Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-07-10
[From the Philadelphia Ledger, 24th.l
''PIanchette."

Those of our readers who have not
already heard of the new stnstitution"
called Planchette, Will undoubtedly
soon be igratified or amused or puzzled,
as the case may be, by it's appearance,
as if is already offered for sale in sever
al cities. 1t consists of a simple oblong,
or sometimes heart-shaped board,
about eight inches long, by five to sew
en- wide, and q quarter of an inch
thick supported on wheels or castors,
and has soft pencil fastened into one
end. The work of this pencil is the
mystery of the whole. It is declared
that when placed on a sheet of white
paper, and lightly pressed by two per-
sons for a few minutes, it will trace on
the paper an answer, more or less intel
lgent or correct, to any question o third
may propose. Tt 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-te1ler. Matters pas.
sing on the other side of the world be-
ing as certainly made known as those
in the same room. Marvellous stories
are told of the supernatural powers of
"Planchette," by its admirers, such as
making known the doings of friends in
either hemisphere, and various other
miraculous information, such as is usu-
| ally expected from Mesmerism, spirit
rappings and the like; while on the
other hand some do not hesitate to pro-
nounce it a base imposture, and to de-
/ clare that having followed all the di-
/ rectiOns minutely, they are unable to
extract word of any sort from the re-
ticent machine. A writer in Chambe
! Journal is especially severe on what he
calls the 'sthree-legged impOstor :" and
| though acknowledging that marvellous
| tales were told him by two of his friends,
| who were eye-witnesses, one an accom-
! plished lady, and the other scholar of
| Quickness and humor, and who, he
true, yet disbelieves the whole of it be-
cause he could never succeeded in anY
such efforts at conversation.
| 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 says he
! has sold four hundred and siXty-siX
Planchettes, besides sending several
abroad. This maker declares that the
| wood must be good, hearty stuff, and
we'll dried, but declines to give any 9th
er advice as to its construction. How
ever, it is now conceded that they satn
be made by any ordinary carp Il.'r
and we recently saw very simple one
in this city, made of piece # cherry
board, in the shape OF n heart, the di'
mensions being as above. the two little
! castors being of brass, and placed un-
der the bruad end of the heart, while
the pencil was placed at the point of the
J, heart.
The author of volume on Planch
cite, published in England, gives min
ute instructions for its use, by the
, observance of which, he thinks mos
persons may in time become con6dantI
| of its mysteries. It is not maintained
by anv that all the answers given art
. true, or that any person however sue
cessful he may be in its use, can pu
. Implicit reliance on Its teachings
There are various theories as to this re
markabIe little companion, somt
, maintaining that the influence is mes
: merfc, others that ii is electricity, Of
! some unkuow connection between th'
! brain or nervous system of the operato
: and the board so lightly touched by hi!
) / fingers. There are some of course Wh'
) will attribute It all to supernatural
/ causes, and some who utterly refuse thu
least credence to any OF the mysteriouI
j results affirmed.
These latter lust now occupy the sa
: fest ground. It seems to be clear thai
) in the cases when ttPlanChette" moves
] without being misehevously or de
q signedly impelled by the operator, tina
{ the influence is magnetic, just as in the
case of t'table moving" under similar
) conditions. It is but proper to say tina
Z wherever experiments with thetoy hav'
: come under our observation, the wrf
3 tinEs of f"Plamchette" have either beer
? such as would puzzle even Chsmpol
? / lion, or else they have been SO mani
l testify the work of the operators for thu
) purpose of creating merriment, mis-
: chief and laughter, that no one could b.
!, deceived into the belief that either spir
] its or any other supernatural agency
, have any thing to do with thems "E'lRn
chette Is an amusing toy and nothing
4 more.