The “Spiritualistic Post Test” is one of the latest and most successful of mechanical fastenings used by mediums. The most common form is made of what appears to be a piece of joist. This is given to the committee, one of whose members bores a hole through it, near its upper end, and then passes an ordinary rope through the hole, a knot being tied in the rope on each side of the post. The knots are pressed against the post, so that the rope cannot be drawn through the post. The ends of the rope are now unraveled, and the post is fastened to the floor with spikes. The medium is tied to the post by the unraveled ends of the rope. A nail is driven in the top of the post, and a rope is secured to it. This second rope is held by the committee; after the curtains are drawn, bells are rung, etc., showing that the medium has the use of his hands. The trick consists in boring a hole in the center of the end of the joist; a chisel is then inserted in the hole, and the opening is closed with glue and saw-dust tinted with water color. The medium starts the bit, so that there is no danger of the committee boring the hole too low, or so high that it will strike the chisel. When the nail is driven in, it forces the chisel down and cuts the rope. The medium may now ring bells, etc. After he is through ringing the bells, he puts back the ends of the rope in the post. [Illustration: Fig. 38.--The Trick Post. 1. Lead weight with notch. 2. Spring catch. 3. Hole in catch by which cord is secured. 4. Roller over which cord, 5, runs; cord is attached at one end, 3, to spring catch, and at other end at 6 to bolt in angle piece.]