Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

44 INTUITIVE EVIDENCE OF175. The disk being situated edgewise to the medium, the letters couldcould not be seen. Under these circumstances, the hands of the mediumwere placed upon the surface of the smaller portion of the board outsideof the fulcrum. The disk revolved to and fro, so as to bring the lettersunder the index in due alphabetic order. Moreover, while this processwas under way, to render the result more unquestionable, I interposed ascreen between the disk, and the eyes of the medium, without causing anyarrestation of the process.*176. Afterward upon the table supported on wheels or castors, andmoving the disk by a band, I used a tray on castors to support the handof the medium.177. When the hands of the medium, or those of any other operator,were placed upon this tray, it was impossible to move the tableby meansof it, because much less force would make it move on its castors than wouldmove the table. Sometimes the tray would be moved backward andforward with rapidity, the table remaining quite still. Yet, on urgingthat the table should be moved, this desideratum would be conceded, andthe tray would become stationary, relatively, to the table. On one occasion,when an intelligent spirit was manifesting, I interposed a brass ball(Plate I.) and plate between the tray and the hands of the medium, andthen requested that the tray might be moved. My request was obeyedthe tray moved repeatedly about a foot to and fro, accompanied by theband of the medium, the ball remaining at rest, relatively, to the tray.178. Having my apparatus at the residence of the lady by whom it hadbeen actuated in the third trial above mentioned, (172) this lady sittingat the table as a medium, my sister reported herself. As a test question,I inquired '^ What was the name of a partner in business, of my father, who,when he had left the city with the Americans during the Revolutionarywar, came out with the British, and took care of the joint property ?''disk revolved successively to letters correctly indicating the name to beWarren. I then inquired the name of the partner of my English grandfather,who died in London more than seventy years ago. The true namewas given by the same process.The* It may bo expedient to state that the disk was counterpoised by a weight at thesmaller end of the board. This weight was suspended from a hook at one end of a rod,which was so fastened by staples, as to have the distance of the hook from the fulcrumadjusted so as to make the weight counterpoise the disk exactl3\This experiment may be understood by looking at Plate 3. The board employed isthere represented, associated with a Avire-gauze cage and spring balance. Let all thesebe removed in the mind's eye. Suppose the large disk represented in the Plate 1 to beaffixed with its axle to the board, near where the hook is represented as attached to thebalance. Suppose a counter-weight at the other end of the board to balance the disk, soas to keep the board level when left to itself. Now, the cord and weights being applied,as in the experiment with table, (154,) on the medium placing her hands on the smallend, the results above described ensued.