'Twixt two worlds : a narrative of the life and work of William Eglinton

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Twixt
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Two Worlds.
became much agitated, said he saw a vision. Closing his eyes, he slowly narrated the particulars
of a scene in the early life of a departed relative, which was at once recognised
as true by my friend and myself. Still holding my hand, Mr. Eglinton became more and
more agitated, at the same time describing the unhappy state of the lady in some part of
her earth-life. He rose from his seat, and paced the room in great apparent suffering and
agitation. His left arm began moving convulsively, and suddenly he sat down, begging I
would hold fast his right hand, saying,
'
Look !
name on the back of my hand
friend is trying to show you her
left hand was now clenched on the table. We could
see nothing at first on the back of his hand, but presently faint red lines began to appear,
rising, as it were, under the skin, growing darker by degrees, until the, to me, well-known
name of the lady—not a very common one—appeared distinctly complete. After remaining for
a few seconds for our inspection, the letters faded away. After other manifestations, I was
patted several times on my knees, and arms, and wrists by invisible fingers. My friend's
handkerchief was taken several times from her lap, and at length appeared on the opposite side
of the room. Materialised hands then made their appearance from under the edge of the table.
They were of different forms. One appeared close to me, sitting as I was some distance from
Mr. Eglinton, which was described by my friend as a ' long-fingered one.' Mr. Eglinton's left
hand during these occurrences continued to hold the slates, while his right hand was grasped by
my companion, and his feet were in full view throughout. The phenomena were rapidly
produced, with great power, but it is difficult to describe the continuous occurrence of characteristic
communications on family and private matters, which could not but convince us of the
identity of our spirit friends."
In February, 1885, out of deference to the efforts of Mr. J. G. Speed, the editor of the
Ulverston Mirror, to extend a knowledge of Spiritualism, a flying visit was made to the Furness
district, and seven seances were given to some of the leading inhabitants of Ulverston. The
admission of one uneducated and unscrupulous person, however, caused some little annoyance, as
he endeavoured to make capital by asserting that Mr. Eglinton had used a "trick table." It is
true, a table was taken on the occasion by him to Ulverston, but it consisted simply of a flat
piece of board with four legs to it, and was taken owing to the difficulty sometimes experienced
in getting one which would allow the slate to be pressed firmly against the "bed" of the table.
At the time it was used it was pronounced satisfactory, and a certificate to that effect was
volunteered by the individual in question. It was only when some idea of making money out
of the affair entered his mind that he began to cavil, and finally his untruthful statements and
false representations showed that the man was not worth notice. Though the table was taken
by Mr. Eglinton with the best of motives, he, in view of possible misconception, never used it
again. A lively correspondence on Spiritualism in the local paper ensued, resulting in a
considerable impetus being given to the movement.
In the meantime arrangements had been made for another Continental trip, Vienna being
the most important resting place, and he left London on the 23rd February for Paris en route
for that city. In Paris he became the guest of M. Pilo, a Swedish friend whom he had converted
in Stockholm. While in Paris he had the pleasure of meeting M. Tissot, the celebrated
French genre painter, whose attention had been drawn to Spiritualism by reading a translation in
one of the French papers of Florence Marryat's account of a materialisation to which I have