The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-25

Ass~~SSe
peculiar tendencies Of his mind to bear on the invcs
tigauon OF what he calls the truth" lie Ina,
originated what may not inapty be termed ." the
mechanics Of spirituasm," and we shall no doubt
soon be flooded with treatises showing the possibi
~ Of realizing the dream of Jacobs ladder. and Of
ascending to heaven by scientifically constructed
stairway. We select, by way Of showing the ad
vance which spiritual science has made, the follow
ing description Of an instrument, by which the Pro
lessor says spirits were enabled to move table un
der the influence Of medumship, yet In no wist
under the control Of the medium employed, ever
clairvoyance being nulliaed-credos Judaus:--
The table is about six fret Ia length and sixteen nche,
in width no contrved IS 10 reparAte into three par for
Tho pair Of legs under the right side are upon casters
Iho.e on the LEFT side upon an axle passing through
forAtons suitably MADE for s reception. The axle
srts OF rod Of about half Of inch in thickness
The axle serves for two wheels Of about ak niche, d.
ameter Of which X grooved A disk. already de-
scrbed appertaning 10 apparatus in proceeding page
IL secured upon pivot affixed to strip Of wood which
made TO slide between two other strips attached tho
frame OF the table Just under the top board BY these
means the band embraces both the hub OF the disk
tie Wheel whom this turns In consequence the
Ing OF the table horizontally along the the disk
with the wheel and much faster AS tho crcume ence
q the groove In tho hub Ia less than that Of the groove
In the wheel.
The index is in this apparatus situated precisely AZ in
that desc ibcd Ia plate and any mortal hs yiug due
hold Of the table, msy by showing II one way the
other bring any letter under the index spell
any desired word But person sitting the medium
Ia In the engraving represented 70 t with the plate
two bells can actuats tho disk to spell out word.
Ms above mentioned. Utterly Rcapaciaed from moving
the table |. manfssty impossible TO actuata
disk interfere with the movements other I'M
parted
In the employ nent Of the apparatus il has been sug
Rested that through ciairvoyance the medium might
me letters desPe q the screen, or might learn them
from the mind of the observer, but In this the
medium sees the letters without the aid OF sairvoyance
but this power does not account for the regulation Of
the manifestations snce seeing the letters they
cannot cont, oil the give to the inu
tive power thus exercise cd any efficacy.
On the surface Of the table the right, may he
board upon castors Ths oonrived M a substitute
for the plate bais The casters, Of course perform
the same Office as the balls in allowing solid material
communication be weee the hands OF the medium and the
table without giving the power tn induce control the
movement. Evidently, Though by any horizontal in
pulse the medium might the casters to aud
the board to move Ia the force necessary
effect this must fall short Of that requisite TO the
table.
In pom, OF fact the board whea under the plate
balls and hands Of the medium often moved rapidly
to and fro wi hout moving the table. I, ths,
under such conditions, without moving the board or
tray, required distinct spiritual process. Of much
grea'er difficulty and which spirits either un.
willing or unable 10 employ successfully.
We will not insult the common sense Of oar
readers by quoting any more Of the absnrdites by
which IT is filed. We only sigh over the
faulty and vanity which lead men of DR.. Hares in
tellectual calibre into the tolls of the deecver.
THE WORKS or CHARLES LAMB, edited by T. ~
Talf0urd. Harper Il Brothers.
Talfourd's edition of the works Of the immortal
Ella Is two well known 10 require any commenda
ton at our hands. The republication Of It by the
Messrs. Harpcrs, in a cheap and at the same time
elegant form, IL fact that will be hailed with plea
sure by all lovers Of English literature.
HARPEg's CLASSICAL LIBRARY.
Cceros Offices, C@sars Commentaries aud Xe-
nophon's Anabasis are amongst the last issues Of
this beautiful serial edition. Revised by the best
classical authorities, Handsomely brought out and
fixed at price which places them within the reach
of all, these TRANSACTIONS Of the classics must find
place In every private rs well public collection.
PERIODICALS.
PuTSAM's FOR DECEMBER presents greater variety
in its articles than usual. They Of lighter and
popular stamp than we are accustomed 10 see in
ts pages, IT. propretors having probably discovered
that the aesthetics Of literature are less profitable in
pecuniary sense than the ephemera suited to the
morbid and trivial tastes Of the day. The paper on
European armies is compilation OF statistical data
Of present interest, the value Of which would have
been greatly enhanced II some attempt had been
made to reduce TO mathematical demonstration the
actual effective force Of Russia. How came to
be Married. Is pleasantly written confession Of the
innocent way 10 which people get into scrapes 81
which they had no previous notion. The criticism on
Longfeow's" Song Of IIiawa,ha" Is clcyerly done
little enthusiastic. perhaps in It's appreciation
Of its merits, but still showing grounds for it, faith
The following sums up the reviewers opinion Of this
production -
Abt,ath u he pine forests Il 10 the poen-a healthy
IL
There psges which Iing.r finger By the
shores ~ fair water at snns. aud passages crsp
aud yigor as the curling barb Of the birch. Asa
producc Of the genuine spirit Of legendary poetry Ia
te chdia Guess itr tenderness and it, Joyous ftronRh
the poem seems to v. ingularly sucoessfd Oar friend
Of the "Reminiscences" will no doubt 1t
" stun Heinsl usla ~ but II remains and will
main, nevertheless, independent fresh and original
so,k antiqunfians will 10 10 N for fastrA,ions and
efences students ~ poetry will e. ~ II Tor ~ tine anil
sithful rsgemcn' 81 poetic ma sis. WI people IL
general So u = for plelsureY But for doubt about
those trocheeS. and general prepossesrlon which
have agairs' barbeic names and notions W. should
hesiatingiy say 'fe-"
Low Life 10 Sahara describes wildly the i'm.
pressions created by a journey over "the great wa
tcrlcss waste, as IL Is called by the children Of Ha
CUR. OF the noble animal so POLITICALLY but appro.
priatey styled in their language "the ship of the
dcscrt,n the writer snya:--
~ child y born unto usl' e1elaims the joyful Arab,
when another camel IL added 10 his herd aud
peighbols crowd eagerly kfound ,be newly afriyca
niend y the tribe In joy and in grief at hons an1
hb ad tire Is the Arabia best irenJ. Whom 81
mains behind II isfes his familiar faee and groans
gtoNss Ike a Tear until he returns. aow Beautifully
bright thofe arge, lu-trous eyesthe ony laing beaud
81 Enl--@hinrg npob his master when he galks 9Th
neasnfcd sep in The grateful shade 81 M towertBg
ffituc and speaks 20 the listening animal u Tie sy "
return and the sweet greeting of bis chAren wheu
b. sings 60 him the ancient songs IL his ltbc Al
slight sign the leng lines 81 canss often eoun'el ~
thou anas sted Instantly stl the Nosle ths tilhtal
believer spftats bis carpet wateH his f.cn with aud
and turning hs brow the holy grave ~ the Prophet
hEmby ssys lis prayers. At sunset tie sry beard
kefrti KENT" aud, AZ the word the wcsdei animals
lend iht knes 70 BE- relieved of their heavy b1r0ent
Thus sincc the days OF Mose tLs net a. been
he ~ nDmadic pariarcha ne "a the DESERT
wihout Il neither trade intercourse nor lfc tseiL
suuli he In tho Arabs power. Aa me horse
takss ~ place, az IN he desert n 05t where bpth
cs and horses aid ain a. eai-t Ia nugins s1i.
uess pastures become more fertile, occupations moro
ti md ali rels tons complicated, eacn proviaes
= into sia-e, each camp into village, and son
there - bat one stev to buaam gnd deap0dsn.
50 close i the connection bet climate and so aud
nnd naiufei
The concluding chapter 0 Life Amongst the
Mormons' would be amusing, were i not for the Ia.
rneufslie uictrrrc Shch II ure.cu4 AZ salfitnpf.ed