The
Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser NSW
7 July 1876
WHAT WAS IT!
Never
before did I see such excitement exhibited in Sydney, as that I beheld during my
recent stay in the city. I propose to give you a, sketch, short as I can make
it, of an adventure, episode, or whatever you may please to call it.
I wish you
distinctly to understand that you are at perfect liberty to print or reject the
paper; should you 'let it see light, well; the reverse, still well;' the only stipulation I make is that you
refrain from ridiculing it — if only on the ground that there are more, things
extant “than are dreamt of in our philosophy”
The
excitement, then, in all circles and cliques is intense. In the phase
political, even old Parkes is going about with his head well held up, scenting battle
afar off like an old war horse.
Prophetic
cliquey presage the ominous look of European affairs and the inevitable down
fall of Turkey sooner or later, is
“The apocalyptic drying up of the
Euphrates,''
and some
others scruple not to any it is the opening of the sixth seal.
Historical
cliques are mostly of opinion that no peace remains for Europe until the Turk's are forced back into Asia.
But after all 'Time never stands still,' and everyone is
anxiously looking for the arrival of the next mail, which will be by the Torres
Straits line, and should bring dates up to, say the middle of June.
I thought I
knew the pulse of the gay metropolis in all its phases of health and diseases I
was mistaken, for I did not hesitate to say that the nerve in certain circles
eclipses quite any excitement exhibited during the fearful Crimean
struggle.
You know, of
old my objection to long introductions leading up to the main subject, so let
me plunge at once, in medias res.
Readers of
the Sydney Daily have perhaps, often pondered on the meaning of certain advertisements
of this order,
"Madame -15-sh -II, advice to travelers, apply, & etc."
In many
instances, then, these are simply spiritualistic séance shops, and my sketch
purports to give some idea of the pabulam provided to the wayfarers wanted.
'On the day I
speak of I had met an old friend, had a chat, taken tea together, and during
the meal had agreed to test tho quality
of the spirits, with this result..
On returning to the home I was objected to,
probably from some innate knowledge of my press tendency.
I, however,
wanted to see the matter through, so a crown piece, combined with a desire for
admission as an inquirer and possible student gained the point.
I found some
ten or a dozen persons assembled, and “tabu” was soon put on all subjects save
the engrossing one of war.
I was
positively amazed when the lady professor singled me out as the seer and
general utility man –as well as cicerone for those assembled, the only
restriction put on me was, that I must
not faint if I saw blood; (fancy a pressman fainting at anything in his pursuit
of an article-not bad was it?)
After a
little feeble rapping in response to very mild questions, I asked the invisible
could he show us anything, and was gratified at being requested to hold a porcelain
bowel, and to pour into it a liquid resembling thick writing ink.
This being
done, the bowel was slowly turned nine times round, at each third turn receiving
a solemn salaam from Madame.
Three
watches were next placed so as to form a triangle, one north one south, one
west, the time indicated on each being 12, 6 and 3,15; now if you look at this
time on the clock you will see that the hands stretch thus
+
Three keys
were then placed one in each angle, omitting the cast; and then as seer, I was
requested to tone down any speculation that might be dormant, and to see that
my companions observed a discreet silence,
Any
questions which might occur should be written down and handed to madam, who in
a weird voice said to me:-
“Look intently in to the bowl, trying
to pierce the opaque darkness and endeavor to gaze upon the porcelain bottom
which you know is upholding the mirrored liquor. Speak; what do you see; avoid
frivolity, SPEAK!”
At the word
speak I felt a strange, though not unpleasant scratching or tingling,
commencing at each shoulder and slowly proceeding down my arm even to my fingertips.
Dimly at first I recognize the reflection of my own face; then slowly something
developed into outline.
“Very strange,”
I said,
“What is this I see? The Pillars of
Hercules— the rock of Gibraltar— and the Mediterranean looking as calm and
placid as a lake; not a ship to be seen and the setting sun gilding the tiny
waves with gold.''
The calm
beauty, of the scene engrossed and charmed me is a beautiful painting might
have done, and while meditating on the artistic loveliness a dreamy feeling
came over me; slowly came the change— the picture on which I gazed-grew misty
and thick like the presage of a storm, or as smoke!
“What in the name of —,”
['”Stay,”
cried Madame.]
''What is this coming from out the
glare of the setting sun? Smoke! My---
[“Stay,”
again from Madame.]
“Steamers, with little or no rigging,
hurling columns of black smoke a loft and darkening the mirrored beauty of the
scene.
They are iron-clad war-ships; and the
noblest looking carries the English - royal standard at the main; as each takes
up her station the anchors are dropped and these ponderous batteries sweep
sluggishly round with the tide, remaining clearly distinct with a background formed
by the sun sinking to rest as on golden cushioned clouds.”
Although I
intently scanned the mirrored scene I could perceive no disturbance, nor even
the semblance of trouble— nothing save a thick and quickly spreading gloom over
the picture, and an ominous silence as of the grave over the narrow, ill-paved
streets of an Eastern city now dimly seen in the middle distance, over which flocks
of vultures were circling round and round seeking to find their meat!
I should
have liked to have seen more, but the scene closed; and upon socking
information as to the meaning of this picture, the answer was — “Hear what was written
in1453—
“In twice 200 years, the Bear.
The Crescent shall assail;
But if tho' Cock and Bull unite
The Bear shall not prevail.
But look! In twice 10 years again,
Let Islam know and fear;
The Cross shall wax, the Crescent
wane,
'Grow faint, and disappear.”
The bowl
then showed one or two small boats carrying the French flag amid the English
Sect, and several noble iron-clads flying the welcome looking stars and
stripes, while on the topmast head of the Yankee frigate a large broom was tied
flourishing just over a long three tailed pennant, and a signal flying in the
halyards —
“We cannot see old Britain licked:
unite we whip the world, and our cruisers sweep the seas.”
By this time
I, for one, had seen and heard too much, or not enough, but the spirits proved
unruly, and we closed the séance.-
While ruminating
on the alliance which America would cordially give, in case the old land had
too many dogs worrying round, I was more amazed at reflecting that this result
was brought about for Australia's sake.
The Pacific railway being built
essentially to foster Australian and American commerce; thus we, are more than
ever cousins with the men of Uncle Sam; and old England owes us something still.
When we left
the house we entered tho street just as dawn was struggling out of night, and
with eyes bloodshot and weary with all my nerves, numbed, and my whole frame tingling
I reached home, and throwing myself upon a couch, seemed as if I were awaking out
of a deep sleep, hearing n. silvery voice like the' far off chimes of Cathedral
bells, saying dreamily —
“It was not all a dream! Nor jetsam strewn on fancy's floor.”
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