Glimpses Of The Next State.Pdf - Spiritualists' National Union

107spirit, a “writing guide” of the psychic, whom the individuals on the other side use as we do atypist. The letter was mailed to Sir William Crookes the following morning, January 22.(72) January 22, 1909. Atmospheric conditions were bad ; it was raining outside, and theair was heavy and close. Sat with the Bangs Sisters for a picture of Cleopatra. As before, twocanvases were produced, covered with blank drawing paper, laid face to face, and held up againstthe window, the bottom of the canvases, in this case, resting on the sill of the window, as they weremuch larger in size than those used for the two portraits of Iola already obtained. I sat betweenthe psychics, as on previous occasions, my eyes looking straight into the centre of the canvases froma distance of two feet to two feet six inches. We took our places at 10.55. About 11.5 the formbegan to appear, and it was roughly finished in ten minutes. We were then directed, by taps on aslate, to put the canvases on the table and sit around it. We moved the table to the centre of theroom, placed the canvases flat upon it, covered them over with the felt table-cloth, and sat aroundas directed. At 11.30 we were informed that the picture could be raised ; the canvases were nowseparated and the picture put on a sofa in a neighbouring drawing-room.In all precipitations through the mediumship of the Bangs Sisters the picture is found to beon the further side of the canvas which is next to the sitter. The stuff of which the picture iscomposed is damp, and rubs off at the slightest touch, like soot. Notwithstanding this, the paperon the canvas furthest from the sitter is unsoiled. The picture, while in progress, can be seenclearly through the back of the canvas ; but of course it presents the reverse aspect to that when itis framed—left arm for the right, and so forth.The portrait of Cleopatra is practically the same now as it was when it was lifted from thetable. Afterwards, but not while I was looking at it, the colours deepened a little, flowers wereadded to the embroidery of the dress, a ring was put on the finger of the left hand, and the pictureacquired a general appearance of greater richness and finish. It was hanging in the lecture-roomof the London Spiritualistic Alliance for four months, and it is therefore unnecessary to describe it.It cannot be called a work of high art ; the dress is stiff, and the anatomical features are deficient ;but it is undoubtedly a representation of an Egyptian Queen, and, considering the way in which itwas done, a fine example of spirit power.(73) January 22, 1909. 7.30 to 9.p.m. Sat at the Bangs Sisters’ house for a reply to a letterto Iola. Conditions bad. Raining at intervals outside. I tried sitting with the slates in my handsin the room next to the small séance room. Both Lizzie and May Bangs were in the latter. About8.30, as this seemed to be a failure, no taps being heard to denote the finishing of the letter, I wentinto the séance room and sat with May Bangs alone. A few minutes after we were seated we weretold by the percussive signals to look at the slates. We accordingly fixed our attention on themiddle of the white card which, I have before explained, covers both slates and ink. After waitingabout a quarter of an hour a bouquet of pink carnations and sweet-smelling narcissi fell from abovewith considerable force on to the card. This was in full gas-light. May Bangs started as if shehad been shot ; there was not a doubt as to her momentary fright.Soon after this phenomenon occurred I opened the slates and the letter. There was noreply ; the blank sheets which I had, as usual, enclosed with my letter remained blank ; there wasnot a word on them.(74) January 23, 1909. I wanted a smaller copy of the profile picture which had beenprecipitated on January 20. The original picture was placed vertically on the table, and the newcanvases behind it. This form commenced profile to left, and changed round during the process ofprecipitation. The dress was the colour of pale Lavender.On January 24, I left Chicago for Toledo, leaving directions with the Bangs Sisters for thedespatch of the last (small) picture to me, and the others to England.(75) I arrived at Rochester on February 6. On February 14, I received a letter from SirWilliam Crookes, dated 7 Kensington Park Gardens, February 4, 1909 :—