PSYCHOMANCY.

PSYCHOMANCY.
SPIRIT-RAPPINGS AND TABLE-TIPPINGS
EXPOSED.
PROE. CHARLES <i.
"■■
*
PAGE,
•
M.
D.,
'
Id i
NEW-YORK:*-. /
3 0 0
BROADWAY.
/
,
Etc.
ARMY MEDICAL LIBRARY
FOUNDED
1836
WASHINGTON, D.C.
\
PSYCHOMANCY.
SPIRIT-RAPPINGS AND TABLE-TIPPINGS
EXPOSED.
PROF. CHARLES G.
,PAGE,
M.
D., Etc.
"(ii'hiiARY
f
; SUfiGf OK fif.ht BAtS OfTICE
FCB. ir-tm
-'6
NEW-YORK:
D.
APPLETON
200
AND
COMPAN
BROADWAY.
J
rl3&x>
1853
in the year 1853, by
Entered according to Act of Congress,
D.
APPLETON AND COMPANT,
SPIRIT-RAPPINGS.
The
and
alarming mania of Spiritrappings and lable-tippings of the present day,
is only va modification, or new garb, of devilish
instrumentalities, operating through human machi
nations, which have infested society from time
immemorial.
We start with this proposition, harsh
as
wide-spread
it may sound to some, and if
sustain it
by facts, reasoning,
to the entire satisfaction of
unbelievers in
the
contrary
belief in
our
doctrine,
; and with
Holy Writ,
a
and
all,
should fail to
we
we
show
common
the
us
proof
confidence firm
and the
sense,
still say to the
unfailing
as
to
our
laws of
G-od,
challenge the exhibition to our senses of any
performance with spirit-rappings, or table-tippings,
we
which cannot be
explained
known natural laws.
384726
upon
natural,
We will here
and well
premise,
that
Spirit-Rappings.
4
do not attribute to Satan any direct agency
we
this matter other than has
always
been ascribed to
him in the crimes and misdeeds of
fall down to this present time.
"prince of the
(unless they be
air,"
shape),
his
nor
imps
rap out intelli
under tables and
by sounds, get
gence
from the
man
That neither the
power of the
in human
m
tip
them
swing them round, or perform any of these
extraordinary feats, which so many among us are
over,
determined to invest with
and
Nor do
origin.
enemy of
man
agency into
designs.
has
we
consider that the arch
brought
operation
Far
character
supernatural
any
new
power
from
it.
A
power?
new
would frustrate his schemes in their very
A
new
power ?
It is
a
lawful
power?
signal
to the devotees of
first
scintillation of
lamp
will burn
capabilities
are
and
and
unfolded.
tools,
and
science,
plausibility,
pursuit,
resources.
Its bare mention is
an
It
inception,
of
subject
to the very exhaustion of mental
new
or
to further his mischievous
A
arousing
and upon the
the
midnight
throughout Christendom, till its
subserviency to man's actual wants
No ! the
perhaps
tempter knows his game
his
own
limits,
all too well
Spirit-Rappings.
to
give
to
man
a
5
and
new
legitimate object of
investigation from hallu
research,
and thus divert
cinating
and mercenary sorceries to that which is
lawful and truthful.
old
upon and
tools,
instrumentality,
perience,
—
he has
over
He works with his
his
acquired
agency
as
for
mighty ascendency
pliant tool, and
To those who
account of the
allegorical,
our
character and
force,
such
This is his
stronghold.
Scriptural
bearing,
they have only
regard
devil's existence
to both
with the
apply
to them with the same
as
and
ending wiles
To all
alike,
the
of the human soul
whether these
the
impious
main-spring
whether the
supernal
of
allegory
hope
of
success
Scripture implicitly
deep, untiring, un
are
our
familiar
themes,
present purpose,
transactions
proceed
from
unaided, uninspired thought,
unheeding thought
powers.
man
address ourselves
interest and
and it matters but little to
or
we
with those who believe the
to the letter.
and
same
to invest the mind of
combined,
the
argument, in its cardinal
will
with all the force and attributes that the
gives
and
through that most successful
which, by long and dire ex
the human soul.
here
own
is
impressed by
There is in the mind
a
strong
6
Spirit-Rappings.
and often morbid
appetency for
and marvellous ;
what is
actually
a
above his fellow
one
of Divine
this
and,
of power, either real
prurience
authority
desire
inquire beyond
proneness to
revealed ;
mortals,
supernatural
tiie
worse
or
than
specious,
and
give
this,
a
to exalt
the
to his words and acts.
weight
From
and
originates priestcraft, astrology
sorcery, and in the former habitude of the mind
lies the secret of their
It has been
a
real
success
source
and
perpetuation.
of distress to us, to
see
professing Christians, even among our immediate
friends, pushing their inquiries beyond the confines
of realities into the
spirit-world, forgetting
or
mis
apprehending the injunctions of Scripture forbid
ding us to look into such things, and unconscious
of the fact, that their well-meant invocations of
spirits by the tipping of tables and rappings, was,
in every
agement
of
the
a
step and
act of
repetition, lending
encour
to the mercenary and nefarious schemes
certain set of vile
cheat,
and
impostors,
its
who
originated
continuing
practice for the
sake of filthy lucre.
To them, and to all, we say
Stop ! ere this temerity be visited with the right
eous
judgments of an offended Deity, who has prowere
7
Spirit-Rappings.
in his
nounced,
takable
holy oracles,
in clear and unmis
his malediction of sorcery and
language,
witchcraft ; has set the bounds of human
where time stops and
up the future in
refused to the
eternity begins,
; who has
impenetrable mystery
yearning
inquiry
and sealed
hearts of fond and bereaved
parents all knowledge of their dear departed,
the
hopes
and consolations of the
save
Scripture. What !
anticipated, and
shall the Great Judgment be
the archives of eternal retribution be read
knocking of
of tables ?
.
time ;
sticks upon the
Shall
eternity
floor,
the
or
silence of the grave be disturbed
mountebanks,
Impious !
Scripture against
emas are
full and
We know there
gaged
stern
Impious !
this
Shall the
by grovelling
abodes become vocal
loud,
are
delight
departed friends,
in
and he who
those who
as
they
are
of spirits,
holding
tip
We need not quote
unholy pursuit,
in the invocation
to take
upsetting
these gross mediums of rappers and
through
pers ?
its
the
be made subordinate to
the immortal to the mortal ?
or
by
for its anath
runs
innocently .en
and who
seem
with
their
converse
suppose.
to pause, and consider well what
may read.
We ask them
they
are
doing
!
Spirit-Rappings.
8
to look
around,
intellect,
the
rolls,
the
and
see
the fearful
frightful
the devastation of human
swellings
of the madhouse
deeds of blood and
stupendous frauds, all begotten
Are these the fruits of
mania !
and
violence,
of this monster
and
legitimate
holy
deeds ?
Are these your consolations while at
your
spiritual
shrines ?
Do
they not
in themselves of their diabolical
not
warnings
attempts
to enter
they
of Holies,"
their
are
you
?
Shall
sertion that there
deeds of violence ?
Ages,
are
we
essence
body
apology
that
as
re
and leads to
fallacy
;
and
Kock of
in the very teeth
it, and, fearless
of his
assert that the true
re
whose first fruits and very
is peace to the
mad.
madmen,
armed with the
replication, triumphantly
Christ,
earthly
encourage
religious maniacs,
hurl back the
of Jesus
and
Holy
be met here with the
of the casuist who made
ligion
"
If these
the reach of
We spurn the
proud defiance,
are
lest in your
beware,
countenance
excitement makes
ligious
with
beyond
we
and
the veil into the
beyond
will
career
origin,
you be struck down also ?
pests of society
tribunals,
to you to
bear evidence
soul,
never
drove
any
9
Spirit-Rappings.
We
is
profess
holy, and
from
imbued with
and
shape,
Heaven with
profound
a
a
our
deep
earliest recollection have been
dread of
felt
thing
not of
was
sake of
alone,
for
feigning
have led them
a
baffled in every attempt
the
spirits
became
tal tenements
sat down to
they
a
fess to
a
but from the
utter the
were
perform
a
their
and silent
few
completely
tricks, and
as
the
When
mor
we
first
well-meaning
and
actuated.
friends to
meeting
a
impression
conjure spirits,
we con
visitor from another
that the very act
profane. But
Kapper's Shibboleth,
and
spirits present,
1*
they
impos
conver
momentary feeling of horripilation,
from fear of
en-daring
illusion,
of these
dupes
powerless
once
But
have put ourselves fre
till
to
table with
particular family
and
time conviction and
on
our
For the
men.
imposture
we
in the attitude of
tors, and
sion,
this
high
that this
assurance
but of
Heaven,
unravelling
for this purpose
quently
of
that
much violence.
so
in the full
justified,
in any
profanity
approached this mockery
some reluctance, unwilling
veneration should suffer
we
for all that
reverence
will
they please
when
"
to
If
world,
was
we
there
not
heav
came
are
to
any
signify* it by tip
Spirit-Rappings.
10
ping the table?" the thoughts of sacrilege vanished,
and were immediately supplanted by an irresistible
of the
sense
above all convictions of
rose
for
"
solemnity
The
Perhaps
spirits
we are
not
"
mediums," said
have declared that I
said another ; but that Great
sense,
was
and the
spirits
would not
table would not
am a
this
on
patient persistence,
true to its lifeless
that
matter is
character,
inert,
disposed
were
to
?
Were the
gratify
present ?
?
a
For
our
we
able sources, of the
in
spite
We
cross
of
all,
proved
and the universal law
cause
move
of itself."
of this abortive
spirits present,
and not
certain class of dilettanti who
Were
in bad humor with
espionage
and the
the table
and cannot
What could have been the
conjuration
occasion;
communicate,
ing hands, interlocking fingers, and,
"
common
tip, certainly not, of itself.
variety of manipulation of
introduced every
one.
medium,"
Exorcist,
present and prevalent
and the most
irrever
or
spirits please to tip
again reiterated, but no table tipped
and
again
us.
laugh
the table?"
"Will the
ence.
was
and the smile and the
ridiculous,
they jesting
persons,
and
teazing, or
our
fixtures, or our
had heard from very respect
spirits jesting
and
taunting
Spirit-Rappings.
those present
away
on
on some
olized for
last idea
certain
such occasions.
errand of
some
seems
to be
Calhoun,
who
occasions,
rap and
tip
time.
mind
that
tian
himself,
and monop
or
the fact that
in different
places
omnipresence
one
pings
and
a
witchcraft?
ble world
the
woman,
Are you, Chris
with the familiar
woman
warning
of the
whit better for these
?
spirits,
Are you not rather her
? and is she not held up to you for
and
at
who cannot look upon such
the Witch of Endor?*
ample
This
Channing, Webster,
figure so largely on these
but with abhorrence.
than that
disciple
far
as
believes in the
man
doings
busy
they
What mummery is all this to the
Great God
practices
were
elsewhere ?
precluded by
great spirits, such
same
Or
or
special tippings
and
Clay
duty,
11
an ex
Do you think that rap-
table-tippings give respectability to
Is reading the future and the invisi
by rappings
and
tippings
any better than
*
This witch of Endor it seems was the only woman with
familiar spirit that had escaped death under the royal
edict of Saul, and how successfully she bewitched or juggled
a
Saul
our
19th
Chap. Leviticus,
readers all know.
31st
We refer them
verse
Ed.
one
and all to the
Spirit-Rappings.
12
the
doings
of
yonder
wretched crone, who works
out in her concealed abode the
packs
of cards and
and
another
ministering encouragement
hagher
under
pursuing
very vocation, though
name
rise up in
of
Shall not this veritable beldame
?
judgment,
fortune-telling
Church in
the
and
plead
example
spirit-rapping
and
you think that these
haps
fraught
with
than the
in very
when
Are
incantations ?
to her
you not
ship,
mystical
problems by
same
more
of
truth, they
Christian
Per
?
wonders
seeming
on
are
and mystery,
of old,
Why,
contemptibly insignificant
with the witcheries of old.
letters
Upham's
the
interest, novelty,
are
justification
table-tipping
magical demonstrations
compared
in
Eead
the witchcraft of the New
England Colonies, Sir Walter Scott's demonology
and witchcraft, and see how the
rappings and
tippings
dwindle before the
witches of yore.
After
performances
reading these, study
Magic a book
Sir David Brewster's Natural
should be in the hands of every
terest in these marvels of the
will
are
see
how
solved
phenomena,
by
of the
at first
—
one
well
that
who takes in
day.
There you
sight inexplicable,
the touch-stones of science and
com-
13
Spirit-Rappings.
You will there find that sorcery
mon sense.
not to be
lows
or
science
stopped entirely by
the
stake,
were
of
light
effectual in
most
gibbet,
gal
and
reason
promoting
its
over
Sir Walter Scott says of the opposers of
throw.
witchcraft in
"pursuers
sure
the
but that the
was
the
the seventeenth
century, that the
of exact science to its coy retreats
were
to be the first to discover that the most
markable
phenomena
certain fixed
ferred
and cannot be
laws,
her
that it is the
by
which in
re
of
narrow
pleasure
power
times
of
sufficing
explanation.
knowledge
teaches
us,
of the Creator to govern the
the laws which
our
the
attributes all that is
superstition
own
Each advance in natural
world
rationally
"
supernatural interference),
to which
beyond
regulated by
are
supernatural agency" (meaning,
to
course,
cause
in nature
re
are
he has
not
imposed,
interrupted
or
and
sus
pended."
In all ages, the Church has attributed sorcery
If this is his
to the agency of the devil.
certainly proceeds
operandi
as
exploded by
ever.
upon the
As
one
the power of
general
same
artifice
work,
wears
science,
he
modus
out,
or
is
he resorts to
Spirit-Rappings.
14
another ; that
who become his
gross of all is
delusions of
ever
new
tricks
his
by
upon the minds of those
instruments.
willing
mesmerism,
and
to discuss
The most
and next, the subtle
spirit-rapping,
stop here
cannot
prompts
influences,
unseen
own
he
is,
We
table-tippings.
mesmerism,
there may be in it of lawful
for what
inquiry, surely
portals of
clairvoyant spirits
sending
heaven or hell, to bring back descriptions of those
abodes and their inhabitants, is sorcery of the most
to the
of
the
character.
impious
"
guished poet,
Some years ago said
Satan now, is wiser than of yore ;
few
doubtless he has advanced
a
tegy, since Pope's time, and
as
of science and wisdom
his
plots
the
increase,
and shift his
degrees
light
so
and power
does he
of attack.
points
purpose whether
seen or
unseen, direct
devil upon mind
the other.
about like
devour,"
such
a
if
If
a
or
they
our
or
deepen
Now
readers believe
we
to
in the
indirect influences of the
matter,
or
in neither
one nor
do not believe that he
roaring lion, seeking
they
"
in stra
repeat here, that it is entirely immaterial
will
our
distin
a
"
goes
whom he may
do not believe in the existence of
malignant being, they
have
only
this alter-
15
Spirit-Rappings.
native,
that
the human
doctrine,
which
heart,
will
equivalent in
less palatable
must find the devil's
they
the
answer
though
of this
argument,
pretended
wonders of
design
which is to show that these
a
knocks and table movements
nefari
illusory,
are
and
mischievous, originating chiefly from evilminded persons, and perpetuated by the indiffer
ence of careless
observers, the connivance of others,
and mainly by the fanaticism,
ignorance, and creduous
lousness of
recognized in all
principal ingredients in sorcery, but
the
as
class of persons found in every
These have been
community.
ages
large
a
there is yet another element which is
to foster this
ture, yet is
crime,
has this
some
was
Sir Walter
Napier.
point
that
in
we
our
length, rejoicing
our own
Scott,
efforts.
not
at this
in the
in
days
liberty
so
of
much
a new
time,
fea
and less
of Bacon and
of his
one
discussion
take the
his great wisdom and
to
although
quite prevalent
excusable than it
trayed,
and
doing
letters,
strongly
quoting
por
him at
in the
opportunity of adding
authority in these matters,
Speaking of the
causes
which
re
tarded the subversion of witchcraft in the sixteenth
and seventeenth
centuries,
among learned men, he
Spirit-Rappings.
16
"
says,
The learned and sensible Dr.
instance, writing
witchcraft,
for
in the detection of the
as a
assumes,
supposed
string of undeniable facts,
opinions
which
reject
frivolous fancies ; for
as
Webster,
more
our
age would
experienced
the effects
example,
of
healing by the weapon-salve, the sympathetic
powder, the curing of various diseases by ajipre-
hensions, amulets,
by transplantation."
or
which undoubted wonders he
desiring
sary
to throw
on
load, certainly,
since such
the age of
accuses
the devil's back
—
things
"All of
an unneces
do not
exist,
and it is therefore in vain to seek to account for
It
them.
followed,
that while the opposers of the
have
ordinary theory might
blow at the witch
mon
sense,
articles of
have
been
hypothesis by
they
an
appeal
themselves
were
deepest
to
com
hampered by
philosophical belief, which, they
must
contained
deep
sensible,
upon human
draughts
struck the
nearly
as
made
credulity
by
demonologists, against whose doctrine they
protested. This error had a doubly bad effect,
as were
the
both
as
degrading
which it
occurred,
the immediate
and
as
department
affording
a
in
protection
for falsehood in other branches of science.
The
Spirit-Rappings.
in their
champions who,
the
by
own
province, were obliged
imperfect knowledge
of the times to admit
much that
who
17
opined,
with
by sympathy
—
and
mystical
was
Bacon,
who
inexplicable;
with
thought,
hidden treasure could be discovered
matics
who salved
the weapon
—
wound,
water
and detected murders
the
by
"
of
Such
were
reason
ing
impossible
the obstacles
philosophers
ence, which
to
the
and the
suspended
and
common
of wretches to
which the nature of
times
for want of
Bacon
whole
or
of the
springs
of
consistently
an
argu
the incredible.
arising from the vanity
strength
sense,
against
death,
things
on
of their sci
of their
appeal
the condemn
account of crimes,
rendered in modern
impossible."
Thus learned
come
as
witches,
imperfection
the
cruel
a
instead
could not
divining-rod,
turning on
Napier, that
by the mathe
well
as
use, to confute the believers in
ment
those
that warts could be cured
the
was
men
sagacity
apologists
obliged
enlightened
seeking to
and full
of
to be
world ;
unravel mysteries,
knowledge,
may be
sorcery and witchcraft.
a
philosopher
but,
in
our
day,
for the
so
has each branch of science become, that any
vast
one
Spirit-Rappings
18
of them would be full
and
enough
philosophers hardly
their
sidered
abused because
minds,
or
be
con
of science
men
obstinate, inexorable
This
"fooleries."
they
are
Familiar with the laws of nature,
bound to do.
all real
We hear
these
positions against
Bacon's grasp,
they become,
take such
they
a
dare to venture outside of
lest
boundaries,
philosophists.
own
for
phenomena
are
alike marvellous to their
and those which claim to be
miraculous,
su
pernatural, and, par excellence, the marvellous, they
repudiate summarily
if
they
faction,
at
sometimes
irrationality
least.
to their
styled Philomaths,
fortune-telling
pute, the
popular mind, they
Formerly
has
name
is
that
absurdities, knowing
cannot disabuse the
prove their
as
as
own
entire satis
fortune-tellers
but
degenerated
we
can
were
think that
into such disre
unworthily applied,
and
we
pro
pose to transfer it to that class of learned writers of
the present
raps and
evil
or
tips
who seek to trace these tricks of
day,
to the direct agency of the
good spirits
make the sounds
communications ;
attribute these
or
—
;
—
supposing
these
movements, and to
and to that class
phenomena
to
devil,
spirits
give
specially
or
to
the
who
electricity, magnet-
19
Spirit-Rappings.
ism,
to the action of
or
to unknown ; in
things
as
sions.
These
are
and while
day,
power
short, to all,
thing
any
some
else than
the
they
or
fluid hither
who look upon these
impostures
philomaths
and illu
of the
present
thus stand in the way of ad
knowledge, they are, in effect,
We
superstition, and sorcery.
vancement in true
fostering
error,
boast in
our
es, the
spread
knowledge
nor
day
of the
rife
; but for all
through
this,
doors, floors,
our
land,
say ?
and
Has
a
"
spirit
baleful
a
"
room
?
fluid"
forsooth ?
dulity
term.
or
or
tables and
Spirits,
"
flesh and blood ?
spirits wear petticoats
new
says another
run
Spirits, rapping
tables, upsetting
spirit bones, muscles, fingers, heels,
Do
poison
upon the most prepos
pretexts.
them about the
swinging
mass
necromancy is not dead
like
now
terous foundations and
upon
of the
of education and the diffusion of
stifled ; and is
ning
enlightenment
and
do you
Has
long
philomath.
dresses ?
A
new
An "old
magnetism
in
if
we
cre
may be allowed the latter
fluid," says another.
some
A
fluid,
None other than that old fluid of
guUibity,
a
toes, and sticks ?
shape."
Since the first discoveries in
"
Electricity
This is insufferable.
electricity
and mag-
Spirit-Rappings.
20
netism,
these
of every
nity
This is much
and
rare
the
more
he says that the
case
now
on
divining-rod,
able and misconceived
pater
inexplicable phenomenon.
Walter Scott wrote his letters
the agency of
to take the
agents have had
than when Sir
witchcraft, though
and other remark
phenomena, were assigned
and
electricity
At the
magnetism.
present times these subtle agents
the
are
to
common
scape-goats for mesmeric, electro-biological, psy
and every other kind of
chological,
the
cause
phenomenon,
of which eludes the senses, and the
new
"
farce of
"rappings and tippings must
fain take advantage of the same subterfuge in or
der to make its way to popular credence.
Unfor
fangled
in this
knowledge of the
laws of electricity is possessed by comparatively
few persons ; and the electric fluid, or power of
magnetism, becomes a very clever instrument in the
tunately,
case an
accurate
hands of charlatans and
to enforce upon the
their tricks and
what
it is
popular
impostures.
adequate knowledge
magnetism,
empirics, through
mind the
To
one
which
reality
who has
of
an
of the laws of
more
pedantic gravity
than
electricity and
amusing to see with
these latter
philomaths
des-
Spirit-Rappings.
21
cant upon
and
to
electricity and magnetism, contorting
butchering their established laws all the while,
explain
vile
some
juggle, or
and tippers ;
mancy of rappers
what
by gaping crowds,
unable to swallow
a
a
who
single
a
learned
could not
man
there is not
one
tricity
This is
case
and
so
far
and
as
has
prevail,
been,
and
In
they
came
considerable
trepidation,
see a woman
who
to
was
our
law of elec
that would
without
A few years ago,
or
verity,
have been estab
science,
tippings
and brother
manner.
foothold.
a
its supremacy.
by experiment
philosophy.
get
property, condition,
magnetism,
plain rappings
nary
or
It is often
it may be somewhat slow to
felt, though
maintain
lished
gulped
unwilling
and will
mighty,
learning always
assert and
or
with
will draw crowds around him where
and the power of
will be
are
naked truth.
truth however is
The
to
apparently
are
extent, and it is sometimes the
some
quack
truly
see
"men love to be deceived."
said that
that
psycho-
and also to
their inflated arguments
avidity
true to
unravel the
a
doing
bewitched in
violence
medical friend
house late at
and wished
ex
night,
in
us
to go and
an
extraordi
At intervals she would be seized
Spirit-Rappings.
22
and while the fit
convulsions,
with
out of the
pulled pins
legs of by
her mouth,
We remonstrated with
swallowed them.
though highly intelligent,
He had
for
"
it,
and
came
more
us
had not
pins,
than
a
and
fully prepared
as
pretty little elf, who
the
floor,
from
the
tice,
our
lying
convulsed,
we were
and the next
as
to do with it."
doctor,
to
day,
pins
and
it,
sive movements
were
actions upon the
the idea of the
we con
as
pallet
pulled
we
a
Our
the
upon
a
pin
discovered
little prac
convulsions,
as
good friend,
noticed that the convul
all confined to the
muscles,
nothing
soon
a
with
special
and swallow them
the witch herself.
even
a
see
as
able to go into very fair
had not
it up.
to ascertain if
upon
person, and swallowed
and could draw out
the
give
legerdemain,
it was, and
was
had become
quomodb,
skilfully
specially
something
dexterous feat of
sented to go, late
but
in his pro
excelling
that the witches of old had
Knowing
for
to
him,
but could not account
it, believed it,
seen
electricity
fancy
and
friend the Doctor would not
our
her she
arms, and
hands,
standers, and tossing the pins into
fession,
on
was
so
supernatural
engrossed
voluntary
was
he with
character of this per-
Spirit-Rappings.
23
formance.
It is remarkable to notice how the
scrutinizing
powers of the most
astute, fail
as soon
they entertain the remotest idea of the super
natural in these cases.
This girl was visited
as
by
hundreds of respectable and
intelligent persons in
community, and notwithstanding a publication
which was made
exposing the trick, but few were
able to discover it for
themselves, and the greater
our
portion believed
and alms
were
it to be
a
freely given
in
fortunate condition.
for those whom she
Our
sympathy for her un
sympathies were enlisted
bewitched,
the enchantress credit for
her
customers, and
we
case
to show what
and
more
we
must
give
shrewdness than
believe she
rich harvest for her skill in
this
genuine performance,
reaped quite a
legerdemain. We cite
violence is done to science
to account for modern sorceries.
are
called
on
to
decide if
Remember, we
electricity played any
part in this extraordinary exhibition.
Many years ago a person of the name of Hannington came to Salem, Massachusetts, then the
place
of
residence, to exhibit the so-called
mysterious lady. This lady had the power of
naming and describing various things which she
our
24
Spirit-Rappings.
could not see, declare
paper handed
audience,
and
completely
to
a
promiscuously
variety of performances,
persons
astounded
her visitors.
gramme announced that
cipal
her
ablest researches.
We
and
it
Pythoness,
judging whether
extraordinary
of
Europe,
specially
was
word, whether
case
it
might
ventriloquism,
with those who
Electricity
prin
and that
would not
a
see
this
for the pur
auricular illu
an
to have been the last resort for
problem,
Their pro
invited to
were
pose of
a
which
of divination had baffled the
great modern
In
in the
had visited the
they
cities in this country and
extraordinary gift
sion.
written upon bits of
names
not be
for this
an
seems
solution of the
repudiated witchery.
answer
this
time,
and the
science of sound had to be mutilated for the
occa
Being ourselves expert in the performance
ventriloquism, and familiar with the laws of
sion.
of
acoustics,
it needed but
ventriloquism
tion of the
was
puzzle,
a
moment to decide that
utterly inadequate
and before
discerned the whole
we
to the solu
left the
trick, disconcerted
room we
the per
formers very essentially, and the next
day pub
lished a full exposure, after which the whereabouts
Spirit-Rappings.
of the
her
25
mysterious lady was
performances had been.
a
A few years
account
throughout
in the
since,
an
greater mystery than
this country and
of
shape
indued with
an
electrical
Europe,
girl
published
was
in
of
a
prodigy
who
Paris,
was
extraordinary power electrical of
by which, when she attempted to sit down
in a chair, it was thrown from her with great violence.
course
This
an
—
—
was one
of the wonders of the
having deceived
multitudes,
universal interest and
hands of
Sciences,
a
day,
and become
sympathy,
with* Arago at their head.
Arago
ever
an
object of
she fell into the
select committee of the
suppose that
and after
Academy
Does any
entertained for
a
of
one
moment
the idea of electrical action in this connection?
Not at all !
set himself to
the
and
Arago immediately
examination of the girls heels,
that she moved the chairs
by
soon
muscular effort.
found
By
long practice she had acquired such skill and
power of kicking, or thrusting the chair away from
herself, that it was always done without exhibiting
any motion exterior to her dress, or the slightes
disturbance of her person.
or
the "new
2
fluid"
So much for
in this
case.
electricity
This kicking
Spirit-Rappings.
26
girl
was
styled
the Electrical
Of
she
wonder.
class,
for
tricity,
course
no one
girl,
belonged
acquainted
ha I any
thing
the Electrical
to the
new
fluid
with the laws of elec
would have entertained
electricity
or
a
suspicion
to do with the
that
phenome
non.
We may be accused of
tical in this
we
and
treatise,
have to deal with
matical
that
we
we
have
have little
perhaps
we
are
so, while
many fanatics and prag
superstitious and
some charity, but we confess
or no patience for those among
philomaths.
ignorant,
so
being somewhat dogma
educated men, who
For the
are wearers
of rtie amulets of
fluids. They evince
more pedantry than penetration, and are inexcus
able disseminators of sophistry and error.
They
are exactly in the
category of the believers in per
petual motion, and, in fact, the ascription of such
phenomena as table-tippings to electricity, magnet
ism, or some new fluid, goes a step beyond perpet
ual motion, if that is possible.
Most of the plod
ders after perpetual motion expect to get, by some
electricity, magnetism,
new
adjustment,
a
or new
machine that will
of itself without any great
surplus
barely
move
of power ; but
27
Spirit-Rappings.
according
to this
certainly
should
dium at hand.
table
to
according
On the
tip,
than steam
that these
sight
thus
move a
church
How
engines.
and
never
or a moun
great demand for
and safer
strange it does appear,
that action and reaction
their hands
tables,
table,
always follow
whichever
certainly appeared
we
first
saw
analysis.
sufficiently
But
the
way
to
us
the
equal,
a
fact,
upon
the motion
table
moves.
of
It
significant fact,
very
electricity,
anomalous to
more
lightly
performance,
sidered in connection with
is
are
have attached the least value to the
that when persons put their hands
fluid,
it
pseudo-philosophers have entirely lost
one great radical principle of all dyna
science, viz.,
when
light
of the
mic
the
a
incanta
about, etc.,
being cheaper
as
me
touching
causing by
and mediums should be in
mechanical purposes,
clever
a
of
rise up, whirl
would cost but little to
tain,
keeping
principle
and
material,
the touch must be
lightly (for
rule), and
tions the table to
of
consumption
other expense than that of
heavy
we
look for any amount of horse
power, without any
no
table-tipping philosophy,
new
and if
or
require
of this anon,
as
we
the
a
con
new
careful
propose
Spirit-Rappings.
28
rappings first. This imposture
originated with two girls, by the name of Fox,
from Kochester, New- York, who are now, with
examine the
to
their
mother, travelling through
exhibiting
ful
development
two
daughters,
noises
were
of noises
them, but, after
with the
sounds,
of
until
that
were
seems
that the
what,
for since the
the
spirits
girls,
they
made
to her
spiritual
no
discover the
*
see
of the de
by spirits
account,
spirits then
the
the
girls,
on
but it
some
exhibition,'*
except directly under the
feet,
or
or
upon
dresses
these
means
In
com
and ascertained
have been
girls
desire to
precise
familiar
changed
their
about
so
habit has
with which their persons
We had
became
authors,
rap nowhere
and
learned that the
took but little notice
remote from
points
at
rapped
about the
discovered the mode of
with their
According
parted.
while, they
they
that the sounds
we
,
a
At
a
rappings
or
long time before they dis
first they were annoyed by
up for
cause.
municating
account of this wonder
us an
and from her
kept
covered the
them,
A few weeks ago,
their art for money.
the Fox-mother gave
the country, and
by
are
something
in contact.
creatures, except
which
Washington.
they
to
made tho
raps, and
Spirit-Rappings.
29
although fully prepared
to condemn them
them
a
visit,
condemn them unseen,
lest,
before
clique
our
paid
we
of rappers should have
opinions
are
say
frankly
we
are
"
beforehand,"
prejudiced,
and
white,
black ; and declare the
silly,
as
any
that
designing
table is moved
it
discussing
charge,
moves
When
by
the
mere
we
are
a
white,
statement flatly at once, and
touched,
crazy
will,
we
challenge
and when
of
told that
effort of the
about when it is not
and
pretensions of
grossly absurd
emanated from
brain.
we
to pre
mean
tippers to be as
monstrosity in the shape
ever
our
that
to be
any effort to make black appear
proposition,
evil
when
We admit the
&c.
these rappers and
and
over
to be told that
friends,
our
all made up
are
prejudiced,"
judge
and
the
ground,
advantage
some
greatly at times,
amuses us
these matters with
"
that
argument.
It
•
on
not to
preferred
we
we are
a
or
a
that
deny the
the repro
told that
duction of the
miracle,
spirits
tables, floors, doors, walls, or any
deny the statement, and challenge
rap upon
thing else,
the
we
production
of any kind of rap
cases, which is not
or
sound in these
clearly traceable
to
human
Spirit-Rappings.
30
do
should take
or
it will be inferred that
Perhaps
agency.
prepared
to
either
in
ground against supernatural
terference and miracles
are
we
altogether, seeing
condemn a priori, these
that
we
manifes
tations, claiming for themselves supernatural origin.
We confess that
of the
one
have to encounter in the
is the
greatest obstacles
course
belief in the
deep-rooted
we
of this
exposition,
existence, at the
present day, of miraculous powers, agencies and
and the readiness with which
deeds,
ascribe every
sons
ment
or
the least of
do not
pings
we
to
of
tippings,
our
but
whatever
superhuman
to draw upon
support
and
especially
religion,
mean
ments in
thing
senses, and
many per
which eludes their
Holy
decision,
briefly
objection,
sition.
to the
and at the
Writ for argu
upon these rap
anticipating
grounds
same
the
account for these
reception
we
must
of their belief and
time define
We here find ourselves
learned divines of the present
in
We
agency.
shall meet, with this class of persons,
advert
judg
savors
our own
po
arrayed against
day, who, failing
to
strange doings upon the suppo
sition of human agency, resort to their belief in
*-he
superhuman,
and
consistently
with their pro-
31
Spirit-Rappings.
fessional
calling,
evidently
must
found their views
"
scripture. Failing to discern the finger of
God," they have come to their last resort, that
these manifestations are the work of the devil, or
upon
"
of evil
Without
spirits."
biblical
lore,
we
claiming
any
ask them where is the
plainly
construction be
is not
one
agency
was
"
By
or
justifiable,
but
recognizable by
for any
far would such
as
immediate.
is
them,"
a
suffi
deeds, pretensions,
manifestations whatsoever ; and here
they should
the
content, and instead of going beyond
rest
cord, might safely administer
"
that these
without
our
There
farther.
in which Satanic
man
their fruits ye shall know
judgment
so
no
recorded,
instance
cient rule of
authority
of the devil's agency, of his opera
tions upon the heart of man, and
a
laws of
lies
purposes,
necessary to
general caution,
father,
the
devil,"
our
tables and
upset the
philosophy. We
performed of old, for
and mechanical
believe that miracles
holy
re
the whole Pandemonium into
to overturn
gravity
the
of their
are
introducing
houses,
in
The Bible
for any such conclusion in the Bible ?
teaches
depth
and
were
no
other ;
that
they
were
enforce the truth of revelation ; that
Spirit-Rappings.
32
the
day
of miracles has gone
ceased when their
mode of
own
necessity
fixing
that
would be too far from
We have
ceased.
period,
our
and that they
by,
our
but the discussion
present purpose,
and
we
digressed too much already. We take the
ground that every witch, wizard, magician, astrolo
have
fortune-teller,
from
the earliest, down to the present time, has had no
more
ger, sorcerer, necromancer, and
power
over
matter,
or
the laws of nature, than any
other person, and that whoever
liar
spirits, foresight,
with the invisible
either
*
or
lays
claim to fami
any direct communication
world, through
witch, wizard, conjurer,
raps and
or sorcerer
tips,
is
de facto.*
The Bible teache sof witches and wizards with familiar
spirits, and that they were to be put to death ; of magicians,
astrologers sorcerers, soothsayers, and false prophets; but
the only account of a miraculous performance by the devil, is
that of his first
the
of
great and
momentous fraud upon
and this is
our
considered
race
in
alle
garden
Eden,
by
gorical. Through that act he got possession of the human
heart, and he needs now no external manifestations to further
his intrigues.
Pharaoh's magicians were able, by their arts, to imitate to
a certain extent only, the miracles of Moses and Aaron.
They
turned their rods into serpents, the river into blood, and
caused frogs to come out of their hiding-places, but when it
came to the conversion of the small dust into
lice, their magic
some
as
Spirit-Rappings.
The
prime
in all these marvels
movers
tors, and their
33
disciples, dupes.
impos
are
While the former
filling their coffers at the expense of the latter.
they must often indulge in secret merriment at tb
are
was
and
baffled,
"then the
This is the finger
The
Endor,
battle,
and
said unto Pharaol
magicians
God."
of Samuel's
raising
suit of the
of
was
a
spirit, and his prophecy of the
professional trick of the witch
re
oi
remarkable than many of the doinga
related of the rappers and tippers, and of mesmerizers who
no
more
send clairvoyants to explore the Unknown World.
Con
sidering all the circumstances, we think that many hits, or
conjectures of false prophets, or fortune-tellers of the present
day, have been quite as successful, and even more wonderful,
than this feat of the witch of Endor.
Commentators
prophecy
regard
of the result of
not of the witch
clusion
the
they
herself,
to be
seem
raising
the battle,
or
as
if
they
for it would not
power to
accursed of the law.
it,
witch,
nation
can
we are
at loss to conceive.
had
sought
is
capable
(the
him to believe
ference,
a
lie
?
(for
this
con
super
so
much
expla
attributes and teachings,
anointed)
or an
seems
us
to be the
through a witch ;
extremity, the
last
accursed witch ?
the inevitable conclusion ?
2*
to accord
How such
a
the
and
an
that Saul
com
Shall it be said then that the
trifling
Lord's
thing
The Lord had refused to
That he made known his will
Saul's
admit any
The account tells
the Lord in vain.
of
the
answer
be reconciled with Divine
municate with him.
some
ghost, and
work of God,
her master ; and to such
forced,
human about
a
We know that
of Samuel's
How
Almighty
alternative.)
and that, in
Lord forced
Is not this the in
readily
all
difficulty
Spirit-Rappings.
34
credulity
of their
adherents, and particularly
grave discussions of the learned
upon
vous
electricity, magnetism,
fluid, or the
the
at the
clergy and others
fluid, the ner
new
devil's immediate agency,
vanishes
as
prob-
by expounding this transaction upon the very same
principles that we apply to spirit-rapping, viz. : that it was a
juggle, and like all witchcraft of whatsoever kind, was of hu
man immediate instrumentality.
To affirm of such perform
ances that they are inexplicable, and amazing, is no argument
in favor of their superhuman character. They are not more
wonderful or difficult of explanation, than hundreds of tricks
which we see, and of which we read every day, as performed
by jugglers. To the great mass of mankind these latter are
equally puzzling, and would undoubtedly pass for miracles,
were it not for the fact that
they are 'professedly tricks. We
believe in the all- pervading, all-controlling, all-sustaining
power of God, in Divine interposition, special Providences, and
the efficacy of prayer, as taught in the Scriptures, after our
own interpretation.
We believe that miracles are God's pre
rogative, and believing thus, we conclude that the working
of miracles by the devil, or evil spirits, would furnish an
excuse for man's unbelief or
infidelity. Most earnestly,
therefore, do we deprecate the advancement of any theory
(for it can be but theory at the best), which attributes these
and kindred delusions, to the direct agency of the devil, or
evil spirits. Such teachings are mischievous in their tendency,
and militate with the true interests of Christianity, just as far
and as long as they have no better foundation than theory,
speculation, or conjecture, and are wanting in proof positive,
invincible and overwhelming, of their correctness.
C.G.P., Ed.
—
Spirit-Rappings.
able
"
causes
of these
strange phenomena. Surely the
children of this world
of
35
are
wiser than the children
The
light."
juggler with his legerdemain far
outstrips any thing that has ever been accom
plished by rappers and tippers, bui then he tells
you that he performs by sleight of hand, and that
unless your eyes are quicker than his hands, you
will be deceived.
If certain of his performances
were to be introduced with some
religious jargon
and pretext, his success in infatuating the mass of
the people, would put the rappers and tippers en
tirely in the shade, for the tricks of these latter
are
clumsy
derson,
of the
and
poorly
professed juggler, known as the Wizard
North, has, to his great credit, published a
a
in which he
communications,
that these rappers
system of
cations, quite
fraternity.
the whole
as
are
subject,
course
all
impostors,
rapping
successful
He has
contented with
will of
Mr. An
the
series of
trived
done at the best.
and
as
boldly
and has
spiritual
failed, however,
con
communi
those of the
to
avers
original
elucidate
from the fact that he has been
a mere
imitation,
pronounce
visit to the rappers,
was
a
which the rappers
counterfeit.
Our first
in company with
a
gen-
Spirit-Rappings.
36
tleman of
high
science, of keen dis
eminence in
We
cernment, and very fruitful in expedients.
particular plan of procedure, except
that we had agreed to feign belief in these perform
an obstacle to
ances, lest incredulity might prove
had formed
no
investigation,
and
keep
the rappers too much
guard. Kepudiating all
natural, we were not liable to
their
that account, and
tirely
to the
our
scrutiny
idea of the super
any distraction
attention
cates of this
object
to this
aside from
many such
to be
new
If the advo
pretended wonders,
so
hold
we
the
on
and that hitherto
instance in which
in such cases,
in
never
legitimated
position
of
proba
known
presumption
in the
that
unravelling
our
ground
have
we
much of
should
is,
answer
our
prior experience
entirely justifiable,
bilities,
"
spiritual philosophy
prejudication,
our
en
performances, with
upon established princi
of evidence and natural laws.
"
directed
was
on
of the
reference to their solution
ples
on
was
an
not
conclusion of
facts.
Be this
as
it may,
we
had resolved to follow up
these
rappings
were
impostures, delusions,
and
tippings
to
or
see
whether
illusions,
they
one or
all
37
Spirit-Rappings.
After the mother of the Fox
account of the
and
we
We
were
joined
visitation of
spiritual
ters, they three took
had
girls
seats at
sitting opposite
the circle
directed to ask if there
This
present.
circular
large
a
given us an
her daugh
done, Bang,
were
table,
to them.
any
spirits
Bang upon the table
spirits. The table
underneath by something
announced the presence of the
struck
evidently
was
hard, solid, material, and
so
as
jar
to
the table
perceptibly to the hand resting upon it. Qur co
adjutor feigned surprise and alarm, and stooped to
look under the table, when the raps immediately
ceased.
This he
repeated
We asked
time the raps ceased.
were
any
several times and each
but
spirits present,
again
if there
no answer came
while
he had his eyes below the level of the table top,
but
as soon
as
he sat up, the raps upon the table
commenced
ing
in his
again.
scrutiny
good opportunity
ing
rappers
was
about the table
to say
do you look under
The
He however
—
there,
finding
mere
effect
you cannot
persever
give
to
"
—
see a
us a
Why
spirit?
"
themselves baffled in mak
their demonstrations
forced to retreat from
for
as
so
it,
through
and
the
taking
table,
were
their seats
a
Spirit-Rappings.
38
short distance from the
table,
commenced upon the floor
girls,
pers, but
one
conspicuously
louder than the
other,
for the occasion.
the
sweeping
so, she
floor,
under the
girls were rap
rapping much
and did most of the
Both the
but the
to have been attended
by
girls
wore
principal
a
then
rappings
immediately
Both the
about their feet.
or
the
rapping
long
dresses
ought
rapper
"
train bearer.
Are
"
spirits present? was again asked, and
the raps came promptly and so thick and fast that
the spirits seemed anxious to make some commu
nications, so we proceeded to this part of the cere
there any
The instructions
mony.
proceed,
incorrect
were
was
to
names
*
ones.
we
received either
The programme
to be the
name
invoke.
We
of three
diseases,
were
of the
spirit
We
were thus given to understand
earthly names, and answer to them.
therefore, that if we put down the name
should be
sure
of
a
response.
—
C. G.
put
of which
their
P.,
answers,
this
spirits,
then to
one
no
was
to write down three names* of
which
ed
commenced
but to these
tions,
or
we
being given to us how to
by asking several ques
that
we
:
We
one
of
intend
down the
was
to be
spirits
retain
It occurred to us,
of John Smith we
Ed.
39
Spirit-Rappings.
We
the disease of which the person had died.
put down three places,
then to
were
to be the
was
were
then to
seriatim to the
persons, and that when
intended,
the person
mean
ed,
the
Names of
Yes.
would be answered
No. We made
there
was
an
no
of human
we
We
of the
names
pointed to the name of
spirit would signify his
others,
by
two
or
which
raps,
those not intend
rap, which meant
one
progress, however,
abundance of
communication,
us, of what
we
approbation, by
presence and
of which
where the person died.
place
point
one
and, although
rapping,
there
was
no
intelligence, no confirmation to
already knew (in the imperfection
no
knowledge), and
we
appealed with
an
air
to
and tone of assumed naivete to the rappers
know if
perhaps
our
failures
"
were
!
"
not
owing
to
our
said the Mother
Oh,
great wickedness ?
"
sometimes." Just then a
so
Fox, it will happen
was a devotee
gentleman entered who, it appears,
of
Eappism,
shrine,
and
daily worshipper
for the purpose of
with the
spirit
failed, entirely,
in
a
no
answer
to
of
a
holding communication
departed
to elicit even
our
at the Fox
inquiries
a
wife.
As
we
respectable
of the
spirits,
had
guess
and this
Spirit-Rappings.
40
gentleman
highly favored, his visit
this juncture, for it gave
more
rather fortunate at
was
us
had been
when
to observe
opportunity
an
minds
our
tion of the
*
Mr.
occupied
spiritual telegraph.
*
*
count of his
ceeded to
were
with the
commenced at
previous
inquire
interviews
which
were
the Fox mother
bet,
for
answer
pace.
we
ourselves,
good practice,
ing
repeating
fast that
so
over
saw
some
and
rap,
several
satisfaction,
over
the
alpha
coul5 not follow to get the
but the rappers
seemed to find
We
Rap,
spirit.
answered to his
ac
an
then pro
and
indicated her presence, and he asked
questions
manipula
with
once
for his beloved
than
closely
more
in this
no
difficulty
individual,
with in
a
in
being
in
keep
degree
of
infatuation
rarely
to be met
the
world,
and unmistakable evidence of
men
of
entire mental hebetude upon this
ject.
We, however,
intelligent
particular
sub
turned his fascination to
a
good account, as we shall presently show.
We inquired if these rappings ever occurred any
where except immediately about the persons of
very
these
"
girls.
"
Oh
yes,"
was
the mother's answer,
the sounds have been made in that
wardrobe,
and
Spirit-Rappings.
upon the
We
door," etc.
raps from the
wardrobe,
the
disappointment
leaving the door
pressed
hard to have the
but to
our
girl
open, and
wardrobe,
that
her
Of
course we
performance
dress
did not
rap here ?
came on
expect
"
the
requested
rappings
sides and back of the
taking
these
put
ear
rap would
to the
upon
Will
the
She
then
was
made
upon the
which she
did,
proceed
top
entrapped by
one
the sound will
end of
always
We therefore
requested
this
for
trick,
experiment
a
long
of
we
to
this
our
were
knew full
placing
stick when
In
We
■
a
the
sound is
experiment
appear to be made
kept
us
of the wardrobe and the
made upon the other end.
ear.
"
from that quarter.
well the old and trite
ear
different
had been
and rap, rap, it
wardrobe,
She then
performances.
not to be
or
we
little extra time to arrange herself for
a
our
girl,
the floor of the wardrobe.
to have the
apartment.
any better
says the
in the
in contact
largely
wardrobe.
she
was
partition
from that with which
entertained outside
spirit
was
a
walls of the little
or
wardrobe,
snugly
so
and
surprise
got into the
encased there in consequence of
with three sides
41
near
the
attention fixed upon
rappings.
SPIRIT
42
the bottom
while
robe,
we
where it
part
of the
and
wardrobe,
present, misled by the artifice, supposed
some
the sound
lower
or
from the upper
came
part of the ward
observed that the sound
was
at
first,
not modified in the
down
least,
below,
which
produced
was
and that it
was
to
certainly ought
have been the case, if the sound had been made
opposite
to the
person's
attention to several
wardrobe,
some
and it
then called
points
in the upper
part of the
to the
appeared
present that the sounds
points,
while to
were
character,
and in
quarter.
us
satisfaction of
evident that
perfectly
was
not at all
from those
came
changed
in direction
reality proceeded
or
from the old
Our knowledge of ventriloquism also forti
against
ception,
it
us
the sounds
fied
girl
The
ear.
the
this trick.
success
tain power of
selection of
Ventriloquism
of which
modulating
for imitation of
.
sounds,
time, place
depends
the
voice,
and skill and
a
is
upon
a
de
a cer
correct
ear
judgment
in
and circumstances for the
performance. When persons present are not aware
or
apprised of the attempt to deceive them, the
ventriloquist is not obliged to be very particular
in his selection.
But when his intention is
an-
Spirit-Rappings.
nounced
or
43
his art is exercised to di
anticipated,
rect the attention of his auditors to the
quarter
from which he wishes the sound to appear to
If
gic
this
on
subject, they
tricks described
will find many
interesting
this
principle. Nothing is
deceive completely, by calling
on
easy than to
more
come.
readers will turn to Brewster's Natural Ma
our
the attention of persons present to sounds from
certain
position
sounds
are
or
direction,
while in
made elsewhere and in
a
reality
So it
sight.
was
in the
the raps, with those whose eyes and
trick
was
it
undergo
was
this
done
case.
girl's
For the
cealed under her
modification,
power to
and in fact
modify
of the raps,
origin
dress, she
The
for the sound did
however,
the proper
out of the
of
expectations
fixed upon the top of the wardrobe.
poorly
con
case
were
not
the
remote quar
ter, provided the real origin of the sounds be
cealed from the
a
it to suit
being
con
could not divest it of
its muffled character without
exposing her art. It
note here, that for these
is
particularly worthy of
experiments in the wardrobe no particular spirit
was invoked, and the
raps were continued as long
a.s
necessary for the
gratification
of the
bystanders,
Spirit-Rappings.
44
and
several times commenced without any
were
invocation
particular
the
on
the
evidently forgetting
part of the girl, she
dignity
knock at the
spirits
door,
girl's
placed her
accordingly,
outside of the room door, which
the
self
against
was
about two thirds open, she
We
were
about to take
taking
hold of the
position outside,
the passage, when she remarked that the
would rap much better if
This
rather
was
held the
the door
on
door,
its
we
course
hinges
that unless she
away from her.
fairly
fixed with her
the
door,
the raps
spirits
cunning,
dress
and
or some
the knock upon it would
was
in
took hold of the door.
necessary than
more
the rapper knew of
one
but
she
diate presence, and
latch.
was
imme
could not manifest without the
they
in
spirit
This over, it
the excitement of the moment.
desired to have the
of the
move
When she
in contact with
commenced upon the door.
After this she turned her head and asked if the
spirit
would
gave rather
tolerably
visit.
please
a
to rap in the passage, when she
feeble rap, which suited the trick
well and here the
The rap from the
purpose of
keeping
us
rapping
passage
ended for this
explained
in the room, for if
we
the
had
Spirit-Rappings.
45
gone into the passage the trick would have failed
for us,
as we
should have been able from
tion
there,
viz.,
about the
were
posi
right quarter
to refer the sound to the
girl's
there with
On the second visit
feet.
former
our
our
and several
coadjutor
gentlemen of eminence, and a lady
highest respectability, strong mind, and
of the
other
his
Our
matins,
enthusiast
quondam
we
found there at
in company with several persons emi
political life. One of them, a
Congress, had been endeavoring to get
member of
nent in
tual
but
communications,
became
with the bad guessing of the Fox
the
The
room.
enthusiast,
voked his favorite
the
answer
mother
fectly
our
as
cil,
we
Mr.
and he
girls,
that he left
*
*,
*
out
expressed
answer.
departed spirits,
In
pointing
took
ment behind
good
a
to these
care
book,
three
then in
a
question,
by
the Fox
himself per
We then took
diseases,
names
to conceal the
and
spiri
disgusted
so
proposed
spelled
was
some
We put down upon paper the
turn.
places.
to which
before,
and
spirit
satisfied with the
of three
distin
for her indomitable energy and perseve
guished
rance.
we
names
and three
with the pen
pencil
move
carefully guarded against
Spirit-Rappings.
46
any
emphatic
will to the
came
movement which should
practiced
for the wrong
and
disease,
place
lows, Webster, Clay,
the
spirit
we
and
spirit,
of death.
Three
other effort.
eyes of the
Salem,
selected,
Of
or
correctly
and
they
hit it
or
our
incorrectly
more
sequel.
inquiries
until
get replies
give
He
by
had been
had got
we
ludicrous if
had obtained.
we
careful to
a
trial,
possible
in
attempted
from the
spirits, being
clue to his
thoughts by
The spirits,
purpose.
were there in
abundance,
no
but all to
signs,
judging from the raps,
but no intelligence, or correct answers
from them.
this
The
did not indicate
we
course
were
answers
several ways to
always
was
right
Our scientific friend next made
outward
fol
as
and Calhoun ; Webster's
movement that
answered
then those
an
that Webster died of Croup ! and at
any look
and his
the wrong
We then made
names were
invoked,
Mass.
through.
oui
The raps
girls.
rapped
time for the name, but mark the
answer was
betray
no
Next another friend of
could be had
ours
came
to
He had not been accustomed to investi
the trial.
gate such tricks, and very imprudently suffered
Mr.
*
*
*
to
put the questions for him.
The
47
Spirit-Rappings.
in accordance with the
answers came
the
raps, and the
right spirit was designated by the
of his death.
manner
Mr.
*
*
*
tions each in different tone and
read him
girls undoubtedly
before.
Noticing this,
that
he had been
as
to have him
sented.
put the ques
shape, and the
they had done
as
remarked to Mr.
we
successful
so
*
*
*
would like
we
for us, to which he
inquire
that is
facts,
readily
as
however
same
intonation
premised, that he must use
and language in asking each
question,
which he
agreed
the
We,
could.
This
suspicion
would
exacted,
to
at
the
because
time,
unwittingly by emphasis
ficance indicate to the rappers,
son, the
these
particular object
the
precautions,
We
rappers.
were
particular spirit,
died,
do,
and the
others
several
others.
as
not because
was
or
far
we
of collusion in this case, but
it
plained
we
as
we
as
to fix
our
ex
many persons
or
signi
some
any shrewd per
he had in view.
question
he
had any
was
With
to
put
thoughts
the
upon
a
the disease of which the person
place
where ; the
name
with two
put down upon paper, the disease with
others,
Mr.
*
and also the
*
*
place
propounded
of death with two
as
follows
:
Will
Spirit-Rappings.
48
the
spirit
inform
us
thinking of? Rap,
?
correctly
with
a
it this ?
*
*
*
asked,
! Yes.
rectly? Rap, rap
ster's
spirit,
hit it
us
with the
was
Has the
right
gone
spirit
We were
and the result
name
Is
No.
was
through with,
informed
us
cor
thinking of Web
The rappers
this.
to the name, but
as
a
us
Pointing to the dis
same question each
rap ! Yes.
places,
is
gentleman
Pointing to
this ? Rap !
Is it
asked,
the
Will it inform
rap ! Yes.
when the whole
time ;
Mr.
he
Rap,
and
eases
spirit
rap ! Yes.
Rap,
pencil,
of the
they
informed
this time that Mr. Webster died of Fungus
HiEMATODES,
This
was
in
Newark,
New
too much for
Jersey.
forbearance,
but still
we
kept our purpose of investigation in view, and
again pleaded our own wickedness as the probable
cause of these failures.
it
Oh ! no," said they,
"
"
will
happen
so
sometimes."
!
gusting spectacle
sitting there, with
be the
bodied
that
"
mediums
spirits,
just
"
and
These
all
What
a
deeply
dis
and their mother
girls
gravity, and pretending
to
of communication with disem
dealing
out such nonsense
as
related.
The rappers
were
then
sitting
some
distance
Spirit-Rappings.
from the
table,
and
rap
"
"Not now."
It
Rap
was
they
stenography,
sion quite often to escape
to
spirit please
the table ?
will it ?
"
"
"
This
the Fox
mother,
would
Will the
Rap,
rap,
use
"
"
rap !
this
eva
Will the
it will not rap upon
Not now." "When
evening, at such an hour," naming
This last communication
it.
"
difficulties.
explain why
Rap, rap,
"
part of the spiritual
a
had occasion to
as
Spirits
No.
that three raps for the
seems
"Not now"
expression
!
"
to rap upon the table ?
spirit please
rap.
asked if the
we
upon the table ?
49
and
a
time
was
spelled
out
by
named at' which
was
it would be
impossible to get an opportunity to
propound such a question, as they held their spirit
ual levee in the evening to crowds.
Moreover, we
the
to
to
no
desire
had
question these trick
repeat
sters, to be shuffled, as we most certainly should
have
been,
occasion of
with the
our
same
first
visit,
prevarication.
Mr.
*
*
*
On the
said that
rapped upon his foot, while sitting
experiment was repeated by re
quest, and very likely would have been successful,
if we had not fixed our eyes very intently upon his
the
at
spirits
a
table.
and the
had
The
rappers'
3
feet.
As it was, this feat
was
Spirit-Rappings.
50
not
On the second
performed.
to rap upon
the
spirits
the
answer.
It
was
visit,
"
feet.
our
evident that
we
Not
implored
now,"
not
we were
was
re
manifesta
ceiving our money's worth of spiritual
tions according to the show-bill; but,
failure
was our
gain,
rel with the rappers
the
or
every
to quar
disposed
spirits. One
not
we were
as
of my
scientific friends then asked if they would not rap
if
they
pillow
were
?
"
suspended
Oh
yes,"
in
was
swing,
a
the
reply,
that ; that has all been tried."
girls proposed
to send
occurred to
that
us
upstairs
they might
upon any common-sized
their dresses would
pillow,
cover
stood upon
or
"
a
have done
we
One of the Fox
for
rap
pillow, but it
while standing
a
for the
and extend
reason
that
beyond
the
to get
pillow, and thus give them an opportunity
their rapping instrument down upon the floor over
We therefore proceeded
the sides of the pillow.
immediately, while they were engaged in some
conversation,
to suit
to make up
own
our
a
cushion upon the floor
We
views.
gathered
a
and laid them folded upon the
of
cloaks,
as
to make
a
number
floor,
so
circular cushion of about three and
half feet diameter, and
so
thick that
we were
a
per-
Spirit-Rappings.
suaded
could be heard
sound should be
as
to
we can
always
this
was
the
done so."
silk,
we
we
one
to do with it.
making
of the coats
would ascertain if
electricity
The Fox mother
could rap
standing
upon
glass tumblers,
spirits,
manifestations had been with them
We
years."
replied (to keep
You know that there
are
all due to
are
some
up
now
our
for six
argument),
modification of electri
and others who think that
very
essence
this
case
of
for these
persons who think these
city,
*
for
All that had been tried before ; and that
girls *
sounds
modified
so
an excuse
remarked that
and that
thing
way of
By
and that she knew it must be the
"
if any
"
had any
"
it would be
or
origin. The Fox mother objected
preparation ; but the girls said, We know
rap ; the spirits will rap there, for they have
cushion,
said,
through
produced
their instrument
the soft mass,
its
betray
to this
raps with
ordinary
no
51
spirituality, f
and
electricity
we
wish to
is the
see
how far it may be concerned in the
in
phe"
The
expression was very common with them that they
could rap, or had rapped." Rather careless, certainly !
t We, of course, had
here than in the rap of
no more
an
thought
of electrical agency
auctioneer's hammer.
—
C.G.P.,
Ed.
Spirit-Rappings.
52
There
nomena.
allowed to
were
cushion
they
saw
rapper
of the
edge
and
requested
cushion,
A
so
thing
reason, of
the wiser for
arranged
to
that,
our
to rap.
No rap
was
besought,
spirit
the spirit
but this
the cushion with
but
no
one, at
over
the
prepared
edge
least,
response
come
raps.
gathered
cushion,
The result
was
they
every
and
again
was
given.
and stand upon
in her
so
subtlety,
much
room as
chance to have her dress
of the cushion.
for ; and
dresses upon the
before.
a
; but
she invoked the
Again
her, thinking,
electricity.
as soon as
liking,
that two of them would occupy
give
we
course
and
came.
She then asked her sister to
to
partly over
objected to,
was
that if her dress touched
plea
perfectly empirical
was
principal
and took her stand
it would conduct away the
were none
the
her to stand upon the centre of the
upon the
floor,
we
exactly
upon
The
that her dress
cushion,
was
standing
predicament,
upon the cushion
the
While
could not rap at all.
her
the
The result
proceed.
anticipated.
we
as
and
resisting this,
no
was
<
the
But this
we were
in the skirts of their
upon the
same as
The fact was, their arts
same
with
were
plea
one.
as
No
completely
53
Spirit-Rappings.
baffled,
not
the
the
only proved
they
could rap
pended
in
had
spirits
a
and the
fled,
standing
cushions,
on
experiment
of the assertion that
falsity
when
or
sus
but afforded the most conclu
swing,
sive evidence of the immediate and wilful agency
of these Fox
Thinking
in
girls
table verdict of this
trial,
the
principal
rapper pro
see if the
glass tumblers,
then, as they had done on former
posed
to stand upon
spirits
would rap
occasions.
these sounds.
producing
to redeem themselves from the inevi
to
She took her stand upon the tumblers.
This elevated the lower border of her dress above
the
floor,
ber
was
seen
and it
so
happened
sufficiently
her feet
on
the
"
instrument.
Will the
spirit please
No rap.
She then stooped
spirit
?
and
by
the
floor,
the
was
"
below.
No rap.
a
to
spirit please
very
She then
cover
to rap
adroitly done,
How strange it
is,
little,
"Will the
this time her dress
so as
of
rapping
spirit.
the
one
our num
far from her that he could have
voked the
now
that
She in
to rap ?
if
addressing
spirit please to rap
as
stooped a
was fairly
little more,
down upon
feet and tumblers.
now
?
"
"
Rap,
rap.
"
Will
This
but the trick was clear to
that she should have been
us.
obliged
Spirit-Rappings.
54
to
to have invoked the
stoop, and
before the
answer
came
;
and,
moreover, that she
should look down to the floor for the
how
passing
a
chair,
fondness for
a
We then
toes.
spirit
strange it is that these modern
should have such
girls'
three times
spirit
requested
This she did
and rap.
long
; and
spirits
dresses and
her to stand upon
promptly,
and the
from that
bidding. The sound was different
produced upon the carpeted floor, and
underwent
just
at
came
rap
struck upon
we
of
a
a
the proper modification of
hard, uncovered, wooden
stopped, having
"
seen
Fox and Geese."
quite enough
Before
of the rappers
requested
publish them,
and another
present, saying,
any
machinery
you ?
"
our
a
seat.
blow
Here
of this game
leaving the
room,
one
scientific friend not to
stepped
up to the
lady
"You do not think that I have
about
We have it
me
to make these
sounds,
do
the
authority of this lady,
nothing untried
to lead to the detection of this imposture, that she
asked these rappers if they would consent to a
on
who seemed determined to leave
private examination
of their persons, and that
they
refused it
had any
doubt
manifes-
as
positively, adding that if she
to the reality of these
spiritual
55
Spirit-Rappings.
tations
she would
have
satisfactory revelations
made to her in her bed-chamber five weeks from
that time.
This
prophetic intelligence they rapped
according to their own fancy
out for the occasion
and usual evasive
duplicity
in such
cases.
The
passed, but the lady has, of course,
received no spiritual visitations as predicted.
Our readers are now ready to ask if we have
discovered the machinery or instrumentality by
five weeks have
which these
we
say that
these sounds
where
this,
our
are
and that
girls,
they
we
we
investigation is conclusive that
entirely at the control of these
have
placed
could not rap at all.
can
think
each of
we
our
In answer,
make the sounds.
them in situations
And
have invented several modes
rappings
we
girls
be made
as
if,
by
successfully
as
after all
which the
by them,
During
enough.
noticed, by very cau
visits,
inspection, one interesting and
-have discovered
two
tious and careful
we
significant fact that each
a slight movement of the
—
rap
was
attended with
person of the rapper,
and that a very distinct motion of the dress was
region. While
visible about the
watching
this
right hypogastric
point the girl noticed
us, and imme-
Spirit-Rappings.
56
rose, went to the
diately
and
window,
dropped
the
curtain to darken the room, which
the
north side
this
over
the first visit.
On the second
and
watching
procured a
her person
as
This
her person.
part of
discovered
rose
full dark
and
building,
on
When she sat down she drew her
before.
enough
shawl
of the
was
visit,
this movement
was on
we were
soon
and she
again,
shawl with which she covered
We do not
before.
to de
pretend
cide that this movement had any direct connection
with the instrument
the floor ;
for
was
have devised
we
volves
if so, it
such
no
which she
by
very
clumsy
mode of
a
been
may have
we
that
shortly
this
move
explain.
ment
connected with the device for
upon the table.
they rapped
We
upon the
under side of the
feet.
did
They
the
rap
ment
table.
under
the
we saw
is
of
table,
table-top
not, and
rap upon the table
to
are
If
table-top,
easily
was
evidently
their
could
not,
sitting closely
conjecture,
is
the
upon
and not about
without
this
rapping
that when
opinion
it
that in
will
It
was
upon
awkward,
rapping
and which
motion,
rapped
and
right,
accounted for.
as
the
to
up
the
move
Be it so,
or
57
Spirit-Rappings.
be it
not,
have invented
we
a
contrivance which
raps upon the under side of the
table-top,"
which involves
we
It
requires
trive
of
means
public
under
oath,
the raps with their toes, in
that
electro-magnetism
carry out this fraud.
has been resorted to
can
easily imagine
sounds are,
The
by
machine-like, and too
by striking
differing
joints,
tirely
girls
floor,
as
to
out of the
It has
has made
papers tell
has been
employed
snapping
of the
The Fox
loud for
a
the naked
electro-magnetism,
in this
never
same
ease
remote from
3*
every where.
girls
The sound
plans.
sound that
or
unarmed
case.
it
was
the
en
always
The raps
their persons but
and
The Fox
visit the houses of strangers and rap
with the
we
of ways in which these
entirely too loud for,
from, the snapping of
question
to
joints
and indeed
and
in character
and
public
produced.
could be made
toe upon the
girls
con
that
another ;
variety
may be
or
to
they produce
peculiar manner ac
upon neither of these
rapped
was
a
a
The
quired by long practice.
us
ingenuity
relative of these
a
statement
discovered.
these sounds.
producing
been stated that
a
the motion
precisely
but little exercise of
and
always
are
di-
Spirit-Rappings
58
about their
rectly
at the
sitting
unless it be when
feet,
table,
have before
as we
they
said,
are
when
the under side of the
the rap appears to be
on
table-top, although
would not undertake to
decide
fully
not allow
my
upon this latter
to choose
us
of the true
our
point,
position
looked under the
and
position
Such
we
had
to
judge
can
as soon as
the
a case
is
exemplified
public
your
common
near
the
tube,
of the
originate.
speaking
houses and elsewhere.
ear
are cer
judge correctly
in the
spirits
ear, however
no
distance where certain sounds
or
place
would
There
rapping.
no
practised,
tubes used in
you
they
as
so
table,
tain circumstances, under which
skilful and
as
direction of the sound ; for
coadjutor
decamped
we
When
the voice ap
pears to be uttered close to the ear,
though
the
speaking may be at a great distance. The
Invisible Lady is another instance, for a full ac
count of which, see Brewster's work on Natural
person
Magic.
But the most remarkable illustration of
this
is exhibited in the
case
you take
an
iron rod
hundred feet in
the blow is heard
by
manner.
ten, twenty, fifty,
length
a
following
and strike it at
person
having
his
or
If
one
one
end,
ear
close
59
Spirit-Rappings.
at
the other end
struck
his
near
precisely
the blow
if
as
This illusion is
ear.
able if the listener cannot hear the
whole
experiment
very
three-fourths of
rod,
three
ing
hall, and
or
four feet
imposing,
inch in
an
iron
an
diameter, project
the floor of
through
blow
original
suppose
projecting part is
that this
remark
To make the
the medium of the air.
through
more
was
a
a
large
continuation
passing beneath the floor of the room,
and concealed entirely from observation and termi
nating out of doors, or in a distant apartment.
of
a
rod
Whenever
concealed
blow is struck upon the remote and
end,
the sound not
the medium of the
through
person
a
present, precisely
as
concertion and ceremonial
as
character,
pers.
From this
With proper pre-
we see
trickery
how
a.
rod
closely
we
with
attendant circumstances and
case, before
we can
of
such
a con
in
mysterious
these feet-rap
exceed,
experiment,
success
except
appears to every
preparation,
this would far
the shallow
with entire
length,
rod,
heard
if it issued from the
end within the hall.
projecting
trivance
being
which
we
have tried
only twenty
feet in
must look to all the
possibilities
of
conclude strictly upon the
the
posi-
Spirit-Rappings.
60
origin of sounds, where their origin is
We know that the rapping was
out of sight.
always about their heels when these girls sat in
chairs, stood upon the floor, or in chairs, or stood
tion of the
in the
this
wardrobe,
part of the performance
for
portunities
examination,
at the time of the
their
spirits
and if these
rapping
ince of females.
it be of
are
late,
or
no
they
or
defy
confined to
a
spots in
the Fox
certain
a
them and
without
a
full
than wizards.
disparity
in
particularly
are no
numbers,
the prov
male rappers unless
have resorted to confede
mechanical
tricks.
men-rappers who rap upon such
as
will
of note that witches have
for such
since
we
numerous
There
girls
to examine their
rappings
business is
electrical
sive scale
tain
more
are reasons
but this
racy,
worthy
been far
always
us
rapping,
the
produce
It is
exposure.
There
to
had abundant op
we
stand upon the floor and allow
feet,
For
upon the door.
rapped
or
girls.
table,
or
a
a
There
an
The latter
are
certain room,
certain house.
exten
not
or cer
They
"Battle-traps" about with Jihem, and
go from house to house, and their "familiar spir
its
are
very sociable, unceremonious, and accom-
carry their
"
room,
61
Spirit-Rappings.
If
modating.
costume,
our
they
will but
adopt
the
spirits
word for
it,
their
at
the Bloomer
would
signify
Rely
disapprobation by departing
ing upon their sex they trust the courtesy of their
visitors as sufficient protection against the exami
nation of even their feet, and therefore they make
bold to
wear
dresses the better to
unusually long
conceal their movements and
When the
to
venture
brought
stood upon
girl
rap
once.
rapping apparatus.
tumblers,
she did not
till, by gradual stooping,
her dress down
so as
There
to
cover
she
her feet and
then
special reasons
why this kind of witchery should be played off
by females. The Fox style of rapping cannot be
touch the floor.
performed by
men,
not attribute to
or
are
in the male attire.
woman more or
power to deceive than to
undertakes to
greater risk,
runs
event of
man
;
but when
woman
she is
and incurs
disclosures,
greater proneness, or
generally more suc
suspected, has fewer motives,
deceive,
She is less
cessful.
We do
greater
loss in the
and with the blandishments
opposition, smoth
escapes inspection, and
of person and sex, she silences
ers
inquiry,
lastly
takes
defies and
captive
the
head
with
the heart.
Spirit-Rappings.
62
Possessed of greater
pressed
she is
;
she
the
is
of
the
jerks,
prevailed
a
of
species
in this
be
country
new
upon
upon
herself.
This
in
the
case
mania which
witch
so
witch
imposed
illustrated
well
is
characteristic
sympathetic
to
impose
to
and most apt
first
by
im
in times of certain
remarkable developements of
crafts,
easily
carried away
readily
more
fascinations, and
and strange
and
susceptibilities
extensively
many
so
largely.
years ago, in which women figured
with
is
both
potential
sexes,
Sympathetic action
but
especially with
reason
and
We
believe
that,
are
however uncharitable
gress
operation
be arrested at
by
or
to
of the
an
effort to
ditions of extreme
tion,
enough
in many cases, upon these occasions
and that the whole
might
rise to temporary in
judgment and bewilderment
imagination is not altogether involuntary,
surrendry
of the
does it overpower sense,
volition, giving
sanity.
the
women
irritability.
a
of
being
bewitched
certain stage of its pro
resist, except perhaps in con
hysteria and nervous prostra
We have
seen
young lady
highest respectability at a table-tip
ping, tugging away at the table to make it move,
of the very
a
63
Spirit-Rappings.
and all the while
tions,
did
"
and
endeavoring
declaring,
not make the
to
or
deceiving,
says yes.
as
to
to be
accomplishing
her
object
there is
all,
that
forget
herself that she
yet all the while
Well ! after
Can it be
effort."
infatuated
persuade
and
and adroit in
so
exer
that she
interrogated,
slightest
that she had become
she was,
when
to conceal her
so
not,
was
assiduous
?
Charity
in
something
deceiving and blinding reverend and
well calcula
grave Senators, Judges and Priests,
ted to whet the pride, stimulate the cunning, and
foster the love of power in a young Miss, espe
the feat of
cially
when her arts
doings
not embraced
amenable to law.
ical
as
it may
in the
There
seem
practised
are
—
are
cases
upon
some
criminal code
probably
nor
paradox
—
of honest
deception.
accomplish something great, some
thing exceeding the common course of familiar
phenomena, may be so strong as to beget an entire
perversion of all truthfulness, a self sanctioning
The desire to
of error,
artfulness,
conscience,
an
imposture,
oblivion of
profession
of faith and
enthusiastic
spirited advocacy
bending
and
of every
of
the
thing
to
new
developments,
conceal the
fraud,
a
and
Spirit-Rappings.
64
withal
preservation of the appear
sincerity, and an air of ingenuousness so
ance
of
well
put
far
remarkable
a
which go very
those who may witness the per
inveigle
to
natural,
to appear
as
on
formances.
Of the modes we have devised of
pings
being
we
will not
explain
sufficient to effect
producing rap
than
more
rapping
that
one,
sounds without
We have contrived
disturbance of the person.
great many, and although
we
have not
a
the
seen
particular mode employed by the Fox girls, yet we
A piece of soft metal such as
can rap just as well.
lead, shaped
the
the
or
like
chain shot
a
great toe may be made
door,
thing
the bottom of
a
to
or
pound upon
wardrobe,
which may be under
with forcible demonstrations.
make the effort to
move
effected,
and of
turbance of the
make
perfect.
rattling
of the
a
or
or
the
to
floor,
any surface
about the
feet,
If any person will
the toe up and down while
the sole of the foot rests
will be found that
dumb-bell, tied
firmly
upon the
floor,
it
considerable motion may be
course
a
person.
rapping, without
A little
a
practice
dis
will
In order to walk about without the
rapping piece,
it is necessary to tie
65
Spirit-Rappings.
to
one
end of it
of vulcan
elastic
cord, a piece
answering very well, and
ized rubber
an
around the waist.
A
fasten this
slight stooping
sitting
or
down will leave the instrument free to work.
you have
thin
shoes
slippers
slippers, or
or
affixed outside of the
attached to the toe, and make the
to
the whole and
slip
enough
are called
rappings
we are all equipped
coats
the
or
over
long
adopted
can
slipper large
slip
it
off,
spiritual rappings ; petti
are
indispensable to complete
be
Whatever
to rap upon the
floor,
the invasion of the curious
more
contrivance
the
the whole must be
the
so
one
arity
simple
described
of the Fox
their instrument
*
:i
nd
or
easy of
gives
—Ed.
beyond
We have
rude.
rapping
just described,*
one
in
but not
Moreover
application.
the double rap,
contrivance.)
adroitly,
We have made excellent
accompanied
or
better concealed
perfect,
struments than the
quite
when
for
concealed within the sanctuary of skirts
other
have it
One other element and
for.
dresses
invention.
may be
on, it
you
If
These
(a peculi
girls managed
and deserve
rappings
some
with this
little
instrument,
them with very wonderful communications.
Spirit-Rappings.
66
ingenuity in contriving and opera
instrument so successfully as to baffle the
credit for their
ting
an
scrutiny
freely
They walk
instruments, though a lady
of thousands of their visitors.
about with their
remarked to
that
us
wardly.
With local
rappings
may be
they
both walked very awk
preparations "mysterious"
produced in a variety of ways,
girls, the prototypes of all rappers, neither
employed or needed any aid from electro-magnetic
motions, acoustic science, or confederacy to prac
but these
tise their arts,
used
they
more
ingenious
and
simple means. It is possible to make a rapping
electro-magnetic movement, battery and all, small
enough to be carried under the dress, but like the
telegraph, it must be controlled by volition and
muscular action of the
advantage
of this
over
that raps
directly
?
wonderment
or
count of these
excluded from
pers.
operator, and where is the
a
mechanical instrument
There is
the taxation of
no
necessity
ingenuity
on
ac
rapping sounds so long as you are
personal examination of the rap
a
We wish very much that the civil autho
rities would pounce upon these rappers in
"
for
very act"
(for obtaining
money upon
the
false pre-
Spirit-Rappings.
fences)
—
(or
other
some
disclosure of their
this
can
plea)
67
and make
a
forcible
We believe that
trappings.
done, and
and should be
that such
a
pro
ceeding would meet the full sanction of law and
justice ; that universal public opinion would sus
tain it, and we have no doubt of the nature and
effect of the denouement.
done,
If it had
should have been
we
treatise at
and
least,
vast amount of
been
the labor of this
need not advert to the
we
suffering
spared
already
and vice that would have
been forestalled.
Seeing then,
that
double rap, how shall
nary
prophecies,
we can
rap, yes, and
account for the extraordi
we
messages, coincidences and
this had been the
perplexes
much less than the
of these rappers
actual
that if
the
been
been
quomodo.
by
against
We
the
can
to
exposed
surmount, for
feminine security
inspection
most
safely
search warrant, stratagem,
rapping
one
only difficulty
or
public,
presume
armis,
girls
had
there would not have
doubt about the nature and
spiritual communications,
of their
vi et
instrument of these Fox
to the
com
We wish
munications in accordance with facts ?
it
give the
nor
the
origin
of the
question
ever
Spirit-Rappings.
68
asked,
were
how it
that these communications
true to fact.
wonderfully
so
and bad
good
happened
spirits,
Brains, books,
devils and all would not have
Indeed where is
been needed for this discussion.
the
necessity
at
of
all,
dragging
out human weak
credulity, and duplicity to solve the jisychological part of this fraud and forgery, if we can rap
ness,
as
well
pism),
girls (the great guns of rapthe strength of our rappings tell more
the Fox
as
and
on
truth and fewer lies than their spirits, what need have
of
we
metaphysical disquisitions
found in
drawer
a
John
Calhoun's,
departed
Fox
girls
petrated
sense
the
?
*
few,
any other of the
robes
very few
one
good hits,
enough
inch,
great
the
experience went,
and per
intolerable
of
itself,
had been made outside the
two
feet,
non
even
if
pale
of
above their
in the aerial centre of the room, discon
nected with every
*
the
handwriting
else, resembling Mr.
on
vast amount of most
queenly
heads,
or
as our
and contradiction ;
rappings
their
any where
Smith's,
So far
made
a
or
tangible
and visible
thing,
to
Whatever respect we may have for the
memory of the
we feel at
liberty to banter their spirits if we catch
great,
them in bad company, and at base tricks.
—
Ed.
69
Spirit-Rappings.
have turned any sensible
with
and
contempt
those who
man on
disgust.
his heel
instanter,
But for the sake of
perplexed by these com
munications, we must spend a little breath to en
lighten them. When a man suspects supernatural
agency or interference in physical, really visible,
sensible, or tangible demonstrations, he is ready to
believe any
when he
duped
are
thing
comes
or
communicated at the
to the full belief in divine
time,
and
interposi
perfected. Where, by long prac
tice, preparation and skill, tricks are performed
with a view to imposition, it requires the highest
degree of coolness, calmness, and self-possession, to
tion,
his faith is
resist the
ever
impression
well fortified
hardly
to be
we
of the
superhuman,
may be in these
that
expected
we
discover the real nature of the
out
some
experience
and how
respects, it is
should be able to
performance
with
practice on our side. The
superhuman gets possession
for investigation and power
and
instant the idea of the
of the mind all fitness
credulity swells
of analysis
and
its
most
begins to vanish,
The
utmost capacity.
tencies and absurdities
swallowed whole, and
so
are
glaring
to
inconsis
not discerned and
are
deep is the blindness and
Spirit-Rappings.
70
so
a
extraordinary
in its
character, that we
have
seen
convert made to
of
strength
among
great
a
perversion
were
spiritual rappism upon the
single coincidence selected from
one
of
mass
of truth.
of any
disgusting
Not
mummery and
of the
one
with him ;
importance
discrepancies,
lucky
one
hit
of the rappers and the whole
performance,
raps and all
invested with
supernatural power.
happen, that
the believer in such
Now,
cases
or
were
how does it
does not notice the
incongruities and failures,
does not appear to notice them.
what of
This is
some
psychological phenomenon, but might
explained on the ground of unfairness,
a
well be
any other ;
and
errors,
unfairness is
accompaniment
capacity
for
more
of
than
as
often the
infatuation,
one
idea.
as a
as
as
beginning
mental in
A shrewd person
can, at any
with the
time, take a promiscuous company, and
imposture of rapping, or any other trick,
calculated to divert the
spelling
adopted by
out
more
the Fox
girls,
and
mode of
a
similar
make out
as
as
absurdity.
that
to
many
wonderful and
munications
and
attention,
communications
seemingly supernatural
they, certainly not more of
We
were
once
riding
in
a
or
com
error
stage-
71
Spirit-Rappings.
coach,
with
laid
wager with another that he would tell the
a
of all he
a
won
much
apparently
"
after
gentleman, who,
a
long journey,
To the
of every person in the coach.
occupation
surprise
a
the wager.
hurt,
lady present,
asked how he knew she
was
was, Because I
saw
The
housekeeper."
A
reply
you
your hands to your belt
for
our
frequently putting
the keys.
Many of
nologists,
bling
will
ful
ist
after the
one's
head,
portray
degree
parade
and
a
shrewd itinerant
of
few
had, during
the
measuring
master-key questions,
Our
journey,
a
wonder
stage-coach pythonmotions,
watched the
complexion, conversation, expression of
nance, appearance of the hands, the dress,
counte
in
—
ever
phre
and fum
the life and character with
of accuracy.
—
little circumstance of habit
or
fine,
person, and it
happened judged rightly in each case. It is so
with the phrenologist, who draws his information
so
rappers ;
they
observe
with persons of all
*
It is
from similar sources.*
mostly
carefully,
classes,
and
so
have
with the
experience
generally,
unless
We believe in the fundamental doctrines of
but have
no
faith whatever in this
common
delineating character promiscuously by
alone.
—
Ed.
phrenology,
empirical trade of
the contour of the head
^
Spirit-Rappings.
72
molested
their
by
own
dupes, betray
skill
own
pected
Upon
that
successful
Before
remark
hit
as
and
tell the truth
ex
sometimes.
right
this
might hap
fanaticism, they become
the oracles of Delos and Lesbos.
the
concluding
briefly
to be
but with all the arts and aids of
preparation, credulity,
as
the
especially
surely
hap-hazard conjecture,
occasionally,
pen
in
rappers than their
and it is
should
they
thing
every
visitors,
to these
more
eliminate,
can
mere
Their
way.
have
skeptic,
some
that
a spirit
all
on
our
credence
or
ing
with the
plan
of
subject
rappings
that cannot
occasions,
is
or
we
will not
wholly unworthy
; and
believing, as we do,
that miracles are God's prerogative and all mira
culous power is withheld from evil spirits as militat
ther
respect
investigation
know that
a
of
for
very
communications
our own
large part
subject
vigorously
new
than
of their
no
fur
than to
pretended
;
but
we
the sake of others
should be examined.
late,
The
but unless boldly
assailed it will reappear under
pretension with exacerbations
ever.
needed
erroneous
fever has somewhat abated of
and
we
satisfaction,
grossly
important for
were
have held it to be
that the whole
Revelation,
more
some
virulent
TABLE-TIPPINGS.
This
fallacy
none
the less of
that it is
demands
our
severe
engaged in,
to
most
rigid scrutiny,
reprobation,
a
and
from the fact
great extent, by respect
able and
intelligent persons. The business of
Spiritual Rappings is a sheer and miserable impos
ture, and as the performers are obliged to invent
and manage the
machinery,
or
whatever instru
mentality produces the sounds, there is no possi
bility of their deceiving themselves. The tabletipping is rather a case of delusion, or self-imposi
tion, though there are occasionally actors in this
performance
who
and
betray insincerity,
some
whose actions
How it
give the lie direct to their professions.
happened that Tables were selected for
the demonstrations of
ations of the "new
departed spirits,
fluid,"
4
is
beyond
or
our
the oper
wisdom to
Table-Tippings.
74
pump-handle work
sua sponte, the cradle rock itself, or the coach start
off without horses, as well as tables jump about the
room at the mere imposition of hands, or the be
Why
explain.
should not the
hest of those wonderful personages entitled
diums ?
purpose,
Is there any
or
come, par
history
thing
of
excellence,
the natural and the
in the
the
connecting. link
world ?
spiritual
netism,
haps legs
dancing
"
and
od"
fluid,"
indispensable
are
jumping.
without
a
gradual, slow,
jumping,
the tables
are
and
upon
more
castors,
that it
electricity,
to this
But,
or
between
mag
what not ?
or
and
new
Per
species
of
in many of the
as
best authenticated cases, the table
floor with
shape, material,
table that it should be
a
should be the great reservoir of
"new
me
along the
dignified motion,
moves
especially
we see
as
many of
no reason
why
wheels should not be better than
coaches will not do
for the
as
well,
or
legs, and why
better, than tables
friction is much less than the
rolling
sliding friction, and carriages could be made very
light for this particular purpose. These tipping
—
magicians are not very fruitful in expedients or
they would have attempted long ago the specula-
75
Table-Tippings.
tion of
a
new
line
of spiritual
roads, propelled by
But to the
that
pings
had become
heard
We
a
the
under
informed, by
was
table-tip-
we
came
persons of
we
the table
high intelligence,
participated in
and
force, celerity,
and
joined
in connection with the
table,
began
had
to witness it.
that when several persons
hands around this
which
one
and of which
eye-witnesses,
experiments,
medium,
notice
our
great deal before
were
with
One of the first
quite celebrated,
who had been
on common
mediums.
point.
came
coaches
to
move
about the
apparent life.
cible resistance could not
room
That for
stop it, and that the
performers were hardly able to keep up with its
motion.
That, on the same occasion, heavy bodies
were lifted from the floor by the mere superposi
tion of hands, without grasping ; in other words,
that by laying the hand upon a heavy article, and
raising
the
the
floor,
hand,
were men
endowments and
city,
weight lifted itself from
and followed the motion of the hand.
Our informants
and
the dead
men
legal questions
of
high standing,
general intelligence,
opinions were worth
men
whose
and matters of state.
of
of
high
vera
much in
Oh ! what
Table-Tippings.
76
and
development was here. Adieu ye
Levers, Screws, Wedges, Pulleys, Screw and
a
discovery
Lever -Jacks,
Steam, Gas,
and all other
and
Boom
and
and every kind of
Electricity
chanical,
Cranes
Engine,
Powers, Fire, Air,
and
Horse
Water,
Me
Magnetism, Chemical,
ALL SUBSERVIENT
AGENCIES,
and
AND
all, Adieu !
of matter ; all
Derricks,
-
ONE
Mind has subverted the laws
philosophy is merged in spirituality,
all-potent, all-suffi
and volition has become the
cient, all-pervading
power ; the crazy and
seekers after
perpetual
master
of the age, and
have'
levity
spirits
given
way to two
at
our
contradiction,
related."
have
ance
new
and non-resistance.
laughed
we
motion
It is well
never
they
and gave them
had not
conviction
yet known any
against
seen
of
one
our
here,
we
flat
a
what
of remark
to take serious offence at
that there is
and friction
controlling principles,
worthy
contradictions upon this
mind,
gravity
Suffice it to say,
informants,
"that
pitiable
become the
are
they
that
acquaint
positive
the most
proof, to our
a secret, deep-seated, smothered
the
these manifestations.
subject,
reality
—
and
a
genuineness
A curious element of
of
our
Table-Tippings.
composition
it
that honest
is,
77
find
men
difficulty in deceiving themselves, and
or no
umbrage at being charged with
deception.
Imbued
deeply
ourselves with
chant for novelties upon every
mination to
of this
inquire
ferret
new
out the
wonder,
we
ardent pen
and
a
came
tedious
tially
the
have taken occasion to
country,
and
made,
to
We heard substan
disgust.
story from all ;
viz.,
that the tables
and moved about "without visible
agency,"
and yet, in almost every case, upon close
body
cross-examination,
we
had hands upon the table
of its
gambols.
for
minded persons
so
propels
before.
we
have
unfair and
in any way the
or
some
the whole
during
never
oblique
Not that the fiend
either the conscience
sifting
found that
the devil has to do ivith
Surely
table -tippings,
subject
we
although the time may
profitably spent, the inquiry be
even
same
and careful
deter
readers that
thus have been
tipped
little
this kind of
of persons, from all parts of the
our
so
extraordinary pretensions
where these exhibitions have been
assure
take
an
subject,
little
no
tables,
the
seen
on
honest-
any other
tips, kicks,
but that he
judgment
to
a
or
tips
deplo-
>
78
Table-Tippings.
rable extent to sustain the cheat.
In every
inquiry
investigation we have found gross and weak
exaggeration, and have fully resolved that we will
maintain, to the last extremity, the position of
unqualified, uncompromising denial and opposition,
and
to the
of
highest testimony of earth,
table-tipping s, spirit-rappings,
as
or
to the
verity
any kindred
chicanery of miraculous or spiritual purport. We
much gratified recently at the remark of an
experienced friend, that "he would not believe
were
these
things,
There
eyes."
if he
even
was
saw
them with his
meaning in the remark.
testimony of others to
would not admit the
an
and he would not trust
anomaly,
himself,
if he should
give
all of
religion
sense,
these
and bible
was
way to the conviction
teaching,
body.
us, "we don't
cannot
Mr.
A.,
see
discredit
Dr.
com
exploded by
endless per
new
to any
science,
and all of
to be contravened and
manifestations, promising
plexity, confusion, crime, and insanity,
good
He
such
believe
or
that all of mathematical and mechanical
mon
own
Our friends
how these
the
and
repeatedly
no
say to
things can be, but
opinion and testimony
we
of
B., Prof. C, Rev. Mr. D., Judge E.,
79
Table-Tippings.
Hon. Mr.
such
is this
a
why
far
we
black,
all
as
we
yours ?
do not
we
"
Our
plain an
black is white,
reverential, position
same
It
was
With all
preach
privilege
that "even
Paul,
in
an
be accursed if he
for he well knew that
heaven could not
testimony
strong, though
a
any other doctrine than that which
preached,"
our
from whatever source,
of St.
angel from heaven would
expect
take the
testimony,
similar character.
impugn
should not their word in
tell you that
; and
regarded
repudiating
of
as
if
:
and white is
to be
and
testimony,
this matter go
swer
"We think it hard to
&c."
F.,
preached
he, Paul, had
an
angel
from
any other.
reverence we
say
it,
we
feel
a
sort of
inspiration upon the laws of reaction, gravity, and
friction, based upon- the experience of every mo
ment of remembered life, that compels us to reject
peremptorily the testimony of our best friends, of
the most
distinguished
the most exalted
by
the
mere
effort of the
and credible persons,
intellects,
superposition
will,
a
table
or
of
they tell us that
hands, or by the
when
of
moves
off
by itself,
or
lifts itself from the floor without visible agency.
There
are
several individuals in this
place,
our-
Table-Tippings.
80
selves among the
who have
number,
agreed
to
give
two thousand dollars to any person who will show
to
such
us
entirely
a
feat
We feel
performed by a table.
offer, and moreover
think it
safe in the
prudent, in case we should deposit the money, to
deposit it in a Savings Bank paying interest, for
otherwise the money
idle for
whole lifetime.
there
might be lying
might hesitate, if
We
the remotest chance of
dinary
appearances upon any
but the fact
science,
or
have,
our
and
we
human
absurdity
say,
body
Yes !
has
thunder-clouds ;
told,
corporeal,
they
do ;
for the first
and
time,
and,
than
fifty-
that the
magnets and
this,
that
no
reg
attraction, propulsion or
marvellous, new, nervous,
or
governs this
not, but that it is
they always
in the year of
analogous
carneous
and mag
here,
eight hundred
more
all
without visible agen
powers to
ular law of traction
repulsion,
of science ;
their very front.
But
thousand
must be
on
move
ivill.
always
one
principle
gravity, electricity,
bodies to
connection.
Lord
three,
some
cause
such extraor
assertions contravene
these
is,
and bear
We hear
netism
cies
explaining
a
were
power,
subject
odylic force,
to all the
or
what
anomalous,
Table-Tippings.
81
and vicious directions and governance
capricious
of human volition.
We have too much
ophy,
or
contempt for odylic philos
any such chimera
discuss it here.
or
stop and
vagary, to
We have for
twenty years,
eveT
since the revival of
and
Slumbering Mesmerism, by
Lowell, Mass., made diligent inquiry
Poyen,
patient, persevering effort to obtain from among
the
great
Dr.
of
lution of
of mesmeric
mass
evidence of
a new
principle,
performances
force, or any
new
sensorial agency into
nervous or
reso
physical
body,
power other than that of
a
and have
the most faint indications
never
of any such
yet
nervous
logists pretend
seen
power
mind upon its
some
as
to unfold to
force that acts exterior
own
these modern
us.
What !
psycho
a nervous
to, and independent of, its
rightful fulcrum ? that propels
masses heavier than the body corporate, without
rending the latter in twain ? Of one thing we
tenement and
own
new-fangled philosophy is a
poisonous, though covert fang, secretly gnawing
feel
at
assured,
that this
the very root of Christian faith.
bold
sally
tineau
in that
respecting
coarse
our
proposition
It made
a
of Miss Mar-
Saviour's miracles
—
too
coarse
Table-Tippings.
82
indeed to meet with favor
a
less offensive and
"
;
Bible
(always
prerogatives
control of human
theologian
now
assails,
sophistical garb, of
explain a mystery
infidel effort),
an
acles and God's
and
more
to
seeking
force
—
reason
and to
"
under
odylic
of
bring
the
mir
within the scope and
We ask any
and action.
who may incline to
apply
such tests to
performance, if he sup
poses that if the mountain had removed, and been
cast into the sea, at the bidding of the disciple
the solution of miraculous
(with
ciple
faith
mustard-seed), that dis
the source of the propelling
of
grain
a
as
would have been
power, and felt
proportion
fatigue, depression,
to the
mass
at the call of
Joshua,
still upon its
axis,
the
"
can
Give
move
me a
place
plastic,
when
orb of earth stood
recoiled,
upon poor Joshua's brain ?
;"
whereon to
ductile
propel
Od,
one
or
by
and I will
largest
any other
sophistry,
the earth
sensorial agency of
stand,
but who upon the
pretext of mesmeric
arrest and
huge
If,
accept the proposition of Archimedes
the world
tude of
or
all
reaction in
the vast momentum
through odylic ether,
We
or
to be removed ?
lati
principle
would venture tc
the
odylic,
nervous,
of its little creatures, held
83
Table-Tippings.
to its
centre
indomitable
by
Perchance
gravity.
it may be reasoned that from Joshua's cerebral
fountain there issued
psychological fluid,
or
sence,
into space
and
earth,
caused the
—
whose
is the
attempt
prerogative,
times, though
God's
to
said,
his miracles
Of
were
the Bible ! while
the wise and
faith, simplicity
thy
"
I
prefaced
prudent
and
explain
a
mir
in
not above human command
myself
thy
! how hazard
interposition
ways and forever above human ken.
"
es
mighty gushing
huge
the mill-wheel,
upon the touchstones of prayer and
himself
odylic
to the momentum of
reacting, like water in
great sphere to stop. Oh
God's
former
equal
was
impious,
ous, yea
acle
vast stream of
a
word
can
do
Our Saviour
nothing,"
with prayer.
stands,
shall not
and
God of
the wisdom of
prevail
common-sense
al
faith, yet
over
the
philosophy
of
Babes."
painful and humiliating to see the efforts
of certain prominent men publicly advocating the
genuineness of these manifestations, and especially
It is
so
when
and
we
consider the character of the assertions
arguments brought forward in support of their
doctrines.
One of the most recent and
striking
is
Table-Tippings.
84
Mr.
this.
through
Calhoun's
spirit
the Fox mediums
on
to the
as
spiritual manifestations, replies,
stituted to prove to the
tality
of
harmony among
that
they
the
of these
are
"
in
immor
propagate peace and
Hear
men."*
consulted
object
unbelieving
soul, and to
the
being
it,
all
Christendom,
readers and hearers of the Word !
The
great conflict and triumph of the Gospel is
to be
believers,
crowned
by
logists, or,
the deductions of these
rather,
as a more
the Word of God is to be
new
Fox
theo-
legitimate inference,
superseded
and must
give place to the higher manifestations of Ro
spirit-rappings and table-tippings. It is
less than a denial of the sufficiency of revela
now
chester
no
tion for the very purpose for which it
ed,
and
denying
other reasons,
ments,
aside,
now
taken
denies the whole.
suspicions
rapping
a
intend
All
arguments, developments, experi
doubts,
this
this it
was
decided
and
manifestations
tipping theology has
and hostile stand against
and
conspicuous writer, in giving an account of
great communication from the great spirit of Mr. Cal
houn, says, its spiritual character was confirmed by the
rising of the table from the floor, and other wonderful signs.
C G. P., Ed.
*A recent
this
—
Table-Tippings.
the
Bible,
and
as
plainly
and
fully
many words.
teach of the
as
The Bible is discarded
as
if it had been uttered in
so
In vain does
sorcery and
against
does it pronounce
"
cept
that
from the
dead,"*
light
of
legerdemain.
in vain
against
is of
private
though
one
an
rose
in vain have been the Bible socie
and
spread Christianity,
new
its
in vain its pre
Scripture
"would not believe
ties, missionary
the
of
"
are
in vain does it declare that
interpretation,"
unbeliever
witchcraft,
pretensions,
prophecy
no
in vain*
Anathema Maranatha
additions to its divine
"
Holy Writ every where
immortality of the soul,
maledictions
Hear
such it must be treated.
and mark it well !
it,
85
"
But
all the
all
Bochester
why
efforts to
mighty
is to be blotted out before
knockings
should
we
"
and Fox
indulge
in ap
peals, tirades, irony, or satire, knowing all the while
that we have positive demonstrations yet to pre
sent of the utter fallacy of table-tippings ; proofs
irrefragable of the mundane, mortal, corporeal,
*
The actual reappearance of dead
sona,
was
declared
by the Almighty
Dives, in propria per
inadequate to convince
as
that for Gentiles the presence
unbelieving
Jews ; but it
of the
without the body is all-sufficient.
spirit
seems
—
Ed.
Table-Tippings.
86
muscular character
physical,
We have
and
for
witches
fanatics,
dupes,
cases
facts
quire
an
not
all-puissant
to the first
and
case
of
performances
scientific friend to
sprightly
sincerity might
was a
quarter,
sure
be
to
and in such
weapons, and
re
demonstrations will be
our
trust conclusive.
we
notice, having
are
and
With the candid and
auxiliary guard.
wavering, however,
nary
devils
wizards,
impudent pretext,
some
are
appreciated,
our
and
to encounter fools
demonstrations of fact
denied upon
the
we are
?
table-tippings
must assail in every vulnerable
we
even
If
our reasons.
of
table-tipping
Reverting
that
came
under
heard much of the extraordi
went in company with
we
see
The medium
for ourselves.
whose
girl,
young
a
reputation
for
have been her dearest treasure.
The wonderful feats of this medium were recounted
to us, and
brief
we
longed
conversation,
(about
table,
half
our
she with another young
medium) placed
friend
joining
hands upon
the circle.
right
hand of
the left hand of the other.
After
were so
table
placed,
began
After
for the verification.
that the
to move.
This
was
a
a
lady,
small
Their hands
one
a
concealed
while,
the
natural, certainly,
87
Table-Tippings.
for
noticed that this medium
we
hard with her concealed hand
her mother
"
said,
You
mother,
are
I'm not
What
a
made
by
of
saw
this,
not
for she
comment
was
us
"
No, indeed,
lightly I press !"
upon the recital just
how
all this
her mother to
?"
now
see
;
from her seat and
rose
tricking,
tricking
working very
to move it.
Perhaps
was
of the
astonishing
moving heavy dining-tables, tearing
feats
up the
car
pets, moving pianofortes, &c. ! Our friend beginning
to
suspect the voluntary character of this motion
of the
made
table,
possessed of far greater strength),
stopped moving. But this was not
We detected upon the countenance of the
medium
ther,
an
expression
a more
not to
very
of
disappointment,
palpable striving
in consequence of this
late,
fingers
that he was
and the table
all.
counter effort with his
than that of the medium for the
(better concealed
reason
a
suspect.
to
resistance,
All this
seems
move
and fur
the
table,
which she seemed
too farcical to
re
of this
yet the superhuman performances
medium had been described to us by eye-wit
and
highest respectability as marvellous,
and astounding in the extreme, and our principal
informant was a gentleman well known for his asnesses
of the
Table-Tippings.
88
tuteness, had
some
mathematics,
lent work upon
fied
years back
the average of learned
as
by
several
His
and what is all other
aerial
move
the table.
of paper
as
on
was
of paper moved
and
over
although
develope
cavil.
We
attempts by
till
some
we
testimony
it all worth ?
worth upon this
hand,
the
and
as soon
while the table
table-top,
in such
a
shape
is, however,
the
it in such form
witnessed,
after
as
that it may be
elementary key,
We
all-sufficient in itself.
us
ever,
and
was
desired to move, behold the sheet
cavilled at, yet it
and to
was
Here is the demonstration of this fal
stood still.
lacy,
and what
the table under her
the table
testimony
Perhaps we are mis
effort made by this medium to
We placed a sheet
Let us see !
to the
as
quali
of tables ?
vaulting
taken
excel
all witnesses of the
others,
highest respectability,
as
to observe and
men
decide upon such matters.
confirmed
an
well
published
and was
to be
this,
applied
our
how
beyond
all
many abortive
mediums and others to
other attempts that
will,
began
move
to
tables,
succeed,
mechanical tests, when the
new
fluid, electricity, magnetism, nervous power, odylic
force, all resolved themselves into muscular action,
Table-Tippings.
and the tables
As to tables
touched,
and
moved unless
never
moving
challenge proof
to the
never
invariably found
ums were
not
done,
exaggerations,
the story to be that the medi
moving it, but merely had their hands
"lightly" upon it.
pings by the sheet
occasion
been
contrary.
We have traced up many such
and
clearly pushed.
being
in any way without
repeat that it has
we
89
told,
After
we
of paper,
that paper
was
had baffled the
we were
a
on
tip
another
non-conductor of
electricity,
agent had any thing to
do with it, the paper
might intercept the action.
Willing to indulge the whim we substituted for
and that if this
the paper the instrument
represented
well known
ruler.
as
the
parallel
in
Fig. 1,
It is
simply a
(a),
(b) (b),
which
it
The
rests.
upon
slightest pressing for
ward of the fingers upon the ruler (a) causes it to
glide easily forward upon the table. Of course
flat ruler
the result
furnished with four rollers
was
the
same as
with the paper.
Upon
.
Table-Tippings.
90
the
invoking
spirits,
moved upon the
ought
table,
the paper
If, then,
or
the
will,
the ruler
while the table stood fast.
moved,
and the ruler
moved,
not to infer that the friction between the
we
and the paper
fingers
exerting
or
the
fingers
and the ruler
greater than the friction between the paper
was
and the table
Cer
the ruler and the table ?
or
It must be remembered here that
tainly.
rule of
to press
tipping is,
with the
Ought
fingers.
paper and the ruler
or
we
were
touch very
the
lightly
not to infer that the
the
pushed by
hand,
since the hands followed them in their motion ?
upon the
Certainly,
go ; but these
even
this
new
inference,
common
philosophers
both hand and paper.
moves
satile,
vicarious agent
odd
it is
and
an
we
odd,
now
we
a
ual medium.
or
our
positive
given
the
mode of
cure
or
forth,
od.
tippers
full
us
odylic
A most
power is this
ver
Well,
swing,
Fig. 2 is
annihilating odylic
quietus.
for the
malady of spirit
Let the bodies of the
diums be fastened
way back
or
have
administer, their
illustration of
power and
will not allow
and maintain that the
power
as
doctrine of touch and
tippers
or me
restrained from motion in any
and then let their
arms
be
Table-Tippings.
91
stretched
straight out, as shown in the figure, and
locked, superposed, or placed in any
they please upon the table. Sitting with
their hands
way
the breast
a
closely against
convenient way of
tion.
will,
the back of the chair is
restraining
Now let them invoke the
let them cry out and
howl,
the forward
spirits,
Belial won't come,
the table won't move, for all the mediums of
and
passive
mo
exert the
earth,
matter holds true to her law of inertia.
If the table should be moved towards
be
seen
keeping
that if the
their
arms
position,
be
them, it will
kept straight, the hands
will appear to
move
over
Table-Tippings.
92
We take
the table.
this
and
discovery,
that
men
of
to
apply
credit to ourselves for
have been much
men
or
have
The very first
table-tipping
thing
was
to arrest
the fact
our
that
lightly they pressed)
mechanical tests.
that any mortal in
move a
table,
attention in
the hands
moved
but,
If any medium
we
possession
or
we
tipper
can
glad
employ him,
mechanical agent, to
tude of ways, the
operations
always
suggested
of his senses, should
And yet it is so,
gainsay
so no more.
this demon
to hear from
at
overcome
The traders and merchants
(no
strange it is
trust, it will be
should be
would like to
*
How
and not know it !
it has been so,
stration,
solve
test of mechanics to
with the table back and forth ; and this
once our
thought
never
*
this mystery.
at
surprised
of mechanical minds who
table-tippings
rule
some
matter how
we
science,
have witnessed
some
of
a
him, and
high salary, as a
for us, in
a
gravity and
generally
multi
friction.
must have
a
These experiments were made in
February and March,
1853, and, since the above was written, we are pleased to find
that Faraday has taken the matter in
hand, and pursued a
course of
investigation similar to our own.
Table-Tippings.
>f these
caio
the scales with
they
can
We
have, however,
one
any
be
a
tip
will
in
tippers; for,
no
93
and
buying
more ease
doubts
to the
as
results,
try these experiments fairly.
of
selling,
than tables.
if
It will
some of those honestchagrin
who
have
all
tippers,
along been believing
the spirits tipped the table, and that they
in reality holding communion with their de
cause
to
minded
that
were
parted friends.
be the result of
If
a
we
prove the
table-tipping
muscular movement,
to
need
we
not dwell upon the
psychological phenomena of
the extraordinary coincidences, messages, &c. They
all referable to that
are
Infatuation,
memory
tion
peculiar
under which
quickened,
predominant,
judgment
sensitiveness
and
condition of
is
mind,
suspended,
exalted, imagina
involuntary
actions
in
duced.
In
concluding this work, we remark that our
investigations have fastened error, mercenary mo
tives, imposture, and illusion upon those doings, so
Table-Tippings.
94
far
as
they
have
opportunities
under
come
spects the rappings, for they
who
girls,
were
of
rappings
we
effectually prevented
and
error
subterfuge they
tippings
their
are
rapping
but it is
enough
but,
resort to
not
us as
upon close
within the
for
have
day
in
day
ours
improve,
one
sur
their
covert retreats ;
upon
some
our
new
theory,
wonderful
as
ever
performances
been heard of elsewhere ;
have all
proved
conception.
assume
different
to be
Doubtless
shapes
from
place to place, and the performances
England, France,
from
or
and
the
to know that it will be still
of human
all these tricks will
to
us
sifting, they
pale
as
approaches
more
explicable
We have had
related to
driven from
find another ; and
may hereafter contrive
girls
mode of
trick.
with the Fox
rapping.
and falsehood
soon
hiding places, they
a
re
suffice it to say,
and,
;
veillance of truth and science
and these
Our
as
the leaders in this whole business
were
When
observation.
our
have been of the best land
and
Germany,
and from each other.
in order to sustain their
may all differ
The tricks must
pecuniary value,
bolster reputation ; and however successful and
Table-Tippings.
95
impenetrable they may become, they
less
tricks,
and have
If any
new
deems that he hath
one
beyond jugglery,
power
will welcome him with
if
we
good,
in
a
baffled,
are
and cannot make
profession
long practice, preparation,
and
we
our
have
position
specified
have the
advantage of
confederacy ; but
prize, if they will
and
can.
We have
at
we
Those who make
and claim the
come
any
close examination ; and
a
previous part of this work.
let them
or
let him come, and
he shall have the reward
these tricks their
the
are none
origin.
a
spirit,
one common
recently
table-tipping,
made than the
though
we
mere
had rather
we
have
only
(or
think
they
idea of the
heard of
some
in which other
preparations
superposition
see
refined tricks
of hands.
them than hear of
to say to those who may
see
them),
supernatural,
Divest
see
yourselves
were
Al
them,
them
of all
any
fluid,
whatever,
and, regarding the per
property
formance either as a trick or case of illusion, scru
tinize sharply every movement and circumstance
in connection, and you will find that either the
law,
or
or
new
or new
96
Table-Tippings.
table does not move,
or, if it does move, you will
see what actuates it.
Remember !
there
trolling and controllable, agents that
table from the floor; but the action
of
the
mere
superposition
of
THE
hands,
END.
are
can
the
never !
con
raise
will,
a
or
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