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

THE EXISTENCE OF SPIRITS. 47It was uiulor these conditions, that the table, in three successive trials, cameover toward mo and went back to its normal position.191. It did not slam down quickly, when on arriving at such a position,as to make it impossible for the ladies to resist its farther descent; butdescended gently, rising slowly in recovering its usual upright position.102. I called one morning at the dwelling of a medium to whom ullusionhas been made more than once in my narrative. I sat down at a tablewith the medium, her father, and a gentleman who accompanied me. Iinquired if any of my spirit friends were present: the table tilted negatively.Will the spirit give its initials through the alphabetic card V''In reply the letters M C were indicated. My companion, whose attentionhad been withdrawn, on hearing the result, said: ^' They are the initials ofmy daughter's name ;" exclaiming, ^'llari'a, are you here ? "193. The table tilted in the affirmative, vivaciously, as if the daughter'sheart were in the movement.194. Maria proving to be a sprightly spirit, a lively conversation ensued.I inquired if she could not work my apparatus;she answered through thecard, "//! is impossible for a spirit to work your apparatus ; I ain verysorry." I replied that evidently it was not impossible, since it had beenactuated by spirits successfully several times.^'You mean to say,^' Iadded, '' that it is difficult.^' To this she replied affirmatively by threetilts of the table.195. As through the influence of the medium, who sat at the table withus, communications had been received through my apparatus several times,the alphabet arranged from a state of disarrangement, and names speltout by the revolution of the disk, it cannot be imagined that the mediumcould have influenced the alphabetical communications in this instance, sincethe medium, even if prone to deception, would have perceived it ridiculousto allege it impossible to work an apparatus which had on severaloccasions under her influence, proved the opposite to be true, in the presenceof her father as well as myself196. It has been already mentioned in the narrative (164.) that myspirit father, and spirit friend W. W., had alleged that they worked myapparatus with great difficulty when under test conditions, from their greatdesire to make me a convert to Spiritualism. It was, therefore, quiteconsistent that a spirit, who had no such powerful motive, should havepreferred to find an apology for not actuating my apparatus, rather than tohave studied, or sought for the means of surmounting the obstacles.197. As all the manifestations, observed on this occasion, were by thetilting or partial lifting of the table, I urged the spirit to aid me in obtaininga test that these manifestations came not from the medium, but fromherself, a spirit. I immediately procured from a basket which I had previouslybrought to the premises, a brass ball, turned truly spherical, like abilliard ball, and a plate of zinc which had been ground quite true. I