Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-07-18

PL4NoAETTk. Those Of our readers who
have notalready heard of thenew ssinstitu-
tionp called Planchette, win perhaps like
to have description of 1t, as it is rapidly
becoming a fashionable parlor puzzle.--
Many Of our citizens have already got
flanchette the brains &c consists of a
simple oblong, or sometimes heart-shaped
board, about eight inches long, BY, five, to
seven Wide and quarter ofan inch thick,
supported on wheels OF castors, on which it
moves freely when touched, and has soft
pencil fastened into one end. The work OF
this pencil is the mystery of the whole. 1t
Iis declared that when placed ens a sheet OF
white paper, and lightly pressed by two
persons for few minntes, It will trace on
the paper an answer, more or less,intelli-
gent orecorrect to any question a third
may propose. 1t Is also asserted by some
that the past and the future are equally re-
vealed, and that distance creates no difficult
ty to this wonderful inanimate fortune tel
Ter, matters 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 Planchette,
by its admirers such as making known the
doings of friends In other hemispheres and
various 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 pro-
nounce it base imposture, and to declare
that having followed all the directions mi
nutely, they are unable to extract word of
any sort from the reticent machine, A
writer in Chambers Journal is especially
severe ON what he calls the "three-legged
and though acknowledging that
marvellous tales were told him by two Of
his friends, who were eye-witnesses-one
IN accomplished lady and the other a |
scholar of quickness and humor-and who, |
ie thinks, certainly believed them to be |
rue, yet disbelieves the whole oft because |
le could never succeed in any such efforts |
It conversation. 81 = -0s2b
1t appears to be of French origin, its |
,ame sighifyinR a little board, and it is |
shown to French, Russian and Spanish
Jourts.s In England, one maker says he
las sold four hundred and sixty-six Plan
hettes, besides sending several abroad.
This maker declares that the wood must be
sood, hearty stuff, and well dried, but de-
lines to give any other advice as to its
obstruction. However, 1t is now conceded
hat they can be made by any ordinary
arpenter; and we recently saw a very
imple one In this. city, made of q piece of
herry board, in the shape Of a heart, the
being as above, the two, little
astors being of brass, and placed under
he broad end of the heart, while the PEN
il was placed at the point of the heart Il
The author of volume on Planchette,
in England, gives minute in
tructions for its use, by the observance of
Which, he thinks most persons may in time
ecome confidants of its mysteries. It is
ot maintained by any that all the answers
iyen are true, or that any person, however
uccessful he may be In its use, can put i'm
licit reliance on its teachings. There are
arious theories as to this remarkable little
some maintaining that the in
uence- is mesmeric, others that it is cleo
- |
'icity, or some unknown connection be-
xeen the brain or nervous system of the
perator and the board SO lightly touched
v his fingers. There are some of course
tho will attribute it all to supernatural
auses, and some who utterly refuse the
,ast credence to any of the mysterious re-
tits affirmed. als s=sEaIi ID .'sssis 81 ri
These latter just now occupy the safest
round. It seems to be clear that in the
ase when "Planchette" moves without be-
g mischievously or designedly impeUed
y the operator, that the influence is mag
etic, lust as in the case of stable moving"
nder similar conditions. 1t is but proper
say that wherever experiments with the
y have come under our observation, the
ritings Of ssPianchette' have either beent
lch as would puzzle even Champollion
decipher, or else they have been SO man.
estly the work of the operators for the
1rpose of creating merriment mischief
I'd laughter, that no one could be de-
lived into the belief that either spirits or
ly other supernatural agency have any
ing to do with the "Plancbette." It is an
nusing toy and nothing more.