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

'
Tivixt
Two Worlds.
request. Any number of notes were struck that we asked for. First three notes, then two,
and so on, were struck as we requested.
"Next day we sat again. The voice of 'Joey' was heard firm and full as we turned off the
light. It was simultaneous with the darkness. After a little conversation we were allowed a faint
light. Mrs. Nichols held both Willie's hands in her right hand ; all the other hands were joined.
In this position, a hand appeared near to Willie, and went over to Lieutenant I ,
and touched
him in many places ; the musical box was opened, and a large slate was brought from a distant
part of the room, and thrown heavily upon the table, by the spirit hand.
" When the musical box was being played, and stopped, as we requested, Mrs. Nichols was
anxious to know how it was done. I suggested that Joey ' ' stopped it, as one of us might have
done, with his finger. '
Joey '
said that on this occasion he did so ; but he said that when the
power was full, it was stopped by a wave of a force under his control, and could be done as well
when the box was shut as when open. We have now seen various test phenomena. In addition
to the above, in a brilliant light, and in the presence of another competent witness, we have had
slate-writing in the usual way, and writing done under the table-cover upon the table. This
writing was in Greek, Italian, and French. Of these the medium knows only a little school French.
Hands have been formed in our sight, when all our hands have been joined, and we have
had gentle taps and hard blows from them. 'Joey' has played a good deal on a mouth organ,
and the music is very fine, and would be creditable to any performer on this little instrument.
Though Willie Eglinton's health is not yet restored, he is much better, and in a reasonable
time we may hope to see him well. As it is, the manifestations could hardly be more satisfactory,
though the seances are necessarily short. Mrs. Nichols is making careful records, and from time
to time Willie's friends shall'hear of his progress in health, and of the resulting phenomena. The
pure air of Malvern seems to be as favourable to producing the phenomena, as it is to the health of
invalids. The very genial character of those who have taken part in the seances, their fairness,
and freedom from theories and preconceived opinions, and their obedience to the directions given
by the spirits, all have conduced, we are told by 'Joey,' to our having the most satisfactory results.
The tests we have used, the character of the phenomena, and the nature of the communications
have, I believe, perfectly satisfied all the six persons who have attended these seances of the perfect
good faith of the medium, and the verity and importance of the manifestations."
Mrs. Nichols continues the narrative in the following letter published in the Spiritualist :—
" The first materialisation seance that I ever attended was held in Malvern, with Willie
Eglinton as medium. A cabinet was improvised by hanging two shawls before a window recess.
Behind these Willie sat in an arm-chair. We had the light of one candle, shaded a little by
Dr. Nichols' hand. Our number was seven, including the medium—Dr. Nichols, Mrs. Nichols,
and four of our students, the eldest of whom was fifty-three, and the youngest twenty-five. All
seemed to possess the true requisites for honest and careful inquiry. Our relation to er.ch other
was especially harmonious.
" The first person who appeared was an infant, apparently about two years old. The
curtains formed from the shawls were apart, and the child stood in front of Willie, and very
near him. This form soon disappeared, and another came and walked firmly before the curtains,
which were now closed. This was a young Indian girl, who seemed about thirteen years old ;
she is called 'Daisy,' and is as well-known to Willie Eglinton and his friends as 'Joey' and