The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-13
Sfunie ApDaratuS Enabling the
sender of Messages to Concern
fratc Ills Attention.
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
PsYCHICAL RESEARCH SOCIETY IN
TEREsTED IN THE NATTER.
MnrcOni's ParaphernaIia Cast in the
Previous Ar
ranEements with Receiver.


Correspondence OF the indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON. July 1O.-Members of the
Society for Psychical Research are expert
menting here with wireless biography ap-
paratus. giving results far more phenom-
email than any obtained by Marconi and his
imitators. These scientists are transmit
ting and receiving messages over wide
areas Of territory. and the percentage OF
error is claimed to be less than that en-
countered by the Italian inventor during
his elementary trials.
They employ transmitting Instruments
wrought OF metal and wood. They dispatch
single letters. words Of geometric designs.
A great economy in their system is real
lied from the utter substitution Of concen-
trated mind force for electricity. Chimeri-
cal as this enterprise may appear to the un-
Initiated, it yet bears with the prediction
of that hard-sheIed scientist. Sir William
Crookes, prince Of British chemists fellow
Of the Royal Society, discOverer Of thai
Ium. inventor Of the radiometer and X-ray
tube. and former president Of the Society
for Psychical Research. Sir William. in a
recent interview, prophesied that 1t would
soon be found practicable 70 telegraph
without wires by simply transferring
thought from mind TO mind at the will OF
the thinker.
THE TRANSMITTING APPARATUS,
The transmitting instrument used in these
experiments consists of a stereopticon Ian
tern for projecting light. an easel support
ing a blackboard or screen, disks of paste
board marked with the letters. words or de-
signs to be dispatched. and a conical tube
TO be held at the eye Of the transmitting
agent.
The black screen is set UP in a dark room
- go
center. The disks are about a foot in d.
ameter. are of white cardboard and are
impressed with the letters or figures, of
conspicuous size. printed in black.
The stereopticon projects a circle Of in
tense white light, which exactly fits the
round outlines of the disk and brilliantly
Eliminates the latter, which thus becomes
the only visible object in the darkened
room.
The transmitting agent sits at a conven-
tent distance from the illumined disk and
holds TO his eye the conical tube, which
shuts from view any environmenta object
or objects which may chance to receive
reflected light from the white cardboard.
The transmitting agent faces the disk
squarely in order that the light on 1t viii
be reflected into the tube equally from all
parts Of the lighted surface. All of this
paraphernalia, as has already been cleaned,
is but a mechanical aid TO perfect concen-
t%ration, and is the best possible conductor
of the message from the black screen TO
the brain.
The receiver comfortably sits or reclines
in another dark room. His eyes are
b%andaged TO shut out from his vision any
intruding light rays which may be filtered
through door or window cracks. Quietude
is essential to the success of both agents.
While the mind of the transmit must be
focused and concentrated with all posi-
BILE force upon the visible portion of the
message to be sent. that of the receiver
must be equally passive, assuming that
vacuum which the ~hypnotist demands prior
TO his first operations.
Both transmitter and receiver keep a.
conscientious record of the messages dis
patched and obtained. Unless he cause
distraction a second person in the room
with each may more readily do this. The
disks must. of course, be arranged without
the receivers knowledge OF their contents.
THE AFTER IMAGE.
After concentrating his gaze upon the
black and white image. then closing his
eyes. walking into a lighted room and
opening them the transmitter sees, I'm day
light. the same figures clearly defined in
reverse-the black being intensely white.
the white OF a kind of smoky Wilderness.
BY gaslight the white appears blush, APP
preaching purple. and the black a luminous
yellow. These are the after images of the
disk The receiver. on the other hand,
while allowing his mind TO remain passive.
begins TO see wavy clouds, followed by a
pale, blush light. very bright I'm the GEN.
ter. As he becomes more and more skilIful
the figures transmitted gradually appear in
larger, luminous forms, lasting each a
moment. but reappearing. perhaps, several
times.
\ simpler experiment, adapted to any
drawing room. may be conducted in this
way: The t%ransmitter sits before a table.
his chair back TO back with that OF the re-
ceiver. The latter occupies, preferably, an
arm chair. He faces a dark corner of the
room and bIindfolks his eyes that his mind
may not be distracted by objects about
him. The transmitter. then. in the pres
ence OF others, perhaps. draws from a pack
of playing cards and concentrates upon the
design. color and denomination of each pro-
duced. Beginners obtain more satisfactory
results il experimenting with but two suits
and two numbers in each suit. Many such
packs may be arranged out OF a dozen or
binary QeChS- however the CARDS may be
arranged. they are shufled and drawn at
random. The shutting and holding may be
done by a third person. who keeps a record
OF the card he sees drawn each time and
that which the receiver claims 10 see stimuli
taneOusly. In some experiments IL Is pre-
ferred 10 eliminate the court cards. using
only the numbered denominations Both
receiver and transmitter frequently imagine
that they see the forms OF cards under
going change while efforts are being made
10 picture them firmly IN their minds.
DISPATCHING COLORS.
The disk and stereopticon apparatus is
successfully employed in transmitting col
ors as well as outlines. tinted screens be-
ing placed across the lantern. AS progress
Is being made the coiors and designs are
being combined. as. for instance. in a red
triangle, a blue square, a yellow circle. etc.
The receivers generally visualize" the
figures thus telegraphed. In other words.
they perceive vivid pictures OF them in
their minds eyes before pronouncing them.
Others become more alert and mention
them as soon as the thought has been
transmitted. AS greater and greater apt
ness is attained by some, common objects