The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-08-07
tsPIane,,ette.3,

From the Philadelphia Ledger, June 24l
&Those of our readers who have not
already heard of the new ''institution"
called Planchette, will undoubtedly
soon be gratifed or amused or puzzled,
as the case may be, by its appearance,
as it is already offered for sale in sever
al cities. 1t consists Of a simple oblong,
or sometimes heart-shsped board, about
eight inches long, by five to seven wide,
and a quarter Of an inch thick, sup
ported on wheels or castors, on which
it moves freely when touched, and has
soft pencil fastened into one end. The
work of this pencils the mystery Of the
whole. 1t is declared that when placed
on a sheet of white paper, and lightly
pressed by two persons for few min
utes, it will trace on the paper an an
swer, more or less intelligent or correct
10 any question third may propose.
1t is also asserted by some that the
past and the future are equally revealed
and that distance creates no difficulty to
this wonderful inanimate fortune-teller,
matters passing on the other side of the
world being as certainly made known
as those in the same room. Marvellous
stories are told of the supernatural
powers Of "Plancbette," by its admirers,
such as making known the doings of
friends in other hemispheres, and var
ious other miraculous information, such
as is usually expected from mesmerism,
spirit rappings, and the like; while on
the other hand some do not hesitate to
pronounce it base imposture, and to
declare that, having followed all the
directions infinitely, they are unable to
extract a word of any sort from the
reticent machine. A writer in Cham
Jer's Journal is especially severe on
what he calls the "three-leggsd impos-
tori" and, though acknowledging that
marvellous tales were told him BY two
of his friends, who were eye-witnesses,
one an accomplished lady, and the
other a scholar Of quickness and humor
and who, he thinks, certainly believed
them to be true, yet disbelieves the
whole Of it because he.could never sue
ceed in any such efforts at converse
ton. a9
1t appears to be Of French origin, its
name signifying little board, and it is
known to French, Russian and Spanish
courts. In England, one maker saws
he has sold four hundred and sixty-six
Panchettes, besides sending several
abroad This maker declares that the
wood must be good, hearty stuff, and
we'll dried, but declines 70 give any
other advice as TO its construction.
However, 1t is now conceded that they
can be made by any ordinary carpen-
ter; and we recently saw a very simple
one in this city, made of a piece Of
cherry board, in the shape Of heart,
the dimensions being as above, the
two little castors being Of brass,
and placed under the broad end
of the heart, while the pencil was placed |
at the point Of the heart.
The author of volume on Plan
chette, published in England, gives
minute instructions Tor its use, by the
observance ofowhich, he thinks most I
persons may in time become tonidants
of It's my steries. 1t is not maintained |
by anyfthat all the answers given are
true, or1thzt any person, however sue-I
cessful he may be in use, can put
implicit reliance on its teachings.
There are vsriousrtheories as to this re-
maFksble little compaion, some main
tainiDg that the ip6Nenee is mesmerici /