Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-24
PIanchelfe.

Prom tie DdHbHry Nstcs.
"Aurder viii OUT is Gs sure Sc fate, and
there is nothing SO inevitable, un,ess il Is plan
| Ghetto.
The other day 1 had = CONVEX satioa with Mr.
-, well, never mind the name, but be is a res,
! parsonage, and declares that the following in-
eident Is OF actual occurrence:
By the way of prologue, let me meption that
MIR. u. (tnat initial Looks as well as any otherl
| Is firm believer in mesmsrlsn, snd even
| dabbles little in that "mystsrious science"-to
| the extent OF tipping tables, moving chairs, and
| as he hath it.
Some year ago, when planchette first made
its bow before the American public, Mr.. G.. be-
came deeply interested In its management
mad II entirely subject to his will, and MANY
were the startling disclosures made through
its agency. But the "capshesf" was this:
Mr.. G.. announced to his more skeptical
acquaintances that he would hold seance at
bis house, when the doubters might easily be
convinced OF the errors of their way, or belief
The hour arrived, and with 1t those interested
despite skepticism-in the workings of the
wonderful bit of wood. Among the guests was
family, who may be called, for convenience
sake. the B.'s-fathers, mothers, and married
daughters. Various questions were put and
answered, satisfactory or other wise; but gener-
Then the BIS were observed In close CONVEX
sation, little aside from the rest of the guests
BY the way, this family were recent arrivals
ana OF their past history but little was known,
even by the most curious of the gossipers
They appeared to be respectable people, and
were greatly liked by their new acquaintance.
Mr.. u. then advanced and said he would like
to test the powers of phanchette. He was told
to ask question in his own MUD, aud PLAN
Ghetto would endeavor to ans yer it, thro ga
the medium OF Mr. ana Mrs G., whose lin gers
were pressed upon the wooden heart.
All was silence for a few moments. Every
eye was raised upon the instrument. Then il
began to move, and revealed huge figure 1.
"WroDg!" shouted Mr.. B., clapping his hands
gleefUlly: "Wrong!-she's only had three!"
dis test-questi0n was: Chow many husbands
had his wife buried?"
AS the entire company had been strangers to
him and his until year past, he felt assured
that planchette must speak entirely OF Its own
knowledge.
This question was the last one propounded.
and the company soon after dispersed; but ii
was noticed the lively Mrs. b. was strangely sub
dued,and that she and her la lighters whispered
together very earnestly
The next day Mr.. b. called upon Mr.. G., aud
after little talk, abruptly said:
al want to buy that phanchette thing of yours,
heightor, or else get you to promise not to
work IL any more. You know l thought you
made fool of yourself last night, but instead
find was foOl-and have been for the last
thirty years past. What dy' think wife said TO
me after we got home? You know said your
figure was one point too high that she'd only
had three. L didn't know 1 was living until
wife said, says she: Father, / do believe the
very Old Boy himself is in that plaguey thing!,
Says l: What dOyou mean? IJ guessed wroag.
lt said that you'd had four husbands Saws
she: We'll, father, the fact is, L had one that
you dldn { know anything about"