My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

——MESMERISM TO SPIRITUALISM 345circle opposite the cabinet, and I sat with my backclose to the passage door and opposite the curtain ata distance of about ten feet. A red-shaded lamp wasin the furthest corner behind the visitors, whichenabled me to see the time by my watch and the outlinesof every one in the room ; and as it was behindme the space between myself and the cabinet wasvery fairly lighted. Under these circumstances theappearances were as follows :(i) A female figure in white came out betweenthe curtains with Mrs. Ross in black, and also a malefigure, all to some distance in front of the cabinet.This was apparently to demonstrate, once for all, that,whatever they were, the figures were not Mrs. Rossin disguise.(2) After these had retired three female figuresappeared together, in white robes and of differentheights. These came two or three feet in front of thecurtain.(3) A male figure came out, recognized by agentleman present as his son.(4) A tall Indian figure came out in whitemoccassins ; he danced and spoke ; he also shookhands with me and others, a large, strong, roughhand.(5) A female figure with a baby stood close tothe entrance of the cabinet. I went up (on invitation),felt the baby's face, nose, and hair, and kissed itapparently a real, soft-skinned, living baby. Otherladies and gentlemen agreed.and IDirectly the seance was over the gas was lighted,again examined the bare walls of the cabinet,the curtains, and the door, all being just as before,and affording no room or place for disposing of thebaby alone, far less of the other figures.