New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-12
HELP FOR THE GHOSTS.

elementary truths and some simple apparatus he de-
es the power of climates sails against wind and tide
sends letters faster than the great globe whirls its
axis makes the cold and barren soil OF the North sup
ply him in abundance with tropical sugar, while he
clothes millions of his in the down of worthless
weed It is great aud exciting spectacle which is
offered by this world of science and machinery, all
obedient and faithful as it is to the will and wants of
man.
Nothing more strikingly illustrates the sublime
scope of human destiny than the service rendered by
these ancary forces of to the born lord of the
earth and nothing bears within itself more cheering
prophecy of the entire dominion be will enjoy at
future day. than does machine or chemical process
by which labor is abbreviated and human power aug
mented For this reason it is that some new invention
of unpretending simplicity may be more important to
the world, and exercise broader and more enduring
influence its welfare, than great battle or pot
cal event which is regarded an immortal 10 the
affairs of men. And thinking man may view spin
nipQ.jenny or power loom with emotions deeper than
any tragedy real or fictitious, could ever induce.
For this reason it is that we gladly devote the col
umns of THE TRIBUNE to the recording of new inven
lions and discoveries, encouraging ingenious men to
more strenuous efforts in that direction and welcoming
every Of their cOnquests worthy product and
noble triumph. In doing, confess that we have
hitherto had reference exclusively to the material
world as the only sphere where such auxiaries are
needfu But it appears that this is sheer injustice to
the mechanical ingenuity Of the country and especial
ly to the Yankees. That omnvorous aud restless race
Sc not content it seems to facilitate spinning aud
weaving and the boring of rocks and building of houses
70 tha 0hn
phenomena of the day call them to other aud less sub
stantis spheres and the unextinguishable Impulse to
shorten processes and expedite work goes with them
into those vogue and shadowy regions, mingling the
sublime with the ridiculous and the useful with the ab
surd. This is than natural AS is we'll known
to those who have enjoyed any specimens Of the rap
ping, table-turnng, or epileptcimpelng manifesto
tons the invisible force abOrs uader difficulties The
ghosts-if ghosts there be in the perormances-fnd
embarrassment in the utterance of their ideas. The
mechanism hitherto employed is of the clumsiest and
most primitive description Rapping out sentences by
the alphabet indicating letters by the jumps of table
leg, impartng wisdom through the jerking elbows of
person who writes a shocking bad hand, are all of
them methods which stand in need of improvement,
and suggest invention 1t is mucha matter of course
that Yankee devotee OF the rappings should set his
wits about the discovery Of al improved way of max
ing them that he should listen the raps aud suck
in the ghostly information thereby gravely impaired
Accordingly. wear not surprised at learning by a
letter from Mr. j. T. Pease of ThOmpsonyile, Conn.,
that be has succeeded in inyenting machine which
be denominates the Spiritual Telegraph Dial. This
apparatus is cOntryed with dial face on which are
marked the letters of the alphabet the Arabic numer
ais the words Yes and No. and other convenient
signs A movable hand or pointer is fixed in the CEN
ter; and when ghost wants to communicate with its
pupils and friends in the body, all that is requisite is
for it to give a gentle twitch to the pointer aud
the revelation is accomplished Mr.. Pesse states
that with good tipping medium to facilitate the move
ments of the pointer by agitang the table letters will
be indicated on the dals fast an amanuenss can
write them down. There is also an arrangement by
which the dial may be concealed from the sight of the
medium that be cannot know what it is that is be-
ing said by the ghost.
As is the case with the steamboat and the electric
telegraph the glory Of first applying abOrsaying ma
chnery to spiritual rappings cannot be claimed as ex
clusiyely American, at least the claim will be dis
puted by foreign nations Mr. Pease sletter is dated on
Dec s. last but learn from Berlin that early as
Nov. Is, the Baron Lieut. Col Won Forstner had ex-
bibed at public lecture in that city machine called
the PsyctOgraph, the invention of Mr.. Wagner,
which we must say, seems rather ahead Of the 2ir
itua Telegraph Dial This German apparatus is so
arranged that the ghosts not only point to the letters
of the alphabet but when they feel like it, can employ
apeneil held BY the machine sheet of paper
convenient for their use 1t is even said that poetry
I'VE hope it much above the usual level of ghos.ly
lyrics written down in that way and very tolera
bic jokes made BY the machine before public audi
ence, without the Intervention of any human hand
At least so it is related in respectable journals while
with regard to Baron Lieut.. Col Won Forstner we
can testify that lie is Of character and repute
OF course it is impossible for to pronounce upon
tie merits OF these competing machines Possibly each
has its own points Of superiority and We suggest that
both Of them should be patented so that the invention
canrOt be prated and that they should then be handed
over to the same Committee WHICH Congress has been
petitoned to appoint to investigate the mystery of
Spiritual Manifestation" in general When that
Committee reports the public will know whether the
Spiritual Telegraph Dial or the Photograph offers the
greater advantages, and govern their purchases
accordingly And meanwhile all parties who can find
nothing more profitable to DO can follow up the rap
pings.
The MAINE SENATE fails to organize itself The /
regulars badly beaten In that State AT the last