The Humbugs of the World · Chapter
IX explained
This chapter exposes the methods of the Davenport Brothers, who claimed to be spiritual mediums.
What happens
This chapter exposes the methods of the Davenport Brothers, who claimed to be spiritual mediums. It details their early career in Buffalo, their move to New York under John F. Coles, and the various tricks they used to simulate spirit manifestations, including the use of a stuffed glove on a boot to fake a spirit hand, and the manipulation of ropes and a cabinet to create illusions. The chapter also introduces Dr. W. F. Van Vleck, who infiltrated the medium community to learn and expose their deceptions.
Themes in this chapter
Definition and Nature of Humbug
The chapter explicitly defines the Davenports' actions as humbug, detailing their deceptive methods and the public's gullibility.
Gullibility and Human Nature
Highlights how audiences and even spiritualists were easily deceived by simple tricks, such as seeing fingernails on a stuffed glove.
Hypocrisy and Moral Judgment
Criticizes the Davenports for pretending to deal in spiritual matters while engaging in fraud, and justifies Dr. Van Vleck's deceptive methods as a means to expose them.
Characters to notice
- The Davenports
The Davenport Brothers are the central subjects of the chapter, exposed as fraudulent mediums who used tricks like stuffed gloves and rope manipulation to simulate spirit manifestations.
- Mr. Addison
Referenced in the chapter title as having exposed the Davenports, though not directly mentioned in the excerpts.
- Ira Davenport
One of the Davenport brothers, specifically mentioned as the elder boy caught with a stuffed glove on his boot during a séance.
- Doctor Roback
Mentioned as Dr. W. F. Van Vleck, who learned the mediums' tricks by posing as a medium and now exposes them.
- John F. Coles
A spiritualist who brought the Davenports to New York and later suspected their innocence, leading to the exposure of the stuffed glove trick.
Key passages
“One excited spiritualist present said he could see the fingernails. John F. Coles... sprang from his seat, turned up the gaslight, and pounced on the elder boy, who was found to have a nicely stuffed glove drawn partly on to the toe of his boot.”
A spiritualist claimed to see fingernails on a supposed spirit hand, but Coles exposed it as a stuffed glove on the boy's boot.
Illustrates the gullibility of spiritualists and the simple trick used by the Davenports.
“Dr. W. F. Van Vleck, of Ohio... can beat the Davenport brothers at their own game. He entered into the medium-business himself... to expose them.”
Dr. Van Vleck learned the mediums' tricks by becoming one, enabling him to expose their fraud.
Shows the author's approval of using deception to uncover humbug.