h Fox Fish-Brown-Underhill, who has published a book of the flimsiest
and most absurd narrative, intended to be accepted as a proof of
Spiritualism, is the one person in all the world who could be expected to
defend the system from this fatal attack, if any defense were possible.
Reporters of the daily press would have been but too glad to record
whatever she might say, were it even the veriest drivel, on an issue that
jeopardized the existence of the brazen and pretentious "ism" which, as by
an obscene spell, still enlists the curiosity of a great proportion of the
world.

But as Mrs. Underhill's book itself, which I shall notice more in detail
hereafter, shows to the critical mind how futile would be an attempted
refutation on her part, the public can very readily understand the reason
of this most careful silence. Blunderingly, however, prior to having
consulted her, Mr. Daniel Underhill, her husband, consented to talk upon
the subject. The statements hostile to Mrs. Kane, to be found in the
excerpt here given, were, of course, to be expected. Were they ever so
true, however, they could not in any way lesson the damning force of her
repentant avowals:--

Mr. Daniel Underhill, president of a wealthy insurance company, whose
office is in Wall street, and who is the husband of the eldest of the
Fox sisters, whom Margaret declares to be her "damnable enemy," is a
Spiritualist, but in a moderate sense. Mrs. Underhill's maiden name
was Ann Leah Fox. She was twice married before she met her present
husband, and she is twenty-three years older than Margaret.

A large part of the public do not realize that Ann Leah, Margaret and
Cathie Fox were the founders of what is specifically known as
Spiritualism. The first so-called phenomena came to the two youngest
girls in 1848, at Hydesville, in this State, while their sister Leah
was residing elsewhere. When she heard of what had taken place and of
the intense public excitement which it had created, she joined them,
and then began the public history of Spiritualism. She took the
incipient "ism" vigorously in hand, and for a series of years gave
exhibitions in all the principal cities, which were attended by the
most eminent men and the most brilliant women in the country.

Of late years Mrs. Underhill has entirely withdrawn from public
participation in spiritualistic exhibitions. She is sti