SCIENCE AND THE ''SPIRITS** 471 



meant "Not yet,*' and that three knocks meant **Yes/* 

 In answer to a question whether I was a medium, the 

 response was three brisk and vigorous knocks. 1 noticed 

 that the knocks issued from a particular locality, and 

 therefore requested the spirits to be good enough to an- 

 swer from another corner of the table. They did not 

 comply; but I was assured that they would do it, and 

 much more, by and by. The knocks continuing, I turned 

 a wine-glass upside down, and placed my ear upon it, as 

 upon a stethoscope. The spirits seemed disconcerted by 

 the act; they lost their playfulness, and did not recover 

 it for a considerable time. 



Somewhat weary of the proceedings, I once threw my- 

 self back against my chair and gazed listlessly out of the 

 window. While thus engaged, the table was rudely 

 pushed. Attention was drawn to the wine, still oscillat- 

 ing in the glasses, and I was asked whether that was not 

 convincing. I readily granted the fact of motion, and 

 began to feel the delicacy of my position. There were 

 several pairs of arms upon the table, and several pairs 

 of legs under it; but how was I, without offence, to ex- 

 press the conviction which I really entertained ? To ward 

 off the difficulty, I again turned a wine-glass upside down 

 and rested my ear upon it. The rim of the glass was not 

 level, and my hair, on touching it, caused it to vibrate 

 and produce a peculiar buzzing sound. A perfectly can- 

 did and warm-hearted old gentleman at the opposite side 

 of the table, whom I may call A., drew attention to the 

 sound, and expressed his entire belief that it was spiritual. 

 I, however, informed him that it was the moving hair 

 acting on the glass. The explanation was not well re- 

 ceived; and X., in a tone of severe pleasantry, demanded 



