The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-05

osAve, ana winch you efc MOI yvoASSAs ~ Z,
pelIing. IS seldom experienced by mortal
man. We see iron filings move about the
poles of q magnet. or bits of paper fiutter
to piece of rubbed seAling-wax, but this lS
different, for planchette moves in no fixed
direction towards certain objective point,
but in all directions impartialiy; and more
over, it moves intelligently. 1t writes:
draws and does other things which | shall
presently describe. Barring certain habits
that it falls into its manifestations GER
tainiy contradict expectation; 1t does not do
what some think rs going to do. In vain
you ask it question which seems to neces-
state particular answer; planchette re-
plies from quite another standpoint and
current of thought, and its reply Is sur
prise. In pursuance of the theory of "un-
conscious centration," you explore your,
mind and memory for the source Of plan
chette's remarks, with no very satisfactory
results. Besides, admitting that the con-
tents Of your memory, and the springs of
your character, lie open to planchette, to
make therefrom such selections and COM
binations as it chooses-how does 1t do it?
How do the contents of your mind get
into the piece Of tobacco-box, and how does
it contrive to write them out?
have spoken of the attraction Of mag
net. If you hold a small piece of iron close
to strong magnet, you feel slight pull.
The pull the pianchette gives to your fin
gers, when it proceeds on its peregrina-
tons, is very similar to this. But, in writ
ing out word, it pulls i'll dozen different
directions within the space of few Sec
onds. The effect is not like that of ma
chine, however complex, or of q body
obeying fixed and inevitable laws, but Of
an Independent personality, endowed with
intelligence, purpose and memory. For
it remembers what it has said and
a f i. IN about the pa' to aa do our pan
Ghetto, in answer to questions suggested
by its own answers, related to us, in daily
installments extending over three weeks, q
long story comprising upwards of 10000
words. 1t was so good story that it was
afterwards accepted and published by
leading. periodical, word for word as it was
originally written down, and from begin
ming to end there was not an inconsis-
tencv Nor was it all written through
the mediumship of one pair of people, a
dozen different couples at different times
sat down to the work, and the tale pro-
ceeded uninterruptedly. In short, the
complete story must have been stored up
in planchette's mind" before it began to
write it.
After we have become accustomed to the
thing, and familiar with its ways, many
queer peculiarities are noticed. Planchette
has no morality, and no regard for truth.
If we ask it question as to a matter of
fact, or about something in the future, its
reply is always ready and generally very
explicit, but never true save by accident.
BY far the best method is to let it take the
lead in conversation. viii you write,
w linqnss .John Smith Cor any 1 other
imaginary person. You now proceed to
question John Smith on any imagin-
able detail of his person, his life,
death. occupation, desires, recollec-
tions, purposes and sentiments. By
and by, John becomes human and recog-
=: II
able to tell by the preliminary sensation
in the nerves whether it is John or some one
else who is about to write the next sem
tence. Planchette never confesses its own
drnmatis personz. Sometimes three or four
different persons Ito cali them that) will
each write sentence one after another;
but the sentences are all characteristic in
style and conception. Occasionally have
seen two COMMITMENTS contend for the
possession Of planchefte, jerking it away
from each other, tripping up each others
writing, lighting, in word, like two angry
children, and in one instance breaking the
pencil in their struggle. Planchette often
cyncism, scorn-all manner of human
foibles. 'sTell Mary" it once suddenly
wrote, breaking in upon some yarn 1T was
spinning, that she had better shut up"
Now Mary did not have her hands on
Planchette, but she was sitting at the
frivolous remarks. Planchette always
wants the whole attention Of everybody in
sight, and is apt to grow sulky or abusive
If this is not accorded.
It only does its best work in fact when
the general interest and curiosity Of the
spectators is at its height We also. found
that, other things being equal, it wrote
better on a warm day than on a cold one,
and that the hands of those who are work
ing it should be warm The best wood TO
make it out of was of the resinous varieties
The proper shape was that of the heart Ton
playing card) and the dimensions, seven
inches by five. Wheels are not necessary
on the legs; it writes more steadily with
out them.
It will do other things besides write.
Let some one hide an object, say key or
glove somewhere in the room, and let
two others who don't know where it is
hidden take up planchette and let it rest
on their right and left hands respec-
lively, the forefinger hooked on the legs
of the instrument. Now tell il to find the
object and you will Immediately find q
slight pressure of the legs against your
fingers, indicating the direction in which
the planchette wishes to go. You step in
this direction, carefully needing and obey
ing the pressure. Sometimes there will
also be an upward and downward pressure
Thus you Will be led all around the room,
and in three cases out Of five perhaps the
object will be found.
If one take it outdoors it will act like the
witch-hazel of tradition; it will dip very
perceptibly in passing over certain places.
Whether underneath these places there
was water or gore never made investiga-
ton, but the movement was always re-
peated at the same spot Pianchette will
perform such feats, however, only after il
has become thoroughly domesticated, SO
to say, and of course one of the persons
handling tfk instrument must be
observation-disclosures that may mean
About one person in five, according to my
observation has more or less of this fac
ulty, and one out of twenty viii have it in
| a marked degree.
| Having thus in some measure prepared
| the way, shall relate next time an ex-
| perience of our own with pIanchette,
| which is, so far as know, unprecedented.
JULIAN HAWTHORNE.