The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-01-29
BY BAcxwoeDsMAx.


floor. Slowly it raised, but tipping a little,
fell headong into the pancake batter, the
table and batter rising as We went down. j..
would have laughed at the fall had not Ii.
trod hardly upon his corns. Instead oflaugh-
ing, he looked ike cursing. ii. was grave
and declared that the spirits compelled him to
step where he did. 1t was evident that we
had 'got up the Dutch" of our unseen yisi-
tors, Wishing TO get'at ID good undcrs.an-
ding with them, we proposed to learn, ly
rapping, a variety of matters particularly in
teresting. and at the samo time, test by
mental questions and otherwise, their spirit
ual intelligence and veracitv. Perhaps ! can
not do better than to give the questions and
answers as they occurred.
Are the spirits prescntT
They am, SIR
How many Of themg' ,1
'More'n YOU can shake a stick at
Are they good spirtsg
Fourth proof, and no mistake
From what srhcre?s
'The top notch
will they converse with usy
We'll, they will, hosscs.'
These replies were raped cut as we drew
our finger over the letters Of the alphabet
verbal questions were first asked by different
members of the 'circle."
"Will any spirit called for, appear and an
swCr!
'S-a-r-tainp
is Cain present.
lie happens to be-
WAS the club, with which he slew Abel,
hickory or white ash, and what did he cut it
withg
Yes, 'twan't either. 1t was sho2mak"
ball-club, with "A butcher knife
This important question settled, Cain stood
aside and Belshazzer was called.
DO you remember the feast when the hand
write appeared on the wall!
q make out to-
'Wcre you--bcgging pardon, sir-un ler
the influence Of Intoxicating liquors that cYe-
n;ngr
Drunk, gentlemen, MS n bird owl
Drink Champagpc or Monongahcla'
Neither. Owing to the scarcity Of leg
WI oil, we went it on black-strap and clear
rotgut.'
Any of thr women tipsyF
They want anything else, | rrck,N Mrs.
Belshazzar was so linibcr-like, that in play
ing 'snap-and- -ketch-'cm,' che fell into the
oyster kettle and broke turtle shell comb all
to smasl.'
Was it fright that made your knees smite
iogeihcrr
No, SIR. ! was so almighty tired could
Mt keep 'em from shifting together nolow.'
WAS Cyrus one of the boysl'
We'll, no great scratch. lie took th: adj
vantage of us when we were on u bcnder--
He was n cold water fanatic, and an enemy
to the constitution
Are you in favor of the Maine lawH
Not-by-a--jug full
DO You get anything to take where you
arep
Not drop. I've got laundering hank
cringaiter q snifter.'
Help yourself to the cold water on the
table, old boy
'Go to the devil with your cold water
is Balaam PRESENT.
What do you want of Balaamp
How old was that jackass of his'nl
'lic would have been -four years old the
next general training
Are there any jackasscs in your sphere,
Mr.. Balaamr
NO, you impudent puppies The jackasscs
are all on earth yet
This ill-natured insinuation was received
with enthusiastic raps by the spirits.
is the boss builder of the Tower of Babel
present." now inquired one of the com
pany.
He am
WAS the Tower built of brick or stonci' d
Brick
How many thousand of brick was in the
concerng
'An almighty heap of them, you better
believep
How much did they cost per thousandT 2
-Four dollars and half at the kiln
How many Irishmen did it take to cary
mortP
'Ninc millions and rising
That's lie, | know, muttercd II. A
smart rap on his sore shin under the table,
made him aware that the foreman Of Babel
was around The inquiries were contin-
ucd:
Was there any confusion of languages a.
mong the wollimepg
Considerable, must admit---a pcrfcc,
hclabaloo."
what did the King say when he examined
into the matterr
MIR for stay--r
One thing more Mr.-Mr.-what's your
name
Smith, if you pleaser
We'll, Mr.. Smith--one thing more. Was
it true that Nebuchadnezzar was made TO mix
clay on the sweep
True, aud athundcring good OK he mas