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

Twixt
6o
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Two Worlds.
by them. The records of these seances appeared in the German Spiritualist paper, Licht Mehr
Licht, then partly edited by Herr Christian Reimers. From Annathal, Mr. Eglinton went on
to Prague, where he was the guest of the late Prince Thurn and Taxis, an old Spiritualist.
Many excellent results were obtained here.
From thence, in October, 1879, he travelled to Munich, in Bavaria. Here the seances
were given at the residence of Gabriel Max, the eminent painter ; they were attended by
many well known in scientific circles. On leaving, a letter, of which the following is a
translation, signed by Gabriel Max and fourteen others well known in science, literature, and
art, was handed to Mr. Eglinton:— "Munich, October 29th, 1879. We beg to thank Mr.
W. Eglinton for his kindness in giving us two seances at the house of the artist Gabriel Max,
during his visit to Munich. They were of the highest interest, and convinced us of the
genuineness of these wonderful phenomena."
One incident, the outcome of Mr. Eglinton's seances with Gabriel Max, must be mentioned
here. Shortly after his visit to Munich, the celebrated artist published a picture entitled,
" Geistesgruss " (Spirit Greeting)—a remarkable addition to the world of art from the study
of manifestations of spiritual power.
This composition discloses a girl verging on womanhood, seated at a piano, on the music
desk of which lies open the " Moonlight Sonata," of Beethoven. In the act of playing she
has been arrested by " the touch of a vanished hand." This spirit hand, materialised from
the wrist, is represented as gently resting on the girl's shoulder. The sad, startled young face,
filled with emotion, gazes upwards, evidently seeing what, to the spectator, is invisible.
Her hands are clasped together with agitation. Her dark, prophetic eyes dilate ; her childish
lips are opening with a cry of surprise. She is listening, all ear, to the spirit's utterances.
Astonishment as yet overwhelms her — joy has yet to come.
A more thoroughly realistic treatment of a Spiritualistic subject—of one of the not
infrequent experiences of the believers in "modern spiritual manifestations"—could not be
imagined. It is itself a reality. You see before you a young "medium" receiving a
communication. The story is beautifully told, and simple as truth itself. Though a lady,
and educated, you see that this young girl is poor ; the extreme simplicity and worn appearance
of her dress tell you this much. That she is an orphan, its heavy deep mourning
suggests to you. She is probably a teacher of music—has to be her own bread-winner.
Her face informs you at once that her temperament is that of a " sensitive." The picture
is solemnly tender, earnest, and pathetic. Though we behold the spirit hand, there is
nothing " sensational " in the picture. A psychological experience is here, with an earnest
and sympathetic treatment, set before us by the genius of a great artist.
From Munich Mr. Eglinton proceeded to Strasburg and Paris, in neither of which cities,
however, did he give any seances. In Paris he was cordially received and entertained by
M. Leymarie, of the Revue Spiritc.
Shortly after his return to England, Dr. Robert Friese, a distinguished savant of Breslau,
was present at a seance at the house of Dr. Nichols, and an account of the results obtained
will be found on page 80.
One of the many interesting seances given by him to Florence Marryat, was held at that
lady's residence on Sunday, January 4th, 18S0. On that occasion there were present her