The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-27
SCIENCE OF TABLE TIPPING.
TeIexfnctic Theory of Levftation Com
sidered by AN Investigator.


Prof Coues, in Metaphysical Magazine.
The alleged spontaneous and even intel
ligent movements of various inanimate OBJ
iects under some circumstances, without
the application of any known mechanical
force. is a phenomenon which has never
been explained to the satfaction of scien-
tific men. / do not think it possible to
explain away the allegations of the fact
on the assumption that all the persons who
have testified to the evidence of their
senses in this matter have been either mis-
taken or mendacious. In the absence of
evidence to the contrary, l am obliged to
assume the reality of the phenomenon of
deviation; and intellectual integrity obliges
me TO seek some rational explanation Of
the well-attested occurrences which have
become known as "table-turning. The
theory of telekinesis which 1 have formu-
lated seems to me at present to fit the
facts better than any other. / should like
to see it thoroughly tested. and then re-
jected accepted, as the case may be-
1 have no prejudice prediction what
ever. If thousands of intelligent and vera
cious persons have been fooling themselves.
as most scientists believe, let have
theory of halucination to cover all such
cases. 1t would be an important contribu-
ton to rational psychology; but, so far as
1 am aware, no such theory has as yet
been established. Again, il any spiritual,
means let US have that one. The failure of
both these exereme views to meet the re-
Keeps me on the debatable teekinetic
ground which forms the basis of the present
article.
I am inclined to think that deviation is
universal force of nature-like gravitation;
and that one reason why the latter is &C
cepted fact, while the former is reject
ed as fallacy, is that the Law. of gravita-
tional action has been successfully formu-
has hitherto eluded us.
Many minds have acquired an unconscious
bias against anything of the. sort, because
1t is supposed TO "contravene' q we'll eStab-
ished law of nature. But this is spurious
objection. The est" blishad law of gravita-
shot into the air. 1t remains in full force
during the ascent of the missile, which is
speedily brought to rest on the ground by
this force: Simply, gravitation has been
overcome for a few moments by mechan-
ical force acting in direction the opposite
OF the line of gravitational energy. The
cases of deviation which l shall presently
adduce no more contravene the law of grav-
itation than the flight of the arrow does.
The main difference is that in the one case
we understand, or, at any rate can measure,
the mechanical force exerted to make the
arrow fly, while in the other case the kind
of force that is exerted and the manner in
which 1t is eXerted, are an unsoived prob
lem.
Thus, it is within my personal knowledge
unless / am victim of chronic hallucina-
may cause movements of inanimate objects
to take place without any application OF
mechanical FORCE ana without any con thaea
movements may be invested with sort of
intelligence, it were, in an echo of the
thoughts, or phantom of the mind, of the
person who causes them. L will cite, in sup
port of this contention, a typical case which
Mrs. CoueS and myself had occasion to
bring before the Psychical Science Congress
at Chicago about year ago.
The scene is the sitting room of our home.
f- 10 hoo fatll Ia off nk
nlaid, weighing perhaps 100 pounds, with
an oval top, exactly 312X41a feet in greatest
breadth and length. The single leg spreads
below into three feet on casters Overhead
is the chandelier, with two, three or four
burners turned on, as the case may be. |
the room, some yards away, with two more
gas burners overhead. Mrs. Coues and
the table do anything" The cover is re-
moved; Mrs. C. sits in low rocker, with
her hands on the table; the other lady sits
in low easy chair, across the short dla-
meter of the oval, and places her hands in
the same position. Four hands now
of furniture which is otherwise I'M
touched In these respective posi-
tons neither person could lift the
ever. Neither could push down upon that
side, and thus make the other side tip
muscular exertion. Neither could lift the
table with the knees, because the knees
did not touch it. Neither could lift the
it's feet, because the toes were elsewhere;
and besides, the table was too heavy, and
the way it would have tipped aSkew by
such means, had these been employed, was
not the way it generally tipped. Under the
circumstances thus described in the full
light of several gas jets, the table usually
began first to creak and make various
noises unlike such could be heard from
it by Intentional pressing and wrenching
These noises soon seemed to take on
certain method in their madness, to
speak. and thereafter turned to some def
n
which yes or mo- was conveyed, accord
ing to a prearranged code of signals. In
this way an Ineligible conversation could
be carried on between the sitters and some
unknown person entity. This phantom
Individual YOU'D generally e99mPy with re- e.
the table or the other would tilt up, as de-
sired; lurch to the right or left would be
made, as requested. The table having be-
come animated to this extent by some
semblance of intelligent personality
further contact of the hands was not neces-
sary to the manifestation. Both ladies
take their hands off, push back their chairs.
and continue to sit at little distance.
contact with the table at any point. The
separation is absolute and easily per-
eeived by me to be such; the distance
apart is foot or more.
Under. these conditions. the table spon-
taneously Gas would be said We're the furni-
azure alive) lifts one foot off the floor, and
then comes down with thump; it lifts two
feet at once and let's them down with
bang, heavy enough to jar the floor and
make the glass globes overhead rattle With
such violent demonstrations as these the
table keeps its own mind, or spook or what
ever possesses it, and continues to converse
| by rapS or tits, or both; it's affirna lions
and denials seem rational sometimes coin
| Gliding with views expressed by the sitters
sometimes obstinately opposing them Nc ~
| the table asserts itself to be particular
individual, and maintains such character
during the interview; again, this Individual
ity retres or is replaced by another with
different opinions, and different way of
expressing them in noises and movements
In fine, senseless piece of wood becomes
| for the time, to all intents and purposes an
animate object, or individual possessing
| will power, and willing to convey intelli-
gence.
l could easily elaborate this description
| with multitude of additional particulars
But all would be to the same purport; let
one case stand as the type. of all. No me-
chanical explanation of such an occurrence
seems to me possible, for no known me-
| chanical force is appledw to tho tabIa rrt,