The Yazoo Democrat., 1852-12-22
L H DE M OCRAT T
PHILLIPs & PERKINS, EDIroas
coMMUNIcATED
spirituaI Esappings continuca.

coaMUMcATED.
Spiritual Rappings Continued.
MEssRs. EDrroRs AT your request we vii
devote a minute to examining this vexed sub
ject and furnish the result of our investigations
promising that such has not been as satisfactor,
to us as had wished. We determined tC
unfold the mystery, to unroli the Gordian knot
but Alexander like, are forced to use our sword
or leave the task to the spirits of the old schoasii
eism which spurns Iabonous investigation, and
slow induction, satisfied that our young philos
ophy needs nending much before we convince
the world that these rappings are simple of ex-
planation, or subjects unfit for the disciples OF
Alexander, of Halls, of Thomas Aquinas, or
Dunscotus, to couple with their studies. To
! account for them, we have wrought many pret-
| ty theories, and have been charmed as each re-
vealed its beauties to our mind We have
dreamed them over and again, dwelling with
pride upon our ingenuity, sed efcee, the comely
air-castes have disappeared, or have been eclips-
ed by Others of more summing truth,
Yet, as the snow fake delicate,
They're vanquished by a single ray
AT one time we are ready to exclaim with one
of old, Eureka Eureka !" as we reach forth TO
grasp the key, but, wil-with- the-,visp like. it
evades our touch, and the lovely flowers OF i'm
agination are left to wither on the waste of
memory.
Now for our experiments. and conclusions
Is the rapping the result of ricketts, in the table
Is it the effect of electricity? Is it the result
of Animal Magnetism? and if the result of either,
can it be explained upon known principles
In answer to the first, we unhesisatingly say
no, since we cannot believe that such would
have escaped the reseach-of the learned, nor arc
we willing to offer them such indignity, or at
tribute TO them such an over share of credulity
notwithstanding it is the opinion Of some learn
ed gentlemen who have investigated the subject
quite as we have DONE One feels certain that
rickets in the table is quite satisfactory an
swer, and thinks that the rappings cannot be
produced by contact on a solid stick Of timber
of any size, and as wood is a conductor Of sound
they ought to be heard with as much distinct
ness as when made on a table or other sonorous
body. Sound is the result of vibration we adj
NIT, and wood is elastic enough to transmit it
but the gentleman who makes this suggestion,
takes it for granted that those who differ with
him. attribute the rappings TO spiritual, or actual
manifestations, which we positively disclaim
as the sequel will show
We admit wood to be good conductor OF
sound when produced by forcibfe contact of
some other body, but artifcers have yet to learn
that solid blocks are the best for Violins or Cult
ars, or that he would not be laughed at, who
would apply his ear to plank road, and expect
TO hear the fury of thunderstorm at a great
distance.
The noise or rappings may not be heard so
distinctly on a solid mass, as on more sonorous
body, from the fact, that shape, as we'll as alb
sence of weight, has no little influence over its
sonofiousness.
Again, we have placed our hands on the table,
with hers placed on them Now, if the rappings
were made by ricketts, in the table, we having our
hands IN immediate contact Nth 1t, bewideredI
would we be indeed, if we should fail then to
detect her in attempts to produce the noises, by
moving the same, since, in this position they
are as distinct, as when her own rested on it.
Is it the effect of electricity2 As far as we cam
Judge, it cannot possibly be such, since they con-
tinued after we had isolated the table by stand
ing it in four glass trlmblers. We then placed
her chair on four pieces of glass, expecting to-
put stop to it, but as signally failec leaving
the medium and table both on the glasses, we
proceeded next to place pane of glass between
her hands and the table, after which, to our as
tonishment, they Were quite as distinct as when
no auo7l-conductor was used to break the current
Is it the result of Animal Magnetism, or Mes
n1erism? We think it is, as can be shown by
an article of some length. Animal Magnetism
is an agent of peculiar and mysterious nature,
having powerful influence on the subject when
acted upon by contact, or voluntary emotion on
the part of the operator. Its existence has-been
established by the declarations of hundreds of
truthful men, who have witnessed its effects as
demonstrated for some months past. Those
who have witnessed its practice, declare and as
sert that the subject magnetized, beholds the
most distant objects. propia persona, but with
the minds eye of the operator, who at his pleas
ure perverts the taste, nay, all the Senses to suit
his fancy, the magnetized being entirely subject
to his will. He takes with him the subjects
mind, or sends it by his volition to the most dis
tant countries, where it describes with perfect
correctness, the locality, the shape the plot the
landscapes, the city, ahl the very hearth stones
as he, the operator, saw them last. This is done
though the wide ocean is spread between-spact
is annihiated or reaches only TO the impress lef
on the brain of the operator When these facts
are considered land there are few better attested
cannot orr credulitv be stretched little farther