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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



THE PLEASUKES OF MADNESS. 



THE SPIRIT RAPPERS. 



There is a pleasure in being mad, 

 Which none but madmen know. 



Drydfn. 



We are not going to defile our pages by a 

 too close examination of the blasphemous 

 pretensions put forth by the Spirit Rappers. 

 These impostors are pretending to raise from 

 the dead the spirits of the departed ! We 

 merely wish to put forth a friendly caution 

 to the weak-minded, not to be led away by 

 their artful and seductive advertisements. 

 Whilst they " rap," the public are " let in l" 



We have, at page 199, expressed our belief 

 that the whole world is mad. This belief is 

 strengthened from what we daily see. Every 

 absurd advertisement that appears is cre- 

 dited ; and however monstrous the thing 

 proposed to be shown is, the more numerous 

 the visitors to see it ! 



The Spirit Rappers are a body of artful 

 infidels, who prey upon the credulity of an 

 English public by pretending to raise the 

 dead spirits of departed friends ; afterwards 

 coaxing them to hold converse with the liv- 

 ing.* This introduction to the "dead," 

 costs the " living " one guinea. This is the 

 " grand secret " of raising the dead ! 



There is a lecturer, and a " Medium," or 

 go-between — a woman, of course ! These 

 and their confederates act in concert ; and 

 by silly taps or raps under the table, actually 

 cajole^ many of their victims into the belief 

 that the sounds proceed from disembodied 

 spirits ! The whole affair has been so well 

 exposed in the Zoist, that nothing is left for 

 us to add. 



We should never have alluded to the sub- 

 ject, but for the impious advertisement, which 

 we subjoin, copied from the Times of 

 April 12 :— 



" Spiritual manifestations and communica- 

 tionsivom. departed friends, which so much 

 gratify serious and enlightened minds, are 

 exemplified daily by the American Medium, 

 Mrs. R.," &c, — (here follows her address, 

 which we are not going to give.) It will be 

 seen that the words " serious " and " enlight 

 ened " are here used to entrap the super- 

 stitious ; and no doubt the result has 

 answered Mrs. R.'s purpose. 



* At a late rapping Stance, says the Zoist 

 (No. XLI. p. 95), Mr. G.'H. Lewes wrote upon a 

 piece of paper the following question — " Is the 

 Medium an impostor ? " An unequivocal " Yes " 

 was the answer. The question was again put, 

 and again the Spirits assured the company that 

 the Medium was " an impostor." In this par- 

 ticular case, we admit "the Spirits" to have been 

 clairvoyant. Perhaps the Medium had mesmerised 

 them first, and all w,pre en rap-poit ! — Ed. K. J. 



The above advertisement is only one of 

 many similar. It is vain to tell people they 

 are being hoaxed. We wish it rested here. 

 We have been told of many, however, who 

 have visited the Rappers, and whose intellects 

 have been seriously affected thereby. We 

 honestly confess we have not paid them a 

 visit, nor shall we " pay " for any such 

 honor. We have heard enough from those 

 who have paid, to convince us of the abomi- 

 nation of this most impious, barefaced 

 swindle.* Surely such people should be 

 made amenable to the ecclesiastical law ! 



* The imposture is imported from America ; 

 and we have read some most laughable accounts 

 of its rise and progress. No miracle could be 

 worked without money there ; no miracle can be 

 worked without money here. It may he asked — 

 have any sensible men been led away by the 

 impostors? We have heard of one very clever 

 man falling a victim. Yet are we unwilling to 

 credit the evidence of our senses. — En. K. J. 



IF YOU LOVE ME,— SAY SO. 



BY CHARLES SWAIN. 



The little lane — the greenwood lane — 



Where Mary dwelt, was gay with singing, 

 For brook and bird in many a strain 



Down vale and moor their notes were flinging ; 

 But Mary's heart was deaf to song, 



No longer she her heart could smother, 

 For she had learnt — at last — 'twas wrong 



" To say one thing, and mean another !" 



'Tis right — 'tis due, when hearts are true, 



To show that heart without deceiving, 

 And not to speak, in idle freak, 



To try if one's the power of grieving ! 

 In Mary's heart, and Mary's mind, 



She loved one youth, and loved no other ; 

 But Mary's tongue was oft inclined 



To say one thing, and mean another ! 



Would all might see how sweet 'twould be 



If truth alone their words directed ; 

 How many a day might then be gay 



That passeth now, in tears, dejected. 

 Would all might learn, and all discern, 



That truth keeps longest, friend or brother ! 

 Then, maids, be kind, and speak your mind ; 



Don't say one thing, and mean another ! 



[There is such exquisite feeling in the above, 

 and, the practice condemned is so general, that 

 we gladly join our voice with that of Charles 

 Swain in trying kindly to put it down.] 



THE POETRY OF SIMPLICITY. 



Give me a look, give me a face 

 That makes simplicity a grace ; 

 Robes loosely flowing, hair as free : 

 Such sweet neglect more taketh me, 

 Than all the adulteries of art ; 

 Which strike mine eyes but not mine heart. 



Ben Jonson. 



