Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-04-30
From the Carpul-Bag,
SPIRITUAL IaAPPENGS.

MEssRs EDS On the questions which have
been so much agitated of late, relative to the
communications of spirits with men, by means
OF knocks, or raps, it has been my policy here
to, to preserve q profound silence The eXpla-
nation of Professor Darius Dump satisfied me
that there was something in ~ nor let any one
say, that "therc is a screw loose in my mental
constitution" even if admit, and 60 on to prove
that is great deal in it, | shall state TO the pub
lie facts from my own experience, as they oc-
CURED, without using abstruse or technical
terms, unless ! cen find no synonym in the YER
nacuar.
On the night of the 18th of January, 1862
the weather being intensely cold directed two
ordinary junk bottles, filed with hot water to be
placed in contact with my feet, when horizon
| taiIed fo7 somnolort reposc. My domestic
placed them in their proper position, both filled
with qua Fonts, at 2l2 degrees Fahrenheit
On placing the soles OF pedal ex;remitics in con
tact with the bottles, became aware ola sudden
and violent repusion, which caused my head to
rap or rather thwack against the head board, and
at the same time saw sparks like stars, which
| conjecture were electrical. Regardless Of
pain or personal Inconvenience where q scien-
ti!ic principle is concerned, repeated the exper-
ment three several times, and saw stars as often
az my head came into contac: with the head
board. have since satisfied myself that these
s!ags or sparks We're detached optical Illusions.
The first step in every thing is discovered by
chance and not by reflection" as Madame De
Stael remarks in her "Inlucnce of Literature.
| had by chance taken one step in the right d.
reCtion. The glass bottles had communicated
positive electricity to my fect-ofco my head
was negative This consideration convinced me
thui was a medium. After revolving the mat
ter mentally for weeks, | proceeded to expert.
ment, alone in my study. took common
writing desk, with an inclined top or upper suT-
face On this, placed common india rubber
ball, and concentrated all my faculties, | wjiled
it u roll down the slope. The experiment sue
coeded-tha ball rolled down with an accelerated
motion, and at ieagth dropped upon the floor,
where it performed series of raps in a truly
wonderful mpnner. The ,ciu, then, iIad same
thing to do in the mattor-but how much
was not clear Oh this point, SO | proceeded 10
further trials.
| found that diet had great effect upon the
medium-icai power. An umaEam Of meat and
potatoes, eaten warm, causes large Getaclmeuts
of kyanizcd electricity. Picked ghorkins pro-
duce staccato raps, when the will Of the medium
is reflected from a bright tin basin. Slippery
tIll - NtIN Ihh OTdOiS. dC iHtuulN SuOu!u al
ways have piece in his mouth,-or in default
OF this, any thing else which is slippery is better
than nothing. Tapoca produces loud taps
Green cheese is, however the best diet for a reg
u.ar medium. | have known this to procure sat
istactory responses when all other means had
failed. would by no means recommend At
dent spirits. They produce dangerous raps whose
effects extend beyond the control Of the opera
tor Those who like fish diet are referred to
the book of Tobt,-but that is apocryphal.-
Gooscti,h, however, leads to highly singular
ana convincing results and the same may be
said Of tlat-tiso, only as these have no SouHd the
r6ps, in this case, are wholly imaginary. Toma-
to ketchup made Of dried apples, will sometimes
procure responses Of remarkable truthtuluess
| once tried the effect of Sausages--no raps fol-
lowed but distinctly heard dog barking III the
distance.
On the lst of March instant, | dincd entirely
on green cheese, and Immediately before rising
from the table, inquired as there any spirit pre-
sent which will communicate with me ?" heard
loud raps under the table. as it Galcn :" Nc
answer. "Is it Tssot :" No answer. "Is il
DR. Sangrado ?' Loud raps followed forthwith
Did Gil Bass tell the truth about your mode o
practice p Raps. "Can you tell me whore t.
find the lost decades of Iivy ?" Raps. "Whert
are they y ain the cave of Momccristo,' an
swercd the spirit audby. "Obs1p1G, Steterun
t9ue came, ct ror )2ucjbuS hd sit" OF course
| conld ask no more questions. shall, on
future occasion, detail what happened whcr
Mcsdamc La Bryot used my services as me-
dunn. Yours. &c,
Il. GOETHE, DIGG, L. G.