The New York herald., 1878-12-18
PROFESSOR PARKHuEsr ON READING SEALED
ENvELOPES

ENVELOPES.
To THE EDITOR on THE HERALD
1t Is only with the first two sentences Of Dr. Will
lam A. Hammond's letter on Miss Fancher's case in
the HERALD Of Saturday that have personally to do
but before taking mp that point will make one or
two suggestions upon the remainder of his letter.
When Gaieo discovered the moons of Jupiter in his
telescope can imagine a sceptic calling him hum
bug of the most decided kind, and declaring that
unless he would show four to the planet Venus
to committee of three members Of some society he
must consent to be denounced impostor It
is in vain that Galeo replies that Venus is too
the sun to be seen. that the object glass of his
telescope has become tarnished and needs repohing
and thst his health win prevent repoishing it at
present. Here is another star just bright" says
the sceptc, 'and win give you half an hour for the
test and three weeks to make up your mind" J"
But" says Calico 81 said that any thing could
be seen through my telescope, and I don't care
whether you believe If or not II my friends who
have looked through the telescope profess to have
seen anything that Ia for you to settle with them
and not with me. I am too sick 70 trouble myself
about it,"
Perhaps . better parallel TO the demands made
upon Miss Fancher would be found in the case of
astronomers who should go to Lcscarbault after
announcement that he had the planet Vulcan in
transit, and demand Of him to show the planet to
them or submit to be called humbug
1t would be impossible for Lescarbault TO know
when the planet would again be in transit and he
should find 1t again 1t would be before astrono
mers could be notified and come and see il.
Now, l do not know whether Miss Fancher will at
tempt read the contents of sealed envelope under
different conditions from any former attempt. II she
should undertake IL and fail IL would only show that
the difference in the conditions made 1t impossible
the former test. Miss Fancher kept the first en-
velope that prepared, the smaller envelope referred
to In my letter written at the time months be-
fore she was in condition 10 attempt to read it,
which was one reason for my preparing new
tn 1t,na 4 ahn mot .t
time ike this. when she Is hardly left an
hour for her mind to get in repose, she could
time am left as the only witness now in the city Of
the only complete test that, 80 far as ! know has
been made. Ny testimony. given in the HERALD OF
November 30. may be properly questioned upon two
Frst-That am not sufficiently well known for my
testimony be received implicitly, because IL was
nlauifestly possible for DR.. Leigh and myself 70 col
lnde with Miss Fancher 20 deceive. Nothing that I
say win diminish the strength Of this objection
II In not through my aut or my neglect that persons
Of worldwide reputation have not been able testify
10 similar facts.
Seoond-That / am not sufncientiy an expert TO
know whether sealed envelope has or has not been
opened. and that is the issue raised by Dr. Hammond
and the issue which feel called upon 10 meet
In space of four dimensions Inathcmatcians tell
that closed surface be turned inside ont but
the practical application OF that principle would be
greater wonder than clairvoyance itself When the
four aaps of an envelope are united by a zeal know
of only two ways to open the enveope-either by the
disturbance of the SEAL releasing Of tho flaps
easy TO open the envelope without disturbing the
SEAL for that is cxartly wnat did myself after t
returned to me. But my friends and IN yself were
satisfied, not only that the sea had not been dis
turbed, but that the paper had not been parted. IL
Dr. Hammond considers 1t q very easy thing to do,
perhaps he will be able to do IL himself to find
to do IL for him, and will therefore, pro-
pose the following test, subject 10 any reasonable
notifications:
will prepare and seal MP three or more envelopes
in the same manner before, which shall be num-
bered. These sealed envelopes shall be placed in
arfa
sons who shall deliver 10 Dr. Hammond one of them.
This envelope shall be opened in the presence OF
committee, reclosed and returned 20 them. They
shall then place this envelope with the others and
turn the whole TO II fail within three days 70
designate which OF the envelopes was opened will
admit that my former test was insufficient.
Or ~ DR.. Hammond will state any sble mode in
which the contents Of the envelope could be
tanned without clarvoyance, and without disturbing