July 1. 1854.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



9^ 



prits ? (Great as Voltaire's attainments were, it is 

 strange, almost unnatural, to find they included 

 the bibliographical knowledge of Mons. Carion's 

 literary projects, but he answers in a flash.) — Oui ! 

 — Savez-vous que je publierai dans ces lettres la 

 conversation que nous avons eue ensemble, et 

 pensez-vous que je fasse en cela une oeuvre utile ? 

 (I am ashamed to transcribe the reply. Is it pos- 

 sible that profaneness in the name of science has 

 proceeded to this extent ? or could not the spirit 

 of Voltaire restrain the malicious indulgence of 

 his wit?) — Oui! pour eclairer les hommes, en leur 

 J'aisant connaitre la grande misericorde de mon 

 Seigneur Dieu Jesus Christ. — Mais je voudrais 

 vous appliquer une partie du merite (only a part, 

 and that " du merite." M. Carion says nothing of 

 the value of the autograph so obtained) qu'il 

 pourrait y avoir dans cette oeuvre, en vous y 

 faisant contribuer d'une maniere plus particuliere 

 que tons les autres. En un mot (now comes the 

 honour, the gi-eat reward, and the modest request, 

 *' mais c'est ce cher Carion." How could Vol- 

 taire's spirit less than affiliate with this spirit which 

 evoked his?), je voudrais avoir de vous la tna- 

 tiere dun fac- simile (What is that? Ink?), que 

 je placerais en tete de mon petit livre. (Always 

 "le petit livre," but "en tete?" No, Mons. Carion 

 has deceived the spirit, and placed the autograph 

 rather " en queue." Doubtless this is the binder's 

 fault, for Carion himself is a particular man. Notice 

 how he proceeds.) Voulez-vous m'ecrire, le mieux 

 que vous pourrez., quelques mots "h, votre choix ? (to 

 aid the sale of " le petit livre." Voltaire replies 

 in another flash) — Oui !— Eh bien, ecrivez ce que 

 vous croirez devoir etre le plus utile k vous et aux 

 autres, et signez ensuite, avec tout le soin possible" 

 which the spirit did in good round-hand * ; but 



[* Could somebody inform us how the handwriting 

 is obtained? 



When we know that, we shall hope for Dr. Schiff, 

 of Frankfort-sur-Maine, to explahi the trick ; who, 

 according to the Literary Gazette of Saturday last, has 

 solved the mystery of " Spirit-rapping." The Doctor, 

 it seems, "was lately present when a medium was 

 engaged in producing the rappings. This medium 

 was a young German girl ; and as she sat perfectly 

 isolated, and made no perceptible movement, the 

 Doctor was puzzled to guess how she caused the tap, 

 tap, by which questions were answered. Going home, 

 It struck him that the noise might be occasioned by 

 straining the tendons and muscles ; and he immediately 

 set to work to contract his feet and hands, and make 

 other experiments with his limbs. At length, to his 

 delight, the 'rapping' struck his ear; and, after a 

 few trials, he found that he could create it at will as 

 easily as any ' medium.' And how is the thing done ? 

 By simply displacing the peronmus longus which passes 

 behind the ankle up the leg; such displacing being 

 effected by a scarcely perceptible change in the position 

 of the foot, and being accompanied by a loudish snap. 



notwithstanding the injunction of " tout le soin 

 possible," being hurried, raethinks he " felt the 

 morning air," he neither dotted his I's nor crossed 

 his ^'s, so that the hand reminds you of Charles 

 Lamb's repentant-after-spirit, " Yours, raytherish 

 unwell," but "la plume tra§a ces lignes aussitot:" 



" J'ai renie 



mes oeuvres impies. 



J'ai pleure, 



et mon Dieu m'a fait misericorde. 



VOLTAIRI." 



And this is avouched as a fact, addressed to 

 an intellectual people, in the most enlightened 

 capital of Europe. From henceforth no edition 

 of the works of Voltaire is complete without 

 these words as a motto on the title-page. They 

 will at least impart to them this charm, that in a 

 page of Voltaire three words of unmixed truth are 

 found — " Mes (Euvres Impies." S. H. 



FOLK LOSE. 



Valentine's Eve in Norwich. — I should be glad 

 if any of your subscribers could give me any in- 

 formation of the origin of the manner in which 

 this festival is celebrated here. To all Norwich 

 men (or women or children either) this eve will 

 call up a host of delightful associations ; but those 

 who are strangers may not so well know to what 

 I allude. In brief, then, the custom is this : — As 

 soon as it is dark, packages may be seen being 

 carried about in a most mysterious way ; and as 

 soon as the coast seems clear, the parcel is laid on 

 the door-step, the bell clashed, and the bearef 

 runs away. Inside the house all is on the qui 

 vive, and the moment the bell is heard, all the 

 little folks (and the old ones too sometimes) rush 

 to the door, and seize the parcel, and scrutinise the 

 direction most anxiously, to see whether it is for 

 papa or mamma, or for one of the youngsters. 

 The parcels contain presents of all descriptions, 

 from the most magnificent books or desks, to 

 little unhappy squeaking dolls ; indeed, I have 

 known a great library easy chair come in this 



In persons in whom the fibrous sheath containing the 

 peroneeus is weak or relaxed, the movement is more 

 easily effected and produces a greater noise. Having 

 made this discovery. Dr. SchifF practised it until he 

 got to be a first-rate * medium,' and then he hastened 

 off to Paris to make it known. In a recent sitting of 

 the Academy of Sciences, a paper on the subject was 

 read ; and afterwards the Doctor, in presence of the 

 learned body, showed how the feat was accomplished. 

 Over and over again he created 'rappings' as distinct 

 and as clear as any ' spirit ' has done yet. His simple, 

 yet scientific, explanation of one of the greatest of 

 modern impostures, caused both gratification and 

 amusement to the Academy,"] 



