New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-11-27
AN OBEDlENT TABLE
Rises and Settles at BeheSt Of
Brothers.

The hour was TIE nrst stock ticking time
yesterday and the room as Well as the
morning was flled with glorious sunshine.
The room was IN the large building al No.
IL BroadWav IA the heart OF the financial
district, unlikely 10 bc chosen FOR a practice
ground. especially in the morning by even
80 indomitable spirit that Of the buc-
canneer John The seance was con
trolled" by two brothers. almost twins in
the real sense. completely 80 in color and
Gus Of their clothes. even 10 the snappy
odd" vest that frightened up the front
view of each. and including the evidence OF
particular attention that IL was plain each
regularly save To- his hair. And last, but
not least. TO the credit Of the youthful
possessors 81 what they termed their pc
culiar power" the assistants yesterday
Were confined exclusively 10 ten newspaper
reporters -Four other reporters acted as
spook detectives. Even So. the table tipped
backward and forward In answer 10 spe-
cine questions and IN compliance with the
definite instructions Of Samuel ard Charles
Hershensteiu. tweuty-three and twenty-one
years old. respectively, students at the Co
lumha University Law school
The ten reporters were told by Charles
IIersAenstein 10 sit around small sewing
table and To place their hands thereon with
some frnuess. The law student did like
wise and talked feel.ngly # his wish and
the wish 81 his brother and ~ all their
friends that the reporters should erase
from Their minds the faintest suspicion
that any mechanical means. any trickery
whatever would he responsible for any OF
the fancy steps of the table. The vigilance
Of the outridors was not decreased. how
ever
- : auF -
me" said Charles 20 the owners Of the
twenty outspread hands Tell me funny
stories. please. for twelve minutes In
fifteen minutes the table will rise" There
was certain skepticism as TO the schedule
being precisely followed. but II did not
lodge in the mind Of Charles. A watch was
drawn by a hystanGer, and after what
seemed 10 be an hour ana half Charles
was told that the hands across the sewing
board had been working all but thirty sec
onds Of the allotted time.
The table viii soon move" said Charles.
do not help or thWart me. Fingers light
ly on the table, please. In few seconds
the table viii rise. Now. table, this is
Charles. Move. table. please move. Please
move toward me. table. Come. table;
come, table. please. Now rise higher. stil
higher, table, please
He had removed mis- hands from the table
when il began TO show d wish 10 make the
exhibition a success. When TWO OF its legs
were a few inches IF the carpet a picture
was taken and when the table tipsJer
gave tie command, Back. table, b.ck
slowly. please, table, il resumed us nor
mai pose. After which il was talked into
tilting on both sides alternately, Charles's
hands being apparently as innocent Of any
wrong influence when placed on its surface
as each reporter afterward said that his
own had been.
The control" was then transferred 10
samuel the elder Of the students.
Now. table. this is Samuel lie said.
frankly, 'and ] want TO know. please.
whether you viii 80 just as ] bid YOU II
you will. table. please answer In three
rhythmic tits
The table was peIfecu willing. Then
he wanted 10 know how many rings were
worn by the reporters That was easy.
TIE table gave a rhythmic response that
undulated into the answer, Six The
rather useless attitude Of standing on one
leg was next suggested to the table by
Samuel. IL was foolish, but the table had
promised Samuel and tie table kept its
word.
How do you account for it," the young
men were asked.
We do not know the source Of our
power" they answered. twin fashion. Ne
only know that We possess IL and that al
home We can do even moye wonderful
things