Two very convincing forms
of mediumship, the direct voice and spirit photography, have also
become prominent. Each of these presents such proof that it is
impossible for the sceptic to face them, and he can only avoid
them by ignoring them.
In the case of the direct voice one of the leading exponents
is Mrs. French, an amateur medium in America, whose work is
described both by Mr. Funk and Mr. Randall. She is a frail
elderly lady, yet in her presence the most masculine and robust
voices make communications, even when her own mouth is covered.
I have myself investigated the direct voice in the case of four
different mediums, two of them amateurs, and can have no doubt of
the reality of the voices, and that they are not the effect of
ventriloquism. I was more struck by the failures than by the
successes, and cannot easily forget the passionate pantings with
which some entity strove hard to reveal his identity to me,
but without success. One of these mediums was tested afterwards
by having the mouth filled with coloured water, but the voice
continued as before.
As to spirit photography, the most successful results are
obtained by the Crewe circle in England, under the mediumship of
Mr. Hope and Mrs. Buxton.[2] I have seen scores of these
photographs, which in several cases reproduce exact images of the
dead which do not correspond with any pictures of them taken
during life. I have seen father, mother, and dead soldier son,
all taken together with the dead son looking far the happier and
not the least substantial of the three.
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