orthography, and occasionally quote incorrectly: I must even confess that there are moments when its usual elegance of diction lapses into slang terms and abrupt contradictions. But, after all, though we flatter ourselves that, as a family, we contain rather more than ordinary intelligence, still it is more than a match for us; and if our wisdom is the true source of its cleverness, it is not the intellect of one from which it draws its sustenance, but from the combined wit and talent of the company.

Our Planchette came to us about a month ago. It is one of the simplest description, an unpolished heart-shaped board of black walnut, with brass pentagraph-wheels. It was purchased at a bookstore, in a neighboring town, and began to work immediately for a young girl of nineteen, called, systematically, "the Flirt," by this incorrigible giver of sobriquets; and myself, upon whom it at once bestowed the nickname of "Clarkey," a facetious rendering of my patronymic Clarke, to which it has constantly adhered. One of the party, a calm, dignified lady of the Society of Friends, for whom it condescends to work, is distinguished, habitually, as "the Angel." The head of the house is only known to it as "Hon. Clarke," while one of the younger members of the family, for whom it writes singularly well, is always called "the Boy of Eighteen," to the supreme annoyance of his budding manhood.

Upon one of our guests it has bestowed the uncomplimentary epithet of "Sassiness," which, being often repeated, induced a petition from the young lady so characterized to be only indicated by an initial S, which the impertinent scribbler accorded only so far as omitting all the letters except the five S's; so that now she is always recognized as "SSSSS," with the full force of the sibilant maintained.

It is always respectful to "Hon. Clarke," and when pressed to state what it thought of him, answered that he "was a good skipper," a reputation fairly earned by his capacity for managing a fleet of small boats. But we

were not contented with so vague an answer, and our urgent demands for an analysis of his character produced the reply, "A native crab-apple, but spicy and even sweet when ripe." I should rather not say whether this was a good description, for fear he might read my opinion in this periodical. When asked to go on, it wrote, "Ask me Hon. Clarke's character again, and I will flee to realms of imperishable woe; or, as Tabitha is here, say I'll pull your nose;" and on being taunted with its incapacity to fulfil the threat, it wrote, “Metaphorically speaking, of course." Not satisfied with this rebuff, on another occasion the subject was again pursued, and the answer elicited as follows, "Yes; but you can't fool me. I said nay once, and when I says nay I means nay." More than once it has lapsed into the same misuse of the verb; as, "I not only believes it, but I knows it; and again, "You asks, and I answers, because I'm here."

For certain people, such as the Flirt or the Angel, it will always answer, though it is sometimes sharp, and frequently refuses to repeat an illegible word. On being twice interrogated with regard to a subject, it replied, tartly, "I hate to be asked if I am sure of a fact." And once, when it desired Hon. Clarke to lay his hands upon it, and there was a misunderstanding to whom it required, it wrote, frantically, in huge letters, "CLARKE!!!”

It will occasionally write for three people, when it refuses to work for two, "on the principle," to quote its own explanation of the fact, "that three heads are better than two, even if one is a sheep's head."

It is remarkably ready at a definition, far exceeding any one of us in the terseness and clearness of its ideas.

Homœopathy it calls “sugared sweetness, which pampers the taste, and satisfies the constant desire of men to be doing something for each small ailment." Dreams, it says, are "a prolongation and confusion of the ideas and actions of the day;" or, " of what happened in a past state."

Some one, desiring to pose this ready writer, asked for its theory of the Gulf Stream; which it announced, without hesitation, to be "Turmoil in the water, produced by conglomeration of icebergs." Objection was made that the warmth of the waters of the natural phenomenon rather contradicted this original view of the subject; to which Planchette tritely responded, "Friction produces heat." "But how does friction produce heat in this case?" pursued the questioner. "Light a match," was the inconsequent answer-Planchette evidently believing that the pupil was ignorant of first principles. "But the Gulf-Stream flows north; how, then, can the icebergs accumulate at its source?" was the next interrogation, which elicited the contemptuous reply, "There is as much ice and snow at the South Pole as at the North, ignorant Clarkey." "But it flows from the Gulf of Mexico," pursued the undismayed. "You've got me there, unless it flows underground," was the cool and unexpected retort; and it wound up with declaring, sensibly, that, after all, "it is a meeting of the North and South Atlantic currents, which collide, and the eddie (sic) runs northward."

On being asked what had interfered with the arrival of a certain telegram, it replied, Yankee fashion, with another question, "What generally stops a telegram?" This being beyond the power of the company to answer, it gave its own idea-"The operators turn tipsy."

It said, of a certain Senator, that he was a traitor to his country," because "he went for Johnson;" and on being asked what induced him to give his vote against impeachment, wrote,

"Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do."

It has something to say on every subject-is familiar with Shakespeare, and the glacial scratches, and even claims to know Xogkloprt; and Xogkloprt was a being evolved from the depths of our inner consciousness, through the medium of table-tipping; and we rather flatter ourselves that the name at least is uncommon. Planchette tells us that

the history of this gentleman of complex consonants" was terrible, so mysterious," that "he died for the sins of others," When asked where he lived, it answered, ambiguously, "Among the vines; " but on being pressed to know whether he was a vine-dresser, answered, with great emphasis, "Certainly not." Further questioning elicited that he resided in "an ancient country, far beyond the sea," 99.66 up among the mountains," at a place called "Aulean, in Greece." The city has long been dead. There was a woman in the case; "but she drove him wild; for he loved her, but she hated him." Some awful crime was committed, but what, Planchette says, "I dare not tell." Further communication elicited that this interesting character is now a resident of a realm of imperishable woe." And Planchette, having once written the word "positism," defended itself by saying, "Xogkloprt joggled my elbow; I meant 'positivism.'

I have said that our Planchette is poetical. One day it suddenly broke out as follows:

"Wreathe the bowl with flowers of soul,

That no delight can find us,
We'll take our flight to heaven to-night,
And leave delight (sic) behind us."

These lines were unknown to either of the operators; but a lady in the room at once gave them correctly, substituting" dull earth" for "delight," in the last line; and when Planchette was asked where it learned the verses, it declared, "Miss T. had them in her mind," which the lady affirmed, positively, that she had not; at least, consciously.

It has given us several poems of its own composition; short, to be sure, and not always perfectly rhythmical; but it is fond of asserting its authorship, by writing after them, "This is perfectly original "—a fact that no one who reads them would ever doubt. The following is an instance:

"A maid sat on ye shore,

Watching the ocean's roar, She thought of him who, far away, Would come to her one joyous day, And say, we part no more."

This was written off without hesitation or stoppage of any kind, with the Flirt's hands and my own upon the board. The former never made a rhyme in her life, and I am positive that my brain had no connection with this remarkable production; so that we do not quarrel with Planchette for the honor of its creation; neither does it seem proud of its poetical talent, for of some other lines of its own, it wrote, "Any person, with half an idea, could write such supreme ridiculous nonsense."

These are some few of the facts of which we are cognizant. Other people have probably many, that are equally curious and amusing, if they could only be made known.

That some strange influence, of a perfectly natural character, produces these results, we have no doubt; and at this point I would wish to make a suggestion of a theory, which I cannot do better than state, in Planchette's own words, on being asked for a title for this paper and an opening sentence; to which it replied, “I will give one sentence, but that is all;" and, after a reflective pause, it produced, with unusual deliberation, the following:

Say, I am an impostor; but I am not. People do not understand how to use me. I act through the aid of magnetic principles, with the aid of positive and negative magnetism.”

Now, I propose to give a statement, according to Planchette itself, of its manner of action, and the different elements required to give its communications clearness and point. It declares that certain people possess positive magnetism; others, negative magnetism; still others, negative electricity. Positive electricity exists only in the atmosphere. In order to produce writing, the combination is required of a person possessing positive magnetism with another endowed either with negative magnetism or negative electricity. Every such combination is not, however, successful; a certain balance of qualities must be preserved. Some are deficient in the positive or negative character; in which case, the board

either does not move, or tips violently in every direction, or makes wild marks and scratches, or possibly writes nonsense. Sometimes the addition of a third person will supply the required power; but it is impossible to tell, from any previous knowledge, what character will influence the machine; and it is not easy to know in what proportions the positive and negative effect a perfect combination. The Flirt is positive magnetic; the Boy of Eighteen is positive magnetic; the Angel is negative magnetic; Clarkey is negative electric; Sassiness is 66 an unpleasant mixture of magnetic and electric; " Hon. Clarke is positive magnetic; and his wife has such strong positive magnetism, that no negative has yet been found powerful enough to unite with her, though the instrument tips and moves under her hands. Combinations of the Boy of Eighteen and the Angel; the Boy of Eighteen and Clarkey; the Flirt and the Angel; the Flirt and Clarkey; Sassiness, the Flirt, and Hon. Clarke, will produce manifestations equally good; that is, answers equally sensible and to the point.

The broad portion of the board and the point represent the two poles of the magnet; and Planchette requires a different adjustment of hands with reference to the combinations. When the Flirt writes with Clarkey, the point must be under the hands of the latter, else the instrument refuses to move. When the Flirt writes with the Angel, the position is reversed. If this is not done, the instrument will still write, but write backwards, and produces the effect of the impression on blottingpaper; that is, in order to decipher the words, it is necessary to hold the paper before a looking-glass. With Clarkey and the Boy of Eighteen the broad part of the machine must be on Clarkey's side, so that any suspicion of foul play is averted from the operators-who are, indeed, above suspicion; even if such proof of their innocence were wanting, as is given by the impossibility of their having coined certain of the responses, on account of their ignorance of the

subjects discussed. The contrary elements of electricity and magnetism are succinctly defined by Planchette, as "quickening" and "quieting;" and it evidently reaches its highest activity when one nature is the complement of the other.

The answers to any question asked, mentally, have generally been imperfect, even with the questioner's hands upon the board; and we have not cared to ask them, believing, as we do, that the effect is produced by an unconscious and unexplained though not inexplicable combination of intellectual power working under strictly natural laws.

The evening of Monday, August 1st, was very cold and clear, and we spent it in-doors with Planchette, who was so very satisfactory, that I can scarcely do better than give our questions and its answers as they came, stating, first, that the Flirt and I had our hands upon the board, and that the questions were asked by a third person. There was no delay nor hesitation in the answers, the moving-power worked instantly, and the writing was perfectly legible. The conversation began in this wise : Questioner. Mention three of the most marked characteristics of positive magnetic individuals.

Planchette. Sympathetic, cold, and

nervous.

Q. These qualities are inconsistent, Planchette. One may sympathize warmly, but be physically incapable of expression. They are not parts of the same temperament.

P. I said they could be united in the same person.

Q. Is any such person present?
P. You.

Q. Who?

P. She.

Q. Who is she?

P. I don't like to say.

Q. Why?

P. Because she don't like it.

Q. Never mind that; say on.

P. All right. Sassiness.

Q. What are the characteristics of electric people?

P. Intensely nervous, also immense capability. Clarkey is an instance. Q. What is your own theory of your motion?

P. I calls (sic) it nothing but reproductive principle.

Q. Give some other instance of the same reproducing principle. P. Insanity.

Q. Is idiocy the same?

P. No; because the mind, there, is dead.

Q. What is the difference between the two states ?

P. Insanity is a confusion of previ ous ideas and actions.

Q. What, then, is delirium?
P. That is disease.

Q. What is the moving principle of thought?

P. Who? Where, Sassiness?
Q. How does thought originate?
P. I don't know; ask Socrates.
Q. How is that possible?
P. Refer to his works.

Q. Are your writings the result of involuntary mental action on our part?

P. There is no involuntary working of the mind. Each thought is depent (sic), unknowingly, on an antecedent.

Q. What shall we state as the theory of your motion ?

P. There is no special theory; you have only the facts to judge by. Q. Whence do you derive your ideas? P. From all the company. I generally receive the impression of the strongest mind.

Q. Whose is the strongest mind among us?

P. Yours is the strongest mind awake; the other is sleeping.

At this point we turned, and discovered that the Hon. Clarke had fallen into a doze on the sofa; of which fact we, entirely absorbed in the questions and answers, were completely ignorant. The lady to whom the compliment had been addressed, continued the conversation, by asking,

Q. How was it possible that you should be equally clever before I came ?

To which Planchette promptly and rebukingly answered,

P. There were other strong minds, strong as yours, Sassiness

Q. Whose?

Q. Are you the same power as the medium in Carver-street? ? *

P. I scorn such an inquiry. One is the result of matter; the other, mind.

Q. Is it the same power possessed

แ

'Yea, I heard her," was the response. "And have you nothing to say?" There was another short pause; and then the pencil wrote rapidly,

"If the union were possible, I should accept; but we might find our minds incompatible. Besides, I am not so much devoted to you as I might be, Sassiness."

Of course this brought forth a burst of merriment from the company, the operators being as much astonished as any one at this unexpected turn to the serious conversation.

Then the Angel sat down to the board with the Flirt; and, having first reversed the machine, I asked Planchette to tell us which of its communications it preferred to have us publish in the article I was writing; to which it replied, at length,

"That touching little allusion to the devil and the preachers, also the pet names I have for my friends; such as, Deviless, Sassiness, Clarkey, and the rest. Also, you may throw in the poems, for they would please the public. I advise you not to throw in the description of characters. I could go on indefinitely, but this squeak" (referring to the noise of the pencil) "affects my head. But I will write more if you desire it." It then wrote,

This lady professes to be able to discern character from a letter, simply held in the hand. Both the Flirt and myself were ignorant of the facts alluded to in the two last questions; but it did not at all affect the clearness of Planchette's response.

P. Mrs. It is easy enough to state generalities, and make random applications.

is a deluded humbug.

Q. Is this the same power as clairvoyance ?

P. Yes, in some respects. Don't ever suppose, however, that this process trenches on the supernatural.

Q. Is it the same as mesmerism?
P. I think it is magnetism.

Q. Explain the difference between the two.

P. There is no essential difference. Mesmerism is more an animal fluid; magnetism, more of an intellectual power.

Q. Is it the same as odic force?
P. No.

Q. What is odic force?

P. You could not understand my explanation. Besides, I do not understand it myself well.

Q. Can any unexplained historical phenomena be accounted for by this principle?

P. No; it is a new development. Q. When was it discovered? P. It has been used, unconsciously, for the last generation.

Q. How ?

P. In magnetizing some minds, as you have often heard. It also is of use in pulling people.

Q. Why is it more apparent at present than formerly ?

P. The animal magnetism is strong

The required change having been made, the conversation was pursued, as follows:

*This is an ordinary professional medium, who tips tables in the dark.