscular, her general manner and expression indicating innocence and
simplicity.

The "manifestations" exhibited by her purport to be produced by Samson,
the Hebrew champion and anti-philistine.

In preparing for her exhibition, she has a table placed sideways against
the wall of the room, and covered with a thick blanket that reaches to
the floor. A large tin dishpan, with handles (or ears,) a German
accordeon, and a tea-bell are placed under the table, at the end of
which she seats herself in such a way that her body is against the top,
and her lower limbs underneath, her skirts being so adjusted as to fill
the space between the end legs of the table, and at the same time allow
free play for her pedal extremities. The blanket, at the end where she
sits, comes to her waist and hangs down to the floor on each side of her
chair. The space under the table is thus made dark--a necessary
condition, it is claimed--and all therein concealed from view. The
"medium" then folds her arms, looks careless, and the "manifestations"
commence. The accordeon is sounded, no music being executed upon it, and
the bell rung at the same time. Then the dishpan receives such treatment
that it makes a terrible noise. Some one is requested to go to the end
of the table opposite the "medium," put his hand under the blanket, take
hold of the dishpan, and pull. He does so, and finds that some power is
opposing him, holding the dishpan to one place. Not being rude, he
forbears to jerk with all his force, but retires to his seat. The table
rises several inches and comes down "kerslap," then it tips forward a
number of times; then one end jumps up and down in time to music, if
there is any one present to play; loud raps are heard upon it, and the
hypothetical Samson has quite a lively time generally. Some of the
mortals present, one at a time, put their fingers, by request,