The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-19
Mysterious Forces

!. weil-known phenomena. 1t will be
precision, assumed to be received
acts in such a way as to produce
an involuntary movement Of the re-
cipient In the direction Of the hid
den water. This recalls the phe-
nomepon, of "tropism," associated
more often with light than any
other form of energy, but also man.
ifested in connection with gravita-
ton and other forces.
4, "A very common example. known
as heliotropism, is the turning of
the sunflower to face the sun.
More obscure instances, are found
lin the animal kingdoms as for, in
stances. In the behavior iof worms.
r caterpillars. etc, under the sup
posed influence of external, II the
theories are true, remove such
creatures entirely from the field
OF free will. or of self-suggested
and .sslf.governed action.
The behavior of the ,water-finder,
with his witch-hazel. or other di-
: vining rod, in his hand, would be
as purely involuntary as the move
ments of any organism governed
solsly . by external impulses. He
is taswater-finder, both unknown to,
and in spite of himself. This again
comedies with the statements often
made that some persons upon
taking divining rod in their hands
are greatly surprised to find 1t
turning, almost like living thing,
or, as IL some invisible hand were
moving It, and without the slight
T. est suggestion, or intention, on the
part of the subject Of the expert
ment. . ",..., o. ID.
The same kind Of analogy leads
us to the phenomena of the "ouija
board" and Of automatic writing"
Invariably, 1 believe, those who find
q, themselves writing mysterious mes
'sages," affirm that the movements
arg entirely involuntary as far as
they are concerned, and are mads
: even in spite Of them-a fact which
produces mutual suspicion among
D., the rsitters." Only in this case It
would be incomparably more diff
cult to locate the source of the in
fluence producing the involuntary
motions. ~.
Setting aside all thought of dis
: embodied, spirits" or other super
natural agencies, the only apparent
origin Of the strange impulses would
be in the "subconscious mind" Of
the sitter. That the unconscious
movements of the hand thus stimu-
lated should result in the writing of
: words and sometimes sentences, is
no mora wonderful than that the
brain In sleep should invent and
combine scenes, actions. converse
lions, etc, analogous to those of
waking fife-though's almost sinvar-
( iably possessing. like the ines
ages" a character of strangeness,
capriciousness. Representatives, and
! inconsequentiality, that differen-
tiates them from the occurrences
and scenes OF conscious life.
The wonders that lie. hidden in
the depths of the human brain pass
all calculation. The writer to
whom l have already referred says:
"'Certain subjects can, write with
both hands, unconsciously pro-
;ducing coherent phrases on differ
ent laubjects with each hand while,
,at the same time, talking Of a still :
differentr. e, 49,
Many years ago myself saw a
woman In, DR.. SCharcot's hospital
lin Paris who. when hyponotized,
laughed on one side of her face
and cried on the other.
!, z In view OF such. phcnohrena the
basuette and oaija board seem
trifling toys.