HPB-SB-3-273: Difference between revisions

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A correspondent signing himself “P. W. E.,” who has visited the Eddys at Chittenden, Vt., writes as follows to the Hartfoid ''Times'':

In the closet was a pair of moccasins presented by some visitor to Honto. These seem neverto have been worn, as they were perfectly new inside and out, while Honto danced enough one night to hqve made a very sensible impression on them if worn. She comes in her own toggery, which by dim light looks very pretty, and as if it might be beautiful if light enough was let on. Sometimes, however, she wears a jaunty smoking-cap. “Brown,” the controlling “spirit” so-called, is evidently very tall, being higher than the top of the door, and stoops to look out; if this is Eddy himself he must be standing in the rocking chair; but as William comes out in his common dress immediately after Brown ceases it would hardly appear time was given to effect any change of raiment. If there is any such it must be before Brown's speech, with which the sittings generally close. It is to be remarked, Brown himself never comes on the stage, but is concealed behind the curtain, and only shows his head. It certainly must be six feet high from the floor. Another point in favor of the Eddys is this, Honto was lithe as a whip and nimble as a deer, darting back and forth with agility and grace. She also appeared to me considerably more narrow of shoulder than William. The arms were small, and very considerably unlike what we might expect in Mr. Eddy. Again, there was a great variety in dress; for instance, one large Indian figure followed another at intervals of five to ten minutes, dissimilarly dressed; these were followed by Honto in another entirely different garb, and she was succeeded by six others, male and female, with black, white and gray clothes, of different cut and fashion. The faces were sometimes apparently black, and sometimes a faint white. The Question presents itself, where were these garments obtained ? Wigs, beards, soles, bracelets, &c? I did not look into the cabinet (which was open) before the sitting, and it has been suggested they might have been put there after supper and before the seance. As the door was open I can hardly think this true. But admitting they had been thus placed, I entered the cabinet a few moments after Eddy left it, clothed as he entered and as he had been all day. There remained absolutely nothing there except the few articles mentioned as being there all day, and none of which has been {{Style S-HPB SB. Lost|...d}}, except, possibly, the cap of Honto. It is{{Style S-HPB SB. Lost|, moreover}}, singular that Eddy should select as a chief former a female character as dissimilar as possible to himself, and for which his size, rigidity, {{Style S-HPB SB. Lost|...e}}, and shape rendered him peculiarly unfit. During these seances five or six very different suits of garments were worn each evening; and on every evening different characters in part were introduced. Some of these garments were long, flowing to the feet, others scant, and of various colors from white to black. Now all these garments, even if of gossamer (and Honto spun out at least forty yards of cloth by measurement, and of different {{Style S-HPB SB. Lost|col..n}} one evening), would make a very considerable pile, even if they could be used on different characters. Besides there must have been masks or paint for the face; if the former, what had become of them? if the latter, where was the water to come from to wash it off ? Eddy comes out with a clean face. The suggestion of a false floor or entrance into the chimney projection may be at once dismissed as simply impossible. In the dark circle the music upon some of the instruments was very excellent; that upon what I took to be an accordeon<ref>So in text. Not «accordion».</ref> was charming. These as well as ventriloquism would require in the performers a great, varied, artistic skill, and accomplishments which would surely reflect themselves in their manners and features.

After a hearty breakfast of mutton and potatoes, we went out to feast our eyes on the spectacle of the surrounding mountains, veiled In mist and dimness, as if they too were spirits of mountains who had materialized at the Eddys’. We ascended to “Honto’s Cave,” a rocky, loop-hole through which a shallow brook forced its way. It came foaming down a gully, of grayish green rocks and descended to the farm, supplying the house with water. Above, on either side rose steep hills which we climbed with elastic step, something within us echoing the old tune “I'm the boy of the  mountain!” Later in the day we returned to the house, and I was selected to read publicly, to the company there assembled, Dr. Beard's energetic protest in {{Style S-Small capitals|The Daily Graphic}}. The faithful believers among the ladies grew very violent, one declaring she would “smash his darned old bead,” but the gentlemen merely smiled in derision. Horatio Eddy, who sat smoking, occasionally took his pipe from his mouth to laugh whenever anything

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