Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-08-17
Scientific Tests-CuriOus Phenomena.

Scientific Tests-Curious Phenomena.
The London Popular Science Reoie'o for
July, which is edited by Mr.. Crookes, an
eminent chemist, and Fellow of the
Royal Society, contains an account by
himself-partially confirmed and attcstsd
also by DR.. lIugg ms, tho eminent astrono-
mer, whose q cat and quite recent services
in relation to the astronomical applica.
tions of spectrum analysis has been &C
kuowledgrd in all quarters, and who is
one of the most distinguished members of
the Royal Society, and by Mr. 'Scrgeant
Cox, both nf whom were prcscnt--ot some
very curious experiments made on MIR
Homes asserted ph, steal powers as me-
dium, rs it is called, though no counte-
nance is lent by the cNperimentor or his
friends to the hypothesis of the agency Of
invisible beings of which the word me
dunn" is a remnant. Mr.. Crookes and
Mr.. Sergeant Cox both seem convinced
that these experiments prove the existence
of peculiar force which they call
'psycich," proceeding directly from the
nervous system of specially constituted
persons, and which Isl exerted independ-
emily OF the muscular system. problbly
prOpagated, suggests Mr. Sergeant Cox,
who, as the least scientific, is the rashest
Of these speculative iuquirers, through
that nerve atmosphere of various in,en-
sity enveloping tho human structure"
which DR.. Richardson has discovered.
DIR Higgins, the most eminent scientific
man of the three, is by far the most
cautious and reserved in his statements.
He gives in his general adherence
to Mr.. Crookes' account Of the
experiments -" your proof appears
to me to contain correct statement of
what took place in my presence at your
house," but as to one of the most curious
facts involved in it-namely, that al &C.
Cordeon continued to float about without
any visible support in the copper wire
cage contrived for it by Mr.. Crookes after
MIR. Homes hand had been entirely with.
drawn, and under these circumstances to
play musical airs without being touched
by any hand-Dr. Higgins states that his
position at the table did not permit him to
be witness to the withdrawal Of Mr.
Homes hand from the ACCORDION, though
he writes to Mr.. Crookes that such was
stated at the time to be the case by y""r-
self and by the person sitting on the 9TH
side of Mr.. Home" H. adds, "the ex-
periments appear to me to show the i'm.
portance of further investigation; but
wish it to be understood that express no
opinion as to the phenomena which took
place" DR.. higgins evidence is Of the
greater weight, so far as it goes, from the
great caution and reserve with which he
gives it, He appears to confirm generally
the accuracy of Mr. Crookes' description,
except as to the performances Of the Gagged
ACCORDION when Mr.. Homes hand was re-.
moved; but he evidently docs not regard
the experiments as going further than to
justify and even show the importance -
OF further investigation. Even this from
such witness as DR.. Higgins is remarka.
BILE testimony.
But what was the precise nature of the
facts to which, supposing them to be aul-
ply authenticated by future tests, such as
Dr. Huggings himself can regard as salts
factory, these experiments point? 1t is
this-that in the presence of certain
specially gifted or specially organized in
dividuals whether the facts, if true, de-.
pend on the organization, or on the power
of will, or on the nervous sensibility-in
o word, on what they do depends at
present all a matter of speculation), a
force developes itself which produces,
without contact, many of the results of
muscular effort, and some of the results of
muscular effort directed by a trained
musical taste and ear. For example, MIR.
Crookes (all whose test machinery had
been prepared without the smallest knowl-
edge on Dir. Homes part, Mr.. Home
seeing 1t for the first time when he entered
MIR: Crookes' house) had prepared a
mQhnpanv hoor1 n, +
inches wide and one inch thick, one end
of which rested on firm table, and the
other was supported by "a spring balance
hanging from q substantial tripod stand. u
with "a self-registering index" attached
Thus, any pressure exerted on this board
at any point nearer to the balance than
the spot where it was supported on the
table, tended to depress the end supported
by the balance to an extent registered by
the lndex-the board moving round the
table.supported end as round a fulc1um
Mr.. Crookes, to test the balance, stood on
one foot at the end of the board nearest tc
the table, and DR.. Higgins said that the
whole weight of his body then applied
GAO pounds) only sank the index at the
other end to an amount equivalent to one
and half pounds if applied to the bal
ance end, when he stood still, and to two
pounds when he jerked up and down. Mr.
Home, sitting in low easy chair, simply
applied his fingers lightly to the exact
point where the board rested on the table
$50 that even hard pressure there would
have only had the effect of securing the
fulcrum instead of depressing the other
end of the. mahogany board) and unde,
these conditions the opposite end was de-
pressed by an amount which varied, as il
in waves, between three and one hall
pounds and six pounds, which was the
maximum obtained.
This experiment was in some respects
the most curious, as being the one which
was in every respect the most above-board
both literally and morally-and which
was apparently fully tested by DR.. Hug
gins. as we'll as by MIR. Sergeant Cox ane
Mr.. Crookes. If repeated often enough il
the presence of competent witnesses, i
would undoubtedly show the real exist
ence OF some new force not due to mus
cular exertion.
The other experiment was made by an &C
cordeon imprisoned in drum shaped cae,
of Mr.. Crookes' own invention. the cag,
being made of lathes of wood and COPPER
wire to prevent access from outside: bu
this cage was placed beneath the table
and though Mr.. Sergeant Cox and MI
Crookes both seemed to have watched i
there, ard to have taken what they he
lieved to be very careful guarantees tina
MIR. Home was not juggling, there ca,
hardly be so much confidence placed il
the reality OF the facts asserted as in tn,
lever experiment.. The cage was so mad
as to surround the ACCORDION entirely, bu
not quite to touch the top of the table
leaving space enough to admit one of MI
Homes hands so far as to enable him t,
hold the ACCORDION by the top. The oh
servers on each side kept their feet on MI
Homes feet to prevent any use of thu m
and one of Mr.. Homes hands was placed OF
the table and carefully observed, The othe
at first held the ACCORDION by The top, bu
the rest OF the ACCORDION was completed,
inside of the cage, SO as to be inaccessible
Held in this position, the accordion frs
began to vibrate and then to play tune
inside the cage Mr.. Crookes AYERS tina
he mt hio hand hot ho~ 10y r..