Psychography. 
[March, 
144 
pair of new slates which he has bought on his way to the 
medium’s house. In some cases a double folding-slate ha 
been used, secured by a lock. 
The position in which the slates are laid afte & 
cured together has also greatly varied. Sometimes th< eya 
laid on the table, the medium touching them with one hand; 
Sometimes the medium holds them against the under sur 
face of the table with one hand, whilst with the 
holds the hand of the spectator. Again, the S P^ 
held them upon his own head with one whiht whh 
the other he clasps that of the medium. Or they may 
laid upon the table, and never touched by the medium; taU- 
All these experiments, it is well to remembei, a p 
m The nat“re a of ‘the table used, and of the cl «h in w^ch 
the medium sits, is a matter of indifference. Bot.i have 
been carefully examined without disclosing any mechanis 
o[ concealed appliances whatever. Other tables and chans 
have also been substituted; but the phenomena aie 
Something must also be said concerning the eubjedt 
matter of the writing. Very frequently the observe . Wt 
some question upon the slates before closing them up, a 
receives a definite answer,— occasionally touching matte 
known to no living person but himself, and of 'which the 
medium cannot be supposed to have any knowled f®;. 
answers may even be given in languages with . which e 
medium is unacquainted. Nor must it be forgotten that the 
observer is sometimes asked, after putting both a bit of 
pencil and a piece of red chalk between the slates w h 
which shall the expefted writing be produced ? And the 
result comes out accordingly. . 
It is not, I think, necessary to go more closely into the 
details of psychographic experiments, since they may be 
found given with considerable minuteness in yanous woiks 
and journals. But the question is, How are these recoide 
ohenomena to be explained ? 
The first attempted solution is, if nothing else, lemai li- 
able for its sweeping character and for its simplicity. 
spectators, we are told, are all conscious and intentional 
liars. Such an explanation scarcely admits of discussion. 
To most minds it will be utterly inconceivable that a number 
of persons, of different ages, nationalities, prepossessions 
habits, and thought, should agree in forging a faHehood 
from which they could reap no manner of advantage. Most 
minds will conclude that were such the case some one 
