Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-08-17
.aAc Tests-CuriOus Phenomena.

London Popular Science Recisr for
which is edited by Mr.. Crookes, an
emit chemist, and q Fellow of the
Society, contains an account by
alf~nartially confirmed and attested
~ DR.. Higgins, the eminent astrono-
Those great and quite recent services
alton to the astronomical applica
Of spectrum analysis has been &C
ledged in all quarters, and who is
+ the most distinguished members Of
avail Society, and by Mr.. Sergeant
both Of whom were present-of some
curious experiments made on Mr.
3 asserted ply steal powers as me-
as it is called, though no counte-
is lent by the experimentor or his
d to the hypothesis of the agency of
bile beings Of which the word me.
is a remnant. Mr. Crookes and
Eergeant Cox both seem convinced
these experiments prove the existence
peculiar force which they call
kich," proceeding directly from the
ms system Of specially constituted
MS and which is exerted independ-
of the muscular system, probably
gated, suggests Mr.. Sergeant Cox,
as the least scientific, is the rashest
ese speculative ilquirers. through
tnerye atmosphere OF various inten-
developing the human structure
DR.. Richardson has discovered.
higgins, the most eminent scientific
of the three, is by far the most
bus and reserved in his statements.
gives in his general adherence
Mr.. Crookes' account Of the
iments -" your proof appears
to contain correct statement of
took place in my presence at your
:" but as to one of the most curious
involved in it-namely, that an &C
Ion continued to float about without
isible support" in the copper wire
contrived for it by Mr.. Crookes after
Homes hand had been entirely with
and under these circumstances to
musical airs without Icing touched
" hand-Dr. Huggins states that his
Jon at the table did not permit him to
witness to the withdrawal of Mr.
- hand from the accordeon, though
kites to Mr.. Crookes that "such was
at the time to be the case by your
nd by the person sitting on the 9th r
bf Mr.. Home" H adds, "the ex-
kents appear to me to show the i'm
nee Of further investigation but /
il to be understood that | express no
lon as to the phenomena which took
DR.. Hnggins' evidence is of the
her weight, 80 far as it goes, from the
i caution and reserve with which he
esit. He appears to confirm generally
accuracy of Mr.. Crookes' description,
lpt as to the performances Of the Gagged
|rdeon when Mr. Homes hand was re
ed; but he evidently does not regard
as going further than to
fy and even show 1.-the importance
)r ther Investigation. Even this from
witness as DR.. Higgins is remarka-
testimony.
it what was the precise nature of the
to which, supposing them to be am
authenticated by future tests, such as
|Huggings himself can regard as salts
Dry, these experiments point? 1t is
{-that in the presence of certain
tally gifted or specially organized in
fuals whether the facts, if true, de-
4 on the organization, or on the power
bill, or on the nervous seneibility-in
brd, on what they do depends at
)ent all matter of speculation), q
E developes itself which produces,
bout contact, many of the results Of
ocular effort, and some of the results Of
cular effort directed by q trained
ical taste and ear For example, Mr..
BIKES (all whose test machinery had
prepared without the smallest knowl-
on Mr.. Homes part, Mr.. Home
hg it for the first time when he entered
Crookes' house, had prepared a
(ogany board three feet long by 81
les wide and one inch thick, one end
which rested on firm table, and the
pr was supported by "a spring balance
cling from substantial tripod stand,
"a self-registering index attached.
Is, any pressure exerted on this board
my point nearer to the balance than
spot where it was supported on the
E, tended to dapress the end supported
he balance to an extent registered by
index-the board moving round the
esuppoIted end as round a fulcrum.
Crookes, to test the balance, stood on
foot at the end Of the board nearest to
table, and DR.. Higgins said that the
lie weight of his body then applied
pounds) only sank the index at the
II end to an amount equivalent to one
a half pounds if applied to the bal
end, when he stood still, and to two
nds when he jerked up and down. Mr..
ne, sitting in low easy' chair, simply
lied his fingers lightly to the exact
It where the board rested on the table
that even hard pressure there would
e only had the effect of securing the
rum instead of depressing the other
of the mahogany board) and under
e conditions the opposite end was de.
sed by an amount which varied, as if
waves, between three and one half
nds and six pounds, which was the
lmum obtained.
his experiment was in some respects
most curious, as being the one which
In every respect the most above-board
9TH literally and morally-and which
apparently fully tested by DIR. Hug
J, as well as by Mr.. Sergeant Cox and
Crookes. If repeated often enough in
presence of competent witnesses, II
Id undoubtedly show the real exist
of some new force not due to mus
I exertion.
he other experiment was made by an ac-
Icon imprisoned in drum shaped cage
Ar. Crookes' own invention, the cage
'g made of lathes of wood and copper
to prevent access from outside; but
cage was placed beneath the table,
though Mr. Sergeant Cox and Mr..