Here Randall is referring to the controversial J. Marion Sims (1813-1883) sometimes referred to as the “Father of Modern Gynecology.”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Marion_Sims

Just a couple of years later, in 1873, the peripatetic Mr. Peebles was in New Zealand, having visited Melbourne and Dunedin giving papers on spiritualism.  An article reviewing his presentation “Spiritualism, What is It? Who Believes in It?” noted that 250 attended.   MR PEEBLES ON SPIRITUALISM.,Press, Volume XXI, Issue 2358, 24 February 1873

(http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18730224.2.22)

Possibly the intent here is “bunkum,” the slang term referring to nonsense.

“Royal Ghosts Stalk Corridors and Kingly Knees Shake,” Chicago Tribune, October 9, 1898

White Lady of the Hohenzollern

The writer does not know the White Lady tradition at Schonnbrunn, nor has he ever been able to ascertain anything definite about her history. But there is plenty of documentary evidence, as well as a wonderful array of records concerning the White Lady of the Hohenzollerns who makes her appearance In the old palace at Berlin whenever death Is about to overtake a member of the reigning house of Prussia. The late Emperor Frederick In particular was greatly interested In the matter and collected all the evidence that he could upon the subject for the purpose of depositing it In the archives of his family; Perhaps the most Important piece of testimony in this connection are the sworn statements signed by Prince Frederick of Prussia and a number of his fellows, to all of whom the White Lady is declared to have appeared as they sat together on the eve of the Prince’s death at the battle of Saalfeld in 1806.

Moreover, Thomas Carlyle went to no little trouble to procure evidence when writing the history of Frederick the Great that the White Lady had appeared to that famous monarch on the eve of his death.

Indeed, It Is asserted that the King was on the road to recovery from his illness, when suddenly one morning he declared he had seen the white-clad specter during the night, that his hour had come, and that it was useless to try to avoid death any longer. So he refused to take any further medicine, turned his face to the wall, and died. It seems that this White Lady of the Hohenzollern was originally the Countess Agnes von Orlamunde, who murdered her First husband, as well as her two children, in order to be enabled to marry the Burgrave of Nuremberg, the ancestor of the Electors of Brandenburg and of the house of Hohenzollern. The triple murder Is asserted to have taken place within the precincts of this palace…

Eduard Ernst Friedrich Hannibal Vogel von Falckenstein (5 January 1797 – 6 April 1885)

John Murray, A Hand-book for Travellers on the Continent: Being a Guide Through Holland, Belgium, Prussia, and Northern Germany (London: John Murray and Son, 1840), p 472

“Baron Rothschild’s Villa, outside the Bockenheim Gate, is fitted up with taste, elegance, and splendour; strangers applying at the Baron’s house in the town, are sometimes admitted to see it; the garden attached to it is richly stored with rare plants, and is very neatly kept.”

Visit to Natural History Museum in Frankfurt

Randall is referring to  Tad Lincoln (1853-1871), the youngest son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln.

Quentin Durward is Sir Walter Scott’s 1823 historical novel about a Scottish archer serving King Louis XI of France (1423-1483)

This question mark is inserted by Wade.  He wondered, I bet, as I am, how the stairs got transported from Jerusalem to Rome although they are supposed to have been brought back by Emperor Constantine’s mother St. Helena in the 4th century.