Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1853-08-09

words the value Of this method of self.coh-
viclion: "The result" says Prof Fara.
day, "was. that when the parties saw the
index, il remained very steady; when il was
hidden from them, or they looked away
from il, il wayered about, though they be-.
ieved that they olways pressed directly
downward; and when The table did not NOV e
there was still resultant OF hand force in
the direction in which it was wished the Ia.
BILE should move, which, however, was ex-
ercised quite unwiungly by The party oper'
a.ng, This resultant it is, which, in The
course of the waiting time, while the fingers
and hands become stiff numb and insensible
by continued pressure, grows up 10 an amount
sufficient 10 move the table, or The subsan'
ces pressed upon. Blu, the most valuable
effect Of this lest apparatus (Which was al.
forwards made more perfect and indepen.
dent Of the lable) is The corrective power il
possesses over Ihe mind of The labe.iurner.
As sUon as The index is placed before The
most earnest, and they perceive--as in my
presence they always have done--thal it
lels truly whether they are pressing down
ward only or obliquely, then all effects of
lable-lurning cease, even though the parties
persevere, earnestly desiring motion, until
they become weary and worn out. No
prompting or checking Of the hands is need
ed-the pO1Cer is gone, and this only be-.
cause the parties are made conscious Of
what they are really doing mechanically,
ond arc SO unable unwiuingly 10 deceive
,hapocnluac | knOuy ,hnt
that. il is The cardboard next 10 the fingers
which moves first, and that it both drags the
table and also The table turner with H. All
have 10 reply is, that the cardboard may
in practice be reduced 10 thin sheet of pa
per, weighing only few grains, Or piece
Of god.beater.s 8 skin, or even the end OF the
lever, and lin principIe) to the very cu'i'
Gle Of the finger itself. Then The results
that follow are 100 absurd 10 be admned:
The table becomes an incumbrance, and q
person holding OUT the fingers in the air,
either naked or tipped with gold'beaIer's
skin or cardboard, ought TO be drawn abou!
The room, &C.; but refrain from consider
ing imaginary ye. consequent results, which
have nothing philosophical or real in
lhem.'
Another form of index was applied, shus
A circular hole was cut in The middle OF the
upper board, and piece Of cartridge paper
pasted under it on the lower surface Of
The board; a thin slice Of cork was fixed
on the upper surface Of the lower board
corresponding TO the cartridge paper. the in
lerval between them might be quarter Of
an inch or less. needle we fixed into
the end OF one Of the index hay stalks, and
when all was in place the needle. point was
fpassed thrnugh the cartridge paper and
pressed slightly in.o the cork beneath, SO as
to stand upright; then any motion of The
hand, or hundboard, was instantly rendered
evident by the reflection Of tho perpendicu-
lar hay stalk 10 the righ, or left
think the apparatus | have described
may be useful 10 many who really wish
10 know The truth Of nature, and would pre-
fer that truth 10 a mistaken conclusion: de-
sired, perhaps, only because it seems TO be
new or strange. Persons do not know how
difficult it is 10 press directly downward, or
in any given direction against fixed obsa.
Gle; or even to know only whether they are
doing so or moi; unless they have some in.
dcalor, which, by visible motion, or other
wise, shall instruct them; and this is more
especially the case when the muscles of the
finger and hand have been cramped and
rendered either tngling or insensible, or
cold by continued pressure. If finger be
pressed constantly into the corner of win.
dow frame for ten minutes or more, and
then, continuing the pressure, the mind be
directed 10 Judge whether The force al q
given moment is all horizontal, or all down
ward, or how much Is in one direction ard
how much~in The other, il will find great
difficulty in deciding; and will al last be.
come uncertain; al least such is my case
| know that similar result occurs with 9th.
erS; for have had TWO boards arranged
separated not by rollers, but by plugs ol
vulcaLized rubber, and with the vertical in.
dex; when a person with his hands on the
upper board is requested 10 press only down.
ward, and the index is hidden from his
sight, it moves 10 the right, 10 The left, to
him and from him, and in all horizontal di'
reclions; SO utterly unable is he strictly &c
fulfill his intention without visible and
correcting indicator Now, such is The use
of The instrument with the horizontal in
dex and rollers: the mind is instructed, and
The involuntary or quasi or involuntary mo
lion is checked in The commencement, and
therefore never rises up 10 the degree
needfu 10 move the tablo, or even perma
nenlly The index itself.
No one can suppose that looking at the
index can in any way interfere with The
transfer Of electricity, or any Other power
from the hand TO The board under it, or ic
the table. If The board tends 10 move, i
may do so-lhe index does not confne il
and if the table tends 10 move there is M
reason why it should moi. If both were in
Auenced by any power To move together
they may do so--as they did, indeed, wher
The apparatus was tied, and the mind ant
muscles left unmatched and unchecked.
must bring this long description TO I
close. | am line ashamed of il, Tor
think in The present age and in this part o
/, the world, it ought not 10 have been re
quired. Nevertheless, hope it may be use
ful. There are many whom | do not ex
/ pect to convince; buI may be allowed II
say that cannot undertake TO answer sucl
objections as may be made. state my owl
) convictions as an experimental philosopher
4 and find it no more necessary TO enter in
. TO controversy on this point than on any
. other in science, as, The nature OF matter, o.