"We noticed that the figure in question, while leaning forward in such a way as to remain a certain distance from the wall, illumined by the gas light, threw her shadow upon the wall, a shadow that followed all the movements of this body which was evidently materialized.

"In the following interval, Professor Morselli, requested by Eusapia, whose weak and plaintive voice reached us from within the cabinet, drew his chair close to the piano.

"A few moments after, a new figure of a woman appeared from the same side of the mediumistic cabinet as that from which we had seen the preceding figure come. However, if this new apparition bore some analogy to the other, there were, nevertheless, some points of difference. The white bands were wrapped about her head an extraordinary number of times: the outer edges projecting so far that the face seemed sunk in their depths. The trunk of the materialized form was swathed in as many folds, giving the impression of an Egyptian mummy. This materialized form was so near us that we were even enabled to conjecture with a certain exactitude concerning the nature of the fabric. It seemed rather heavier than ordinary gauze and perhaps not as thick as muslin. The figure leaned forward, resting her elbow upon the piano top. Here again, we could observe a curious fact. The forearm visible to us was evidently a stump, since the sleeve fell back for at last 30 centimeters down the front of the piano, to the lid of the keyboard. The apparition raised this partially formed member, several times, throwing on the wall a shadow, which followed its every motion.

"The woman in the white bands had scarcely returned to the cabinet, when we heard anew the plaints of Mme. Paladino, who with redoubled insistence, was imploring Professor Morselli to free her from the bonds which hurt her.

"When we had once more regained our places the curtains parted for some distance from the floor, and through a wide oval space appeared the figure of a woman, holding in her arms a little child and almost seeming to rock him. This woman, who might have been forty years of age, wore a white bonnet, embroidered in white: and this headdress, while covering the hair, left visible the features of a broad face, with lofty brow. The remaining part of her body, not concealed by the curtain, was covered with white drapery. As concerns the child, from what we could judge by the development of the head and body, it might have been three years old. The little head was bare, with very short hair and was on a slightly higher level than the mother's.

"The body of the child seemed enveloped in swaddling clothes, also of light, white fabric. The eyes of the woman were raised, gazing with affection at the child, who held his head bent toward her.

"The apparition lasted for more than a minute. We all rose and drew nearer so that we might follow the slightest motions. Before the curtain fell back, the woman leaned her head forward while the baby, Bending down several times from right to left, frequently kissed her face, the childish sound of these kisses being distinctly heard.

"Such is the scrupulously exact account of a seance whose importance may be easily imagined. The phenomena unfolded under conditions which absolutely circumvent all objections of the skeptics. The manifestations occurred in full light, in a chosen spot, carefully controlled and prepared by ourselves. The medium was subjected to a system of investigations as complete as could be desired.

"The medium was fastened in the cabinet in such a way as to defy the most carping criticism. . . .

"Dr. J. Venzano."

Such was the usual aspect of an experimental seance with Eusapia, when she was in full possession of her mediumistic powers. Naturally, the appearance of the phenomena changes with the experimenters, since a phenomenon is not mechanical and each experimenter has his own ideas and proposes different conditions, by conceiving new apparatus.

To-day Eusapia's mediumistic career is almost at an end: handicapped by the exactions of surveillance, her manipulations have not given the transcendent proofs that might have been obtained through her, if experimenters had continued to guide the seances along the path of spiritistic research. Yet there is little to regret, for Eusapia will have had the glory of triumphing over the unbelief of the scholars and have made possible the objective proof of manifestations of animism. Perhaps it is better that this first step was made in the beginning.

In order to enter into spiritism and obtain the presence of true entities, it is not wise to practice a method of control which is likely to kill or paralyze manifestation. One must approach ever so gently, by the mystic way. Personalities who may be identified are not strong enough to resist those who repulse them with all the force of their skepticism. They come only by appeal. This complex question, however, would entangle us in a controversy which is out of place here.

It is difficult to believe in the phenomenon, but belief in fraud is easy. I will not consider the question of fraud, as it would be an absolutely useless diversion, since the acts of impostors and prestidigitators have no relation to a scientifically conducted examination. Moreover, as Morselli remarks, the skeptics only reiterate objections which have been met conclusively a hundred times already.

Therefore, we will recall the example of a famous materialization, for the benefit of the reader who cannot defend himself against these facile suggestions. It illustrates the fact that disbelief is never disarmed.

It is the case of Katie King: a classic case, well supervised as evident as anything may be evident to the feeble human intelligence. It is a case of which the skeptics do not like to hear, because it hampers them and they would prefer to pass it over in silence. Having been unable to suppress it entirely, they disparage it, but by such clumsy assumptions, such childish affirmations, that the ridicule rebounds upon them.