The Yazoo Democrat

THE DEMOCRAT
PHILLIPS & PERKINS, EDITORS
COMMUNICATED.

Spiritual Rappings Continued.

Messrs. Editors:- At your request, we will devote a minute to examining this vexed subject, and furnish the result of our investigations promising that such has not been as satisfactory to us as we had wished. We determined to unfold the mystery, to unroll the Gordian knot but Alexander like, are forced to use our sword or leave the task to the spirits of the old scholasticism which spurns laborious investigation, and slow induction, satisfied that our young philosophy needs mending much, before we convince the world that these rappings are simple of explanation, or subjects unfit for the disciples of Alexander, of Hallis, of Thomas Aquinas, or Duns Scotus, to couple with their studies. To account for them, we have wrought many pretty theories, and have been charmed as each revealed its beauties to our mind. We have dreamed them over and again, dwelling with pride upon our ingenuity, sed excee, the comely air-castles have disappeared, or have been eclipsed by others of more stunning truth,

Yet, as the snow-flake delicate,
They're vanquished by a single ray.

At one time we are ready to exclaim with one of old, "Eureka! Eureka!" as we reach forth to grasp the key, but, will-with-the-wisp like, it evades our touch, and the lovely flowers of imagination are left to wither on the waste of memory.

Now for our experiments and conclusions.

Is the rapping the result of rickets in the table? Is it the effect of electricity? Is it the result of Animal Magnetism? and if the result of either, can it be explained upon known principles?

In answer to the first, we unhesitatingly say no, since we cannot believe that such would have escaped the research of the learned, nor are we willing to offer them such indignity, or attribute to them such an over share of credulity. notwithstanding it is the opinion of some learned gentlemen who have investigated the subject quite as we have done. One feels certain that rickels in the table is quite a satisfactory answer, and thinks that the rappings cannot be produced by contact on a solid stick of timber of any size. and as wood is a conductor of sound. they ought to be heard with as much distinctness as when made on a table or other sonorous body. Sound is the result of vibration we admit, and wood is elastic enough to transmit it : but the gentleman who makes this suggestion, takes it for granted that those who differ with him, attribute the rappings to spiritual, or actual manifestations, which we positively disclaim. as the sequel will show.

We admit wood to be a good conductor of sound. when produced by forcible contact of some other body, but artificers have yet to learn that solid blocks are the best for Violins or Guitars, or that he would not be laughed at, who would apply his ear to a plank road, and expect to hear the fury of a thunder-storm at a great distance.

The noise or rappings may not be heard so distinctly on a solid mass, as on a more sonorous body, from the fact, that shape, as well as absence of weight, has no little influence over its sonorousness.

Again, we have placed our hands on the table. with hers placed on them. Now, if the rapping were made by rickets in the table, we having our hands in immediate contact with it, bewildered would we be indeed. if we should fail then to detect her in attempts to produce the noises, by moving the same, since, in this position they are as distinct, as when her own rested on it.

Is it the effect of electricity? As far as we can judge, it cannot possibly be such, since they continued, after we had isolated the table by standing it in four glass tumblers. We then placed her chair on four pieces of glass, expecting to put a stop to it, but as signally failed ; leaving the medium and table both on the glasses, we proceeded next to place a pane of glass between her hands and the table, after which, to our astonishment, they were quite as distinct as when no non-conductor was used to break the current.

Is it the result of Animal Magnetism, or Mesmerism? We think it is, as can be shown by an article of some length. Animal Magnetism is an agent of a peculiar and mysterious nature, having a powerful influence on the subject when acted upon by contact, or voluntary emotion on the part of the operator. Its existence has been established by the declarations of hundreds of truthful men, who have witnessed its effects as demonstrated for some months past. Those who have witnessed its practice, declare and assert that the subject magnetized, beholds the most distant objects, propria persona, but with the mind's eye of the operator, who at his pleasure perverts the taste, nay, all the senses, to suit his fancy, the magnetized being entirely subject to his will. He takes with him the subject's mind, or sends it by his volition to the most distant countries, where it describes with perfect correctness, the locality, the shape, the plot, the landscapes, the city, ah! the very hearth stones, as he, the operator, saw them last. This is done though the wide ocean is spread between-space is annihilated or reaches only to the impress left on the brain of the operator. When these acts are considered (and there are few better attested) cannot our credulity be stretched a little farther, to admit new wonders, (or fictions if you choose.)

To understand the effect of Animal Magnetism a knowledge of Anatomy is not only essential. but absolutely necessary. It teaches that there are two important surfaces in animals, known as the serous and mucus. The first covers each "organ, nerve, and fascia of the muscles, including the whole of their surfaces." The latter constitutes the inner of every organ, nerve and
xisung on the nervous medium, hence it receives impressions irresistibly. It possesses within itself the positive and negative poles, or greater and lesser parts, the one controlling the other subject; the one receiving power, the other transmitting and exercising power. This ethereal substance which serves as a medium, may be termed Magnetism. The muscular motion of the system being performed through the medium of the substance which may be termed electricity. Between all organic beings this medium exists, placing man over the lower animal creation. "Man is positive all else negative must yield to his control." One individual possessing a greater share of this ethereal fluid or magnetism than another, becomes a positive pole, and when brought in contact with one containing less, absorbs by an effort of volition, or gathers within himself the minor quantity possessed by the weaker, thus bringing him (his mind) under his control as in the subject of Mesmerism.

It is the passage of this magnetic fluid that gives out the noise or rappings, just as a magnetised bail does when the knuckle is presented to it.

But you ask, why do the rappings stop at a given number, or how are questions answered by them with such correctness, as to number?

It has been assumed that the Magnetizer has control not over the body alone, but over both the body and the mind of the magnetized.

Again, it has been proven that contact is not essential to bring about this state of clairvoyance The medium, by an effort, passes herself into this state, as is evidenced by her sleeping over the table, in a few minutes after seating herself at the same. Being in a state of clairvoyance becomes a part of the interrogators mind, or through this state, brought about by her absorbing this ethereal or magnetic fluid from the subject or, interrogator, gathers to herself a part of his mind, sees with his eyes and by this influence of Animal Magnetism, or this ethereal fluid connecting the two, but passing to the medium from the subject, she possessing the greater attractive quantity. She, consequently. knows his thoughts, and the rappings cease at her pleasure.

The medium was requested to produce a given number of rappings, and then by diverting the train of thought to discontinue them. which she did without ever failing, thus establishing the gratifying facts (for the safety of the weak) that the spirit supposed to be under the table, if any there were, was but the spirit of the performer.

Claiming lenity from critics, we leave with them this vexed subject. having furnished in a feeble manner, the results of our experiments, with sufficient clearness we hope, to beget in others, a more minute investigation.

Yours, &c.,
PAX.