tualism. Early in 1885 a tall and well-built young
woman named Lulu Hurst, also known as the "Georgia magnetic girl,"
gave exhibitions in the eastern cities which equaled or exceeded the
greatest feats of the Spiritualists. On her arrival in Washington
invitations were sent to a number of our prominent scientific men to
witness a private exhibition which she gave in advance of her public
appearance. I was not present, but some who attended were so struck
by her performance that they arranged to have another exhibition
in Dr. Graham Bell's laboratory. I can give the best idea of the
case if I begin with an account of the performance as given by the
eye-witnesses at the first trial. We must remember that this was not
the account of mere wonder-seekers, but of trained scientific men.
Their account was in substance this:--

A light rod was firmly held in the hands of the tallest and most
muscular of the spectators. Miss Lulu had only to touch the
rod with her fingers when it would begin to go through the most
extraordinary manoeuvres. It jerked the holder around the room with
a power he was unable to resist, and finally threw him down into a
corner completely discomfited. Another spectator was then asked to
take hold of the rod, and Miss Lulu extended her arms and touched
each end with the tip of her finger. Immediately the rod began to
whirl around on its central axis with such force that the skin was
nearly taken off the holder's hands in his efforts to stop it.

A heavy man being seated in a chair, man and chair were lifted
up by the fair performer placing her hands against the sides.
To substantiate the claim that she herself exerted no force, chair and
man were lifted without her touching the chair at all. The sitter
was asked to put his hands under the chair; the performer put her
hands around and under his in such a way that it was impossible
for her to exert any force on the chair except through his hands.
The chair at once lifted him up without her exerting any pressure
other than the touch upon his hands.

Several men were then invited to hold the chair still. The performer
then began to deftly touch it with her finger, when the chair again
began to jump about in spite of the efforts of three or four men to
hold it down.

A straw hat being laid upon a table crown downwards, she laid her
extended hands over it. It was lifted up by what seemed an attractive
force similar to that of a magnet upon an