23 APRIL 1932, Page 17

SPIRITUALISM IN THE 'EIGHTIES [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

Sin,—Fifty years ago the phenomena of spiritualism were almost as much discussed as they are to-day, and " in the 'eighties" I frequently attended seances as an Oxford under- graduate. That the cult—if such it can be called—had even at that time a large number of adherents, is pretty clearly shown by the following advertisement, which appeared in

a paper called Light : To Wealthy Spiritualists. A lady medium of tried power wishes to meet with an elderly gentleman who would be willing to give her a comfortable home and maintenance, in exchange for her spiritualistic