The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-08-10
IN ADVANCE
N U NJ Err g.

hole in the end of the short arm of the
index lever; this part of the lever was of
cardboard; the indicating prolongatoni
was straight bay-stalk, Is inches long.
In order to restrain the motion of the up
| per board on the lower two vulcanized
rubber rings were passed round both, at
the parts not resting on the table; these,
while they tied the boards together, acted
also as springs,-and while they allowed
the first feeblest tendency to motion to DO
seen by the index, exerted before the up
per board had moved q quarter of an inch,
sufficient power in pulling the upper board
back from either side to resist a strong
lateral action of the hand. All being
thus arranged, except that the lever was
awey,-the two boards were tied together
with string, running parallel to the vul-
canized rubber springs, so as to be inn
movable in relation to each other. They
were then placed on the table, and the ta-
ble-turner sat down to them; the table
very shortly moved in due order, showing
that the apparatus offered no impediment
to the action. A like apparatus, with
metal rollers, produced the same result
under the hands of another person.
The index was now put into its place
and the string loosencd, so that the springs
| should come into play. 1t was soon seen,
with the party that could will the motion
IN either direction, (rom whom the index
was purposely hidden,) that the hands
were gradually creeping up in the drec-
ton before agreed upon, though the par
ty certainly thought they were pressing
downward only. When shown that it
was so, they were truly surprised bur
when they lifted up their hands and i'm
mediately saw the index return to its nor
NAL position, they were convinced. Whom
they looked Mt the index, and could see
for themselves whether they were pressing,
truly downward or obliquely, so as to pro-
duce resultant in the right or left hand
ed direction, then such an effect never
took place. Several tried, for a long
while together, and with the best skill in
the world; but no motion right or left,
of the table or hand, or anything else oc-
CURED. a passage from the letter in the
Times is worth reproducing here, as illus
tratng in other words the value of this
method of self conviction. "The result"
says Prof Farady, "was, that when the
parties saw the index it remained very
steady; when it was hidden from them,
or they looked away from it, il wavered
about, though they believed that they al
ways pressed directly downward and
when the table did not move, there was
still resultant Of hand force in the direc-
ton in which it was wished the table
cl1 ,,l
cised quite unwittingly by the party opc-
rating. This result it is which, in the
course of the waiting time, while the fin
gers and hands become stiff, numb, and
insensibIe by continued pressure, grows
up to an amount sufficient to move the
table or the substances pressed upon
But the most valuable effect of this test
apparatus (Which was afterwards made
more perfect and independent of the table}
Is the corrective power it possesses over
the mind of the table turner. AS soon as
the index is placed before the most Urn
est, and they perceive-as in my presence
they have always done-that it tells truly
whether they a re pressing downward only
or obliquely, then all effects of table turn
ing cease, even though the parties perse-
we're, earnestly desiring motion, till they
become weary and worn out No prompt
ing or checking Of the hand is needed
the po,oer IS gone and this only because
the parties are made conscious of what
they are really doing mechanically, and
SO are unable unwittingly to deceive them
selves.
| know that some may say that il is
the cardboard next the fingers which
moves first, and that it both drags the ts-
BILE and also the table-turner with i. All
L have to reply is, that the cardboard
may in practice be reduced to reduced to
thin sheet of paper weighing only few
grains, or to a piece Of goldbeater's skin,
or even the end Of the lever and lin prin.
cipIe) to the very cuticles of the fingers
ITSELF Thus the results that follow are
too absurd to be admitted: the table be-
comes an incumbrance, and person hold
ing out the fingers in the air, either naked
or tipped with goldbeater's skin or card
board, ought to be drawn about tue room.
&C.; but refrain from considering iniagi-
nary yet consequent results which have
nothing philosophical or real in them."l
Another form Of index was appIied
thus: A CIRCULAR hole was cut in the mid
die Of the upper board, and piece Of ca.
fridge paper pasted under it on the lower
surface of the board; thin slice Of cork
was fixed on the upper surface of the low
er board corresponding TO the cartridge
paper; the interval between them might
be. a quarter Of an inch or less A needle
was fixed into the end Of one Of the index
hay-stalks, and when all was in place the
needle point was passed through the cart
ridge paper and pressed slightly into the
cork beneath, so as TO stand upright; then
any motion OF the hand, or hand board.
was instantly rendered evident By The de-
Fiction Of the hay stalk to the right or
left,
j ] think the apparatus ! have described
may be useful to many who really wish
to know the truth Of nasnre, and would