Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-07-08
From tho London Leader.
Table Moving Explained.
By VIVIAN.

around a small table, with their hands resting on
it, each little fngertouching that.o Il hand be-
longing to neghbor, after lapse of about ten
or fifteen minutes, the table will commence slow
circular movement, which becomes rapidly accele-
rated, and forces the persons to follow this fact,
we say, is indsputable.
But what does this factimply? What is the ex-
PLANTATION of the seeming marvel2 Have 1--WE here
the revelation OF anew agency orsst ht fact re
terrible to well-known agencies2 The question,
is not without its Importance; not only from the
inerest now following the subject, and tie emf
hence of the names which countenance The alb
surd theories thrown off in explanation, but also
from the light which it may shed on many very
delicate questions of organic action and of popu-
lar credulity. tits high time that those who pre-
tend to lead opinion, through the press, should
vigorously examine this matter, when journal
like the Literary Gazette, which has high scientific
pretenSions, can print, without dlsayowal, an
article by of its contributors wherein the fol-
lowing passage occurs. Abiding to the men who
have borne public testimony to the fact the writer
renla, ks:- -2.s7 t12f
"These gentlemen are not gulible fools easily
imposed on; and it is not TO be supposed for one
moment that they would deliberately tell fashoods
for the sake OF imposing on the public. We hare
then the established fact, that the electricity from
the human body can, to speak, animate Illuminate
substances, and glue life, and it may almost be said
intelligence, to inert rood. This is evidently one
of those things not dreamt of in philosophy
of which the poet spoke. The speculations to
which it has given rise are very curious. Some
people will have it that It is nothing less than
marked advance towards the DISCOVERY of the great
and mysterious secretof aDhat composes human life,
or al least that 1t IS the opening of wider and
nobler field of human knowledge than any now
possessed; whilst others opne that it is sort of
unconscious magic, and hence they assume that
the art OF the Baptista Portas and the Michael
SCOTS was not only no imposture, ancestors
and ourselves have sagey decided, but the great
est OF all artS-the most wonderful OF all sciences
So convinced is one of the principal daily papers
that something extraordinarily great is destined TO
mn attSI1o
1t may be, that it has resolved to set apart
tain portion OF its space daily TO records of what
may be done i'll it,
Very instructive, and not little amusing is it
to noe in the foregoing passage the almost univer-
sal tendency to confound facts with inlerences.-
The fact observed is, that tables moves the infer
ence that 1t is moved by "elecricity' is supposed
to be Established" by the fact and away the
theorlst flies into the "immen. inane" of specu-
lation. a-
Cautious thinkers will cry, '.Not so fast All
that IS at present esta bshed is the simple fact of
| table (oI hat, for both objects are in favor)
moving when a-chaln is formeI by persons round
1t. When we come to interrogate the meaning of
this fact, we shall require something more than
the rash assertion OF seecltcity'-a word always
dragged in to cloak ignorance, and always more
used by those entirely ignorant of electricity,
than those acquainted with some of its propertes,'
The table moves. 1t may be moved by spirits;
1t may be moved by electricity; it may be moved
| by The unconscious muscular action of persons
forming the chain round 1T. Here are three expla-
nations, not TO suggest more which the investIga.
tor may severaly examine.
l. Spirits Table-moving issued out of spirit
rapplng. Indeed we may claim the first article
published in this journal as the origin; for it was
owing to the Translation of that article in Germa-
ny, and the sensation there excited Ly it, that Dr.
Andree hrst commenced his experiments of table
moving; from Germany it spread rapidly to Paris
and London. Those who believe in the spirit
ralplngs, will have no difficulty in assigning a
cause 10 the ble.moving; but for more curious
thinkers there will be these diifculteS:-First the
er'Stence OF the spirits requires proof; secondly,
their presence requires S, Inc more definite proof
than lies IN an assumption. Indeed, it should be
stated here, 10 exonerate the sensible people who
occupy themselves with the new phenomenon,
mat the table moving has no necessary ccnnex-
ION with Sprt-rapping, and is investigated by hun
d eds who are fully aware ofthe ignobe imposture
practised under tie title OF spiritual manifesto
Mons: Aswe are OF the latter, we may dismiss
tins hIst explanation without further discussion.
2. Electricity. This is more plausible, and en-
traps all but those accustomed 10 scientific analy-
SIS. But we are bound to call attention to the
following poltrts:-First, there is absolutely no
proof OF the existence of the current of electricity
passing from human beings to the table; it is a
pure assumption, made to oyeraIch the chaSm of
ignorance. Secondly, although what is called
netve-iorce has many striking anaogies with cleo
irlcty yet every well psychologist knows
that the identity of the two forces far from being
proven is in the present state of SCIENCE to be re-
lected. Thus you have to prove the existence of
It, you have to prove that its mode of opeTtion is
that which you assumed For, era nting at nerve
force is electricity, have still 10 learn that this
electricity passes i'll stream from our fingers 10
the table; we have still to learn that electricity
when 1t passes into table hat, makes that la
BILE or that hat gyrate. These are difficulties
which will prevent the scientific mind from nc
cepung electrical agency. AT present the CUES
ton stands thuS:-The table moves; by no kn0,rn
laws of electricity physiology can this move
ment be explained as electrical; and 10 Suppose
that the movement itself is the proof is 10 indIye
IN the most vicious circular reasoning by Which an
assumption is made 10 demonstrate the validity of
| the assumption.
| B. Unconscious muscular action. Instead of un-
proven ''spirts' and questionable ''electricity,"
It would seem more natural 10 Try the simpler ex-
planation of unconscious muscular action did we
MT know that in such cases the simple explnna-
tor is always the last 10 be thought Of Appetite
ior the marvellous will not be arDeaSed by com.
nionphces' Let'us, however, inquire little more
closely into this said muscular action, and see If
we cannot, by the aid of known laws, explain all
the phenomena.
In standing or sitting round table for many
minutes, with the hands lightly resting on it, and
the NINA eagerly eIpeetdnt, the fatigue of the mus.
Giles causes you to rest with your weight on one
leg, IL standing; OH one side, if sitting and This
gives stress 10 the table (unless you are very
Vlsiiantl winch may cause it Slightly 10 move; no
sooner does the movement begin, than all the ex-
pectant circle, now gratified at the result uncon
sclously aid in the movement, Tin n way hereafter
10 be eXplnined,) and thus, although no one is
conscious of effor', but faucies the table moves
without his operation, yet, in fact, ALL or mos,
o! the persons tormin the chain, do really CO. on
| e ate in moving it.
We must beg that no captous verbal criticism
be Applied to this explanation of the process; we
are aiming at an ineligible explanation, and hope
IN succeeding remarks, to clear up every point in
VOWED. The reader must bear in mind, that err
peetation of the result is necessary, otherwise the
table will not move. Those who exhibit the mag
netic hypothesis, explain the necessity oftls con-
saying that "scepticsm destroys the inflence. o.
Truly it does so; because the muscular action
WHICH produces the movementin obedience 10 what
is called and "expectant attention., will not be
brought into play unless expectation be there.