Explore "The Humbugs of the World" by P.T. Barnum on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The "ballot-test" -- The old gentleman and his "diseased" relatives -- A "hungry spirit" -- "Palming" a ballot -- Revelations on strips of paper.
An aptitude for deception is all the capital that a person requires in order to become a "spirit-medium; " or, at least, to gain the reputation of being one. Backing up the pretence to mediumship with a show of something mysterious, is all-sufficient to enlist attention, and insure the making of converts.