The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-05-22
PLANCHETTE.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE ONCE NOTED
AND MYSTERIOUS TOY.
Extraordinary Traits OF tho Magical Lit
tie Three-Legged stool-Tho Most
Generally Accepted Explana-
tion-Another Theory.
Scientific Americana

Scientific American
Planchette Is now very seldom met with,
and so many questions are constantly sent
to the Office Of this paper concerning it, that
we reprint an article which appeared In
The Scientific American in 1868.
Many think that there Is some hidden So
cret In the construction Of planchette. This,
however, is a mistake, as all that Is neces-
sary is that the parts should be nicely
joined, and that 1t should stand firmly and
move readily on its legs ANY one with or
dinary mechanical skill can put one to-
gether. A heart.shaped cedar board, with
two nicely turned metal legs, carry
ing well fabricated casters, the point OF the
for the insertion of q lead pencil, which
serves as the third leg and rests on the paper.
1t is not to be supposed that planchette will
yield at once to the influence for it Ii
very willful, and often, when it does begin
to move, simply speeds across the paper,
scribbling incohersnces One Of the most
extraordinary traits Of the planchotte, how
ever, Is the way in which ii will persist in
writing repeatedly meaningless reply,
until suddenly the humor will seize it, and it
will write coherent word or sentence.
Planchette first made its appearance in
1867, and was by no means dow In attract
ing almost universal attention. The pranks
that it was made to play were so many and
curious, and its ways so mysterious, that
not only did it become the nightmare Of the
superstitious but it afforded amusement In
many q housholi. It became also the sub
ject of investigation by some scientists
Marvellous tales were told by the credulous
about it, and planchette often told curious
tales about itself. Even as distinguished
scientists as Professor Tyndall and Professor
Faraday were drawn into controversies con-
corning it.
Many believed that humbug was stamped
over every movement Of planchette and
that one or the other Of those whose hands
bore upon it always conspired with the little
board in the formulation Of its replies; but
when it became evident that planchstte
would write coherent answers while under
he influence Of those who were in ignorance
Of the replies that were expected, it became
ecessary to explain the phenomenon on
some other basis. Whether this has ever
been satisfactorily answered is In the minds
Of some still question. Certain 1t Is that
',lanchstte has performed soms curious feats,
nd has made for itself a position In the
orld of mysteries.
Probably the most generally accepted ex-
PLANTATION Is that advanced by Lswes and
others, that although there Is no intentional
movement Of the hands Of those who are
subjecting planchette to the influence, still
there Is, in spite of this, an unconscious
pressure Of the finger tips upon the board,
which directs the movement of the pencil.
Nor does 1t seem that such can be ut all un-
likely, for unconscious movement Is lIy no
means an unusual phase Of existence. Tho
somnambulist who nightly takes prone
made from cellar to garrett, or whose steps by
chance have led him to the border Of pre-
cipice, has as little knowledge of the peril
he has escaped when the morning beams
have awaked him as planchetts Is conscious
Of its movements. How often also In mer-
camille pursuits do those who are accus-
toned to q certain routine perform 1t up-
consciously, and after the work has been
finished would be unable to tell you of
many Of the details of the work which Gus
tom has taught them to perform correctly,
even while in q state Of abstraction.
Much has been said at times of plan
chette's prophetic nature. Under the in
fuence Of certain people of highly nerv-
Gus temperament, or having to q certain ex-
tent the qualities Of mediums, future
events ard said to be foretold. Secrets
of which the person touching plan
chette g in ignorance have been
divulged in q remarkable way, and
many anecdotes draping planchetts in mys-
terry are repeated and believed. Were the
testimony, however, more universal; were
planchette more consistent, and were Il more
generally truthful and less given to uttering
remarkable sayings oniy occasionally, there
would be moro reason for according 1t o
place for thorough and systematic investi-
Cation Perhaps the day will come when
mesmerism Is understood and mind reading
Is more satisfactorily explained, that there
will be occasion for looking upon planchetts
more seriously, and of regarding 1t as
wonderful means Of displaying rational
nervous action independent of conscious
mental cerebration.