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The News reports an interesting episode of Slade’s experience at Berlin, which is of quite a political and religious character. “Allie” and “Owasso” were the indirect (or shall we say direct?) means of disturbing Prince Bismarck’s equanimity, and even getting him into trouble. I will give the story as nearly in the language of the paper as the necessity for condensation permits. In Berlin there are more “Spiritists than in St. Petersburg, and no wonder, as the arrival of Slade, who is considered the greatest medium after Home (?), stirred up the liveliest interest.” As usual, parties were formed for and against Slade. The opponents of Spiritism felt indignant, and—again as usual—began exposing him. Hermann, the well-known Berlin juggler, promised through the press to show the public how it was all done.
The News reports an interesting episode of Slade’s experience at Berlin, which is of quite a political and religious character. “Allie” and “Owasso” were the indirect (or shall we say direct?) means of disturbing Prince Bismarck’s equanimity, and even getting him into trouble. I will give the story as nearly in the language of the paper as the necessity for condensation permits. In Berlin there are more “Spiritists than in St. Petersburg, and no wonder, as the arrival of Slade, who is considered the greatest medium after Home (?), stirred up the liveliest interest.” As usual, parties were formed for and against Slade. The opponents of Spiritism felt indignant, and—again as usual—began exposing him. Hermann, the well-known Berlin juggler, promised through the press to show the public how it was all done.


Another Berlin juggler, Bellachini, <ref>{{HPB-CW-comment|[Samuel Bellachini, Court Conjurer to the Emperor of Germany.—Compiler.]}}</ref> still more famous than Hermann, then stepped in and began investigating, with the determination “to expose the fraud.” The inquiry {{Page aside|317}} of the latter was quite protracted, after which he published in the daily papers, over his own signature, the fact that the phenomena which take place in Slade’s presence can by no means be included among the tricks of jugglery. The leader may well imagine the scandal which this confession created. Bellachini was abused from every side, and charged with having been “fooled” by a Yankee, who could not even speak German.
Another Berlin juggler, Bellachini,<ref>{{HPB-CW-comment|[Samuel Bellachini, Court Conjurer to the Emperor of Germany.—Compiler.]}}</ref> still more famous than Hermann, then stepped in and began investigating, with the determination “to expose the fraud.” The inquiry {{Page aside|317}} of the latter was quite protracted, after which he published in the daily papers, over his own signature, the fact that the phenomena which take place in Slade’s presence can by no means be included among the tricks of jugglery. The leader may well imagine the scandal which this confession created. Bellachini was abused from every side, and charged with having been “fooled” by a Yankee, who could not even speak German.


The fight raged fiercely, passions were excited, and finally the affair was transplanted into the domain of politics. It must be known that the defenders of Dr. Slade and Spiritualism had found hospitality in the columns of the clerical party, while their opponents bombarded them from within the stronghold of the national liberal press. Prince Bismarck, who was quietly resting at Varzin, and felt quite innocent of having any leaning towards mediumism, was dragged into the fight and had to pay the damages. The clerical party pestered the great Chancellor by reviving a long forgotten story. Thus the matter assumed a political character, and was carried into the Landtag. The clergy had profited by the appearance of the new and incontestably genuine phenomena to claim recognition for their old miracle of the appearance of the Virgin Mary in the Marringen Community. It appears that the devout believers in this “miracle” had come in crowds to pray at the spot where the apparition had been seen, and had been badly treated by the local police. The old complaints were now revived. Minister Friedenthal, in the Landtag, defending the police pronounced both the clerical “Miracle” and the mediumistic phenomena dangerous frauds. The clericalist deputy Boehm demanded the punishment of the police and damages for the insulted community. Windthorst, the well-known orator, of the church party, claimed recognition for both miracle and phenomena, pointing out that even such men as Schopenhauer, Fichte and others, did not deny their possibility. The fight was lively for a time. Bismarck was annoyed and the public scandalized by this clerical impudence which was provoked by Dr. Slade’s spirits.
The fight raged fiercely, passions were excited, and finally the affair was transplanted into the domain of politics. It must be known that the defenders of Dr. Slade and Spiritualism had found hospitality in the columns of the clerical party, while their opponents bombarded them from within the stronghold of the national liberal press. Prince Bismarck, who was quietly resting at Varzin, and felt quite innocent of having any leaning towards mediumism, was dragged into the fight and had to pay the damages. The clerical party pestered the great Chancellor by reviving a long forgotten story. Thus the matter assumed a political character, and was carried into the Landtag. The clergy had profited by the appearance of the new and incontestably genuine phenomena to claim recognition for their old miracle of the appearance of the Virgin Mary in the Marringen Community. It appears that the devout believers in this “miracle” had come in crowds to pray at the spot where the apparition had been seen, and had been badly treated by the local police. The old complaints were now revived. Minister Friedenthal, in the Landtag, defending the police pronounced both the clerical “Miracle” and the mediumistic phenomena dangerous frauds. The clericalist deputy Boehm demanded the punishment of the police and damages for the insulted community. Windthorst, the well-known orator, of the church party, claimed recognition for both miracle and phenomena, pointing out that even such men as Schopenhauer, Fichte and others, did not deny their possibility. The fight was lively for a time. Bismarck was annoyed and the public scandalized by this clerical impudence which was provoked by Dr. Slade’s spirits.
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