Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-15
the body. Apparently, however, 1t some

the body. Apparently, however, 1t some
times acts independently, and even goes
out of the body for a time. 1t may then
make itself visible in the same manner as
does the specter Of a dead person. l am
confident that many of the alleged ap-
pearances of dying individuals to relatives
or friends at distance have actually oc-
curred-as, for example, the apparition of
man drowning at sea, giving notice of
his fate weeks or months before news of
the event could be obtained through ordi-
nary channels.
phenomena equally mysterious, though
OF quite a different sort, l have had an cp-
portun1ty t. observe in my own house and
elsewhere. In my dining room is an oval
table OF massive oak, weighing about 100
pounds. With the hands of two women
laid upon it, no other part of their per-
sons touching 1t, have on more than one
occasion seen it lift itself and literally
caper about the room, whisking the ladies
about until their breath was exhausted by
the evolutions of the eccentric piece of fur
niture. On demand it would furnish raps,
signaling yes and no. telling the number of
the house. answering various questions, and
even beating out with loud tattoo any
tunes that might be demanded. OF course,
much discredit has been thrown upon the
whole business of table-tiltng and table,
rapping by frauds. But / can vouch that
there was no deception in this instance.
Some force which could not possibly have
been exerted by either or both of the la
dies under the circumstances was cXcrted
upon the table. l will not go into any dis
cussion of the loud detonations and flashes
of light which sometimes accompanied the
performance.
Orthodox science saws that 1t Is not
possible to move any object from n distance
and without contact. Let us see, to begin
with, If that is true. The sun acts upon the
earth and upon all the other planets of the
solar system from q distance and without
contact. stone thrown up returns to the
earth from whatever distance, though there
is no ponderable medium of communica-
a a a
Is medium of communication, but an OBJ
ject in vacuo falls by its own weight with
out contact of matter. In that case there
is no ponderabie or otherwise sensible me-
dunn for the transfer of energy.
In Spite of Gravity.
''All action of matter upon matter is ac-
ton at a distance, for no two particles of
matter in the universe are in absolute con-
tact One Of the actions of matter upon
matter Is called attraction. The same
force exerted between large bodies, such as
the earth and the moon, is termed grayita-
ton. The energy of gravitation may be
accurately measured, and everybody ad-
mitS that 1t is a force. Can We conceive OF
any force that does not do some work? 1t
would not be a force unless 1t encountered
resistance. If gravity be universal force,
there must be some other force equally
universal. against which 1t acts and which
reacts against 1T.
This force against which gravity acts Is
levitation. The latter is a principle Of ma
ture not less universal than gravity; 1T rx-
lists everywhere, operates everywhere and
acts upon every particle of matter in the
universe with a uniform energy. When
acting at infinitesimal distances upon mole
culeS of matter, it Is known to science I'M
der the name Of repulsion. The molecules
of gas, which have always tendency TO
fly apart will furnish an example. When
the force of deviation is acting at consider
able distances upon sensible bodies of mat
tor ic ntrlyp nd mi I'D l,xr
science. Levitation is the force which
gravity has to overcome and does overcome,
a rule. 1t is a living energy. which
works as hard to overcome gravity as
gravity does to overcome ii.
Now, my contention Is that mechanical
motion contrary to the usual operations
of the law Of gravity sometimes occur
without the application of any recognized
natural force-that ponderable bodies do
sometimes move without any contact or
impulse which has thus far been dis
covered. Objects, as in the case of my
oak dining table, occasionally appear to
be withdrawn temporarily from the opera
ton of the law of gravity. Consider, il
you please, that there is not priori rea-
son why an object should not go up in the
air any more than for its staying down.
1t is simply question of the direction
in which force is applied. A table levitated
under the conditions / have described is not
withdrawn from the force of gravity, for
it weighs as much in the air as on the
floor.
The Different Theories.
I'm the universe there is no up or down,
except in relation to the point Of view
in which we look at things. People at
the Antipodes do not stand on their heads.
There is no natural necessity for things
to remain On the floor any more than for
them to fall down to the ceiling. Levitn-
ton is simply the expression of a force
acting In a direction opposite to that in
which we are accustomed to see gravity
act. Three different theories may be adj
vanced to account for the movements of
the table.
THE belief of the spiritists is that the
table is moved by ghosts-that is to say,
by disembodied human intelligences, which
lift 1t and hold it in the air. The second
theory is that muscular force is eXerted
unconsciously by the persons who have
their hands on the table. The third idea
which l myself entertain, is that motion
Is communicated TO the table by other
persons who are near, but who do not
touch it. This last is an expression of my
theory of what l call 'teekiness'-which
being translated, means simply the exer-
ton of force at distance without con-
tact. Myself the only person present. with
the two ladies' at the trials of table-tipping
to which have referred did not go near
the table, but sat and watched the per-
Torrance. How far my own ghost may
have been instrumental in the results OBJ
tanned without any intention on my part
to interfere, l cannot say. This is all g.
matter of surmise, and l only venture
to hazard q guess at the correct solution
of the mystery. My proposition summed
up is that there is an astral mechanism
within us which is able to exert physical
effects beyond the confines of the body.
The rappirgs and tattoos on the table
were merely echoes of the workings of
our own psychical consciousness"
RENE BACHE.