The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-27
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From the Bohemian Magazine.


 @ EvITATING, or tipping, the table
 V is another exhibition of psychic
 - force" that is always watched with interest, and yet there are scores of means by which these results may be obtained fraudulently. In fact, ap- paratus manufactured for this express purpose may be procured from the es- abolished dealers in such articles, for the old-fashioned method of lifting the table with hand or knee is now classed as far too primitive trick to be worked effectively. Instead. when the table is either very small, or very light, the medium uses a little rubber "sucker,ps but when it is a large or heavy table that is to be levitated the services of an accomplice are usually employed.
 Thus as one example of these methods, both the medium and his as- sistant wear stout leather band strapped to their wrists. under the
 cuffs. Attached to this is an iron rod which extends about an inch be- yond the leather band To lift the table, therefore, it is only necessary that the projecting portion of the piece of iron should be slipped beneath it, for in this position a vise-like grip can be obtained that will permit of the ta- ble being moved in all directions with out the slightest danger of detection by ordinary inspection.
 Still another method that MT. Car rington describes requires that both the medium and his accomplice shall be supplied with a stout leather strap. In this case the strap goes round the
 neck under the clothing. and attached
 to the lower end Is a strong hook, which can be brought into requisition
 as needed. Wh& the lights have been extinguished the two operators slip
 the hook from its place of concealment, attach it to the under side of the table, and when they straighten, or stand up, even the heaviest piece of furniture
 can be levitated with comparatively lit- tie difficulty.
 Some of the most effective results are
 produced when the medium is supposed to be held, or tied so securely that 1t seems impossible that he could have
 escaped to play the "spook" part so
 actively. And yet, when the method of escaping from these bonds is under stood it all seems so simple that it
 is surprising that any intelligent per | son should be deceived by such com monplace tricks.
 "One of the best rope-tying tests" Mir. Darlington explained, lis that of the Davenport brothers. two clever mediums who have deceived thousands | of persons. In preparing the rope with which they are to be tied they take 1 one of the cords by the middle and l form at that point bow or double loop All that is necessary to make this knot is to wind the cord once around the fingers and, through the ring thus formed, draw a small por- ton of the cord on each side in op- posite directions. This, in fact. is & double slipknot, the loops of which may be diminished or increased in size as the ends are drawn tight or released. | Leaving the two loops open, the two ends of the rope are passed through two holes boared purposely in the chair, 1 and with the ends the mediums are | secured tighly the legs being fastened | to the bottom of the cnaIr while the arms are bound closely to the body. To all appearances they are thorough l ly secured. but this is what really happens The moment that the cabinet | is closed they draw back their legs | little, thus slackening the knot suf- | ficientlv to hermit them to extract. one l hand. With the other hand they hold