The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-07-25

ner. ifthey are proper MEDIUMS sense
of electrical force. The tingling extends
from the 1nger-ends up the arms, meet
ing at last through the shoulders or
prtcking it's way across the foreheadi
and after such sensations Planchette Is
usually very active. The hands are
drawn hither and thither by the mag
netic force; and although they barley
touch the wood, 1t follows their diree-
ton and writes intelligibly. a
a lady, who is a fine "medium,"
but who was then ignorant of the fact,
placed her hands on Planchette with
me one evening and without mo-
ment's hesitation it wrote ''Ellie," and
afterwards the name of another friend.
When charged with the fact, she adj
mitted that these persons were in her
mind. On another occasion the ques-
ton was asked, "What is the names of
those nuts on the sideboard Pr And
the answer was most singular. One
partner thought ''ShelIbarks"-the
other "Hickory-nuts." For sew
eral letters there could be seen the eff
fort to write both, but at last. when this
was impossible, 1t followed the stronger
will and wrote "Hickory-nuts." And
until the whole word was written,
neither knew how much the thought
had affected the language.
A gentleman, great skeptic, having
his hands touching mine, inquired :
Ibid settle at the bank tonight Z"
For my part 1 did not know, and so re-
NAMED DnSSiUe; and as he did, the
answer was correct, much to his, aston
ishment.
By placing my hand above those of
two tyros, L have made Planchette
scribble off whatever wished and by
taking their hands, while their other
hands were upon the instrument, L
have drawn 1t to me or sent it from me.
II n tFNI6 hi EIJE
for single person, but have tounQ
that without any muscular action
can invariably compel 1t to write 10IlGt
1 wish and as. wish it-eVen If choose
to misspell. ssTf
Such knowledge destroys the romance,
it is true, but it only heightens the charm
of the reality; tor it is competent in
skilled hands to draw from an unso-
phisticated person answers which are
the property of that one only. Yet
have still to learn the instance where
the stronger will would not control.
My conclusions, then, are these:
1. That Planchetteis dependent upon
the same principle as the turning ta-
BILE" for its notion. e., on the pecu-
liarpower OF certain persons. Into this
subject cannot at present enter. 1t
has been done fully by Count Agenor
de Gasparin, and in DR.. j. Esdaile's
work on AeSmerisnt as applied TO SL1'-
gerry.
2. That after motion is obtained, the
Intelligent motion is the result of
thought and TORI, either conscious or
5. That the stronger will controls in
all cases.
4. That Planchette answers nothing
which the "mediums" do not knOID or
guess. This accounts for its wild pre-
dictions and laughable blunders.
5. That left to itself it Will naturally
write nothing until there be clear
thought in the mind.
1 reserve my opinions for the present
concerning the source of its motion;
the characteristics of good "mediums;"
the application of this little instrument
to the refutation of certain grave and
important errors; and its use in the
Investigation of mesmerism, biology,
animal magnetism and matters kindred
thereto. These are properly the topics
for purely scientific articles; but if
have by this plain statement pointed
out the way to such Straightforward, in
telligent study, shall be glad.