Washington sentinel., 1854-06-04
Gom m naifatf0.
.spirituaiism-TabIe Rocking.,

"Spirituallsm-IaDle R0cking."
This phenomenon has assumed an aspect OF
such terrible Importance, that any explanatory
information, however slight, win no doubt be
read by those inclined to believe in spiritual
agencies, and Others / trust, whose scientific
attainments may enable them satisfactorily to
investigate the matter.
SO prone is the Imagination of man to spirit
ualize what is new and strange that every discov-
cry, from time immemorial, has been subjected
to the ordeal of magic, before it could be
brought into the clear light of scientific lnves-
tigation. This has been the course OF those
conceptions of genius, which pierced beyond
the average comprehension of mankind, antici-
pative Of the future. But when time elapsed,
and knowled 20 accumulated to the point OF
necessary development, natural and easy the
solution became which had appeared so vague
and terrible to the imagination.
This is a speculative age. We have ma
ton Of fthinkers wondering, investigating, and
spsculating. Can we wonder that many are
deluded that many, in the dim obscnrity of
weak and clouded intelects fancy they see
clearly. Reason and revelation are the natural
guides Of man in this normal state of time
this chrysalis Of future Let us not wrap
ourselves in shadows and imagine the medium
to afford us glimpses of another world, while
the shattered nerves distort into ftful shapes
of horror the commonest occurrences OF life
but let us contemplate this matter calmly, dis
passionately; strip off all cumberous attire
and view the naked truth.
Accidenty being a witness to "table-rock-
ing" closely watched the operator. She her
self was surprised at the phenomenon, not be-
ing able to account for it, except through a
vague idea, of electricity passing from the
body to the table, which became charged there
with. The table was a small one probably
four feet by three. The hands were placed
upon it; slight trenbling first became appa-
rent in the fingers; it extended to the hands,
gradually yincreasing Here the table COM
menced to rock, and the motion OF both hand
and table being simultaneous the latter thun-
dered on the Aoor, increasing in violence until
the operator, nervous and excited, sunk ex-
hausted upon q seat
The first feature that arrested my attention,
was the muscular action necessary to produce
this table-rocking." 1t is familiar to most of
u.s. that sitting down and passively resting the
weight of the leg upon the toes, the knee in
voluntarily shakes. This phenomenon appear
ed but another phase of the same simple er
pedtent. The hands resting upon the table,
became tremulous, benumed, as they will in
any constrained position; then increasing in
force sufficient to move the table, and as the
nerves became more unhinged, rocking violent
ly, until, if persisted in, the frame would shake,
developing the force and realizing the horrors
of deirium tremens. Such was the solution
suggested to my mind, and hastened to verify
it, through my own experience.
Iplaced my hands on small table, then re-
manned motionless. for about a half an hour,
gradually growing numb and aching, as ifsup-
porting weight; then they commenced trem-
bling, increasing until the table shook, then
rocked violently, my hands following the mo-
49, al - IL. a.
rapidity and force which thought would shat
ter it, / removed my hands, but determined
to pursue the experiment further. took
larger and heavier table; instantaneously the
tremulous motion commenced, and my hands
appeared to dig into the wood with force
which panied them. This moved the table to
the wall, and it seemed as if / could have
driven it through the brick work. then Sc
lected another, square table, placed it in the
centre of the room, laid my hands upon it,
when it took a rotary motion, which passively
followed and we whirled about the room with
a force which could with difficulty be checked
by an observer, who seized with both hands
the leaf, and exerted his strength in contrary
direction. then went TO the piano, my fin.
gers appeared one mass of nerves. So soon
as my hand became passive, the fingers flew
over the keys, producing grand crash, but
harsh and discordant. l have no ear for mu-
sic. This convulsive action ] could at any
moment check. 1t was when passive the
nerves were thus agitated. 1t was not con-
fined to the hands. | was somewhat excited
in mind with the idea of investigating all
could of this matter. / tried my foot rested
it passively on the floor, when it, too, became
tremulous, then danced about in q manner
which would have excited the admiration OF
Dan Rice. / also placed my hand on the
shoulder Of friend, and shook him with the
same force developed in the rocking"
From this nervous excitement my rest was
troubled The next day it had abated but
little, and the idea of still farther investigating
this matter clung to my mind.
/ took q piece Of paste.board, and inscribed
upon it the letters of the alphabet, then with
pencil, rested my hand passively on the board.
1t began to move with sundry gyrations to a
letter when it whirled rapidly around them,
glided to another. Seeing the combination OF
letters would form my name, closed my eyes
until in whirled again. Opening them, found
the proper letter selected. | did this several
time. Sometimes the pencil settled exactly on
the letter, at others pointed between two after
the name was spelt, it ran in every direction.
found from little practice, that it was only
when had a defined idea in my mind it would
thus be represented; at other times the pencil
would wander vaguely oversthe board pointing
nounceable. Thus ended my experiments.
1t appears TO me that the whole mystery Of
this matter lies in the shattered state Of the ner
voas system, and can be produced even with
higher degree of development by any one in an
incipient state Of "maniapotu" or delirium
tremens" At such times, dangers which had
been encountered with firm, undaunted spirit,
rush like overwhelming monsters, hideous in
shape, to the unstrung mind and tortured brain
stamping their impress in characters of fire.
The house is tumbling upon him, the sword OF
Damocles is suspended over him; reptiles,
worms, crawl over his body, while, like veins Of
ice, the nerves quiver with horror, or bound
madly to contention with spectres which beset
him.
All the phenomena of agnetism-spirit-
ualism-are developed through the nervous
system. ave are strangely and wonderfully
made" Our very existence depends upon the
health and vigorous action of the component
norts which nn;te IN form the machine of man.