328 



MY LIFE 



[Chap. 



up. We then talked together, the form in whispers ; I could 

 look closely into her face, examine the features and hair, 

 touch her hands, and might even touch and examine her ears 

 closely, which were not bored for earrings. The figure had 

 bare feet, was somewhat taller than Miss Cook, and, though 

 there was a general resemblance, was quite distinct in features, 

 figure, and hair. After half an hour or more this figure would 

 retire, close the curtains, and sometimes within a few seconds 

 would say, Come and look." We then opened the curtains, 

 turned up the lamp, and Miss Cook was found in a trance in 

 the chair, her black dress, laced-boots, etc., in the most perfect 

 order as when she arrived, while the full-grown white-robed 

 figure had totally disappeared. 



Mr. Robert Chambers introduced me to a wealthy Scotch 

 lady, Miss Douglas, living in South Audley Street, and at 

 her house I attended many stances, and met there Mr. 

 Hensleigh Wedgwood, and several other London spiritualists. 

 Perhaps the most interesting of these were a series with Mr. 

 Haxby, a young man engaged in the post-office and a re- 

 markable medium for materializations. He was a small man, 

 and sat in a small drawing-room on the first floor separated 

 by curtains from a larger one, where the visitors sat in a 

 subdued light. After a few minutes, from between the 

 curtains would appear a tall and stately East Indian figure 

 in white robes, a rich waistband, sandals, and large turban, 

 snowy white, and disposed with perfect elegance. Sometimes 

 this figure would walk round the room outside the circle, 

 would lift up a large and very heavy musical box, which he 

 would wind up and then swing round his head with one 

 hand. He would often come to each of us in succession, bow, 

 and allow us to feel his hands and examine his robes. We 

 asked him to stand against the door-post and marked his 

 height, and on one occasion Mr. Hensleigh Wedgwood 

 brought with him a shoe-maker's measuring-rule, and at our 

 request, Abdullah, as he gave his name, took off a sandal, 

 placed his foot on a chair, and allowed it to be accurately 

 measured with the sliding-rule. After the seance Mr. Haxby 



