'Twixt two worlds : a narrative of the life and work of William Eglinton

74 'Tiaixt Two Worlds.
a sheet of your note paper, and mark it so that you will know it, and then lay it with a
lead pencil on the centre of the table, and put out the light. We want to do some writing."
I lighted the gas, got the paper, wrote my initials and the date upon the corner, laid it
upon the table, as desired, turned off the gas light, and took the hands of the two persons
nearest to me. A moment after I heard the sound of writing with a pencil on paper, on the
centre of the table. This continued for perhaps half a minute. Then there were three raps
upon the table, and I lighted the gas, and took up the paper.
It contains three complete signed messages, a brief one unsigned, and the beginning of
another left incomplete. The communications are in entirely different handwritings, and were
Fig.
°\\\)W
S.—Direct Drawing and Writing.
apparently written from different positions relative to the paper. The handwriting of the three
that were signed was instantly recognised. That signed "J. Scott" was recognised by Mr. A.
and Mrs. Wilkes
;
that signed " Aimee " was recognised by Mr. A. and Mr. Eglinton ; the longest
message, signed " Willie," was recognised, beyond all question, by Mrs. Nichols and myself as
the handwriting of our daughter, Mary Wilhelmina Nichols, who departed this life in 1865
at the age of fourteen. No one comparing it with her papers preserved by us could question
its genuineness; and the words in the corner— "There shall be no parting there," are in the
familiar hand of our spirit friend " Joey."
As far as I can see, there could be no more satisfactory test conditions. The sheet of
note paper laid blank upon the table, and perfectly identified by the initials and date. The
handwriting of the three signed messages was certainly not upon it before the seance, and