SCIENCE AND THE 'SPIRITS.' 449 



The superhuman power of the spirits was next 

 dwelt upon. The strength of man, it was stated, was 

 unavailing in opposition to theirs. No human power 

 could prevent the table from moving when they pulled 

 it. During the evening this pulling of the table 

 occurred, or rather was attempted, three times. Twice 

 the table moved when my attention was withdrawn 

 from it ; on a third occasion, I tried whether the act 

 could be provoked by an assumed air of inattention. 

 Grasping the table firmly between my knees, I threw 

 myself back in the chair, and waited, with eyes fixed 

 on vacancy, for the pull. It came. For some seconds 

 it was pull spirit, hold muscle ; the muscle, however, 

 prevailed, and the table remained at rest. Up to the 

 present moment, this interesting fact is known only to 

 the particular spirit in question and myself. 



A species of mental scene-painting, with which my 

 own pursuits had long rendered me familiar, was 

 employed to figure the changes and distribution of 

 spiritual power. The spirits, it was alleged, were pro- 

 vided with atmospheres, which combined with and 

 interpenetrated each other, and considerable ingenuity 

 was shown in demonstrating the necessity of time in 

 effecting the adjustment of the atmospheres. A re- 

 arrangement of our positions was proposed and carried 

 out ; and soon afterwards my attention was drawn to a 

 scarcely sensible vibration on the part of the table. 

 Several persons were leaning on the table at the time, 

 and I asked permission to touch the medium's hand. 

 ' Oh ! I know I tremble,' was her reply. Throwing one 

 leg across the other, I accidentally nipped a muscle, and 

 produced thereby an involuntary vibration of the free 

 leg. This vibration, I knew, must be communicated 

 to the floor, and thence to the chairs of all present. 

 I therefore intentionally promoted it. My attention 



