Saturday 26 October 2013

"WHAT WAS IT!" JETSAM. 1876. Henry Vale leathem.

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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