The Lock and Key Library: The Most Interesting Stories of All Nations: Real Life
Science
The Lock and Key Library: The Most Interesting Stories of All Nations: Real Life
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction; Parapsychology
This, however, proved beyond a doubt that the medium obtained his
information FROM THE WRITING, and not from the spirits of the dead.
. . . . .
After thinking the matter over, I decided that, while I was
uncertain as to the manner in which Dr. Schlossenger had performed
all of these experiments, I could reproduce two of them with
certainty as often as he did. I immediately made the trial and
found I could succeed fully nine times out of ten on an average. I
might state that the doctor also failed about one time in ten on an
average; nevertheless, the people of the community were greatly
excited, talking of his miracles, in groups on the streets, for
some days. The medium was coining money, yet I found a few cases
where he failed totally. The failures were seldom mentioned; it
was the successes that excited the people.
The method I use in reproducing the first test given me, is to so
direct the attention of the subjects before the writing, by my
discourse, as to cause them to select unconsciously the name of the
dead person in advance. This is easily managed with a little
practice in talking, and still they will never guess that it is
done on purpose.
Now, as they begin to write, they will naturally pause before
writing each name, to think of a name to write. The pause may be
but slight, yet there is some pause. Of course, when they write
the selected name, no pause will be necessary; and if hurried
properly at that time they will make none. This is the object of
the incessant talking during the experiment. If left to
themselves, the subjects will, in about one half of the cases,
write the selected name in the third space from the top. In about
half of the remaining cases the selected name will be written in
the fourth space from the top. This is especially true if in your
instructions you direct the subject to "mix the dead person's name
somewhere in among the others where you cannot know where it is."
In the remaining cases the subjects are liable to write the
selected name anywhere, generally first or last. Now my object is
to so manipulate my subjects as to cause them to write the selected
name when I want them to do so. This is done by continuous
talking, and distracting their attention until the proper moment.
I choose the third space, since this, being the one they are most
liable to choose of their own accord, is the easiest to force.
Just as they begin to write the first name, before they make a
mark, I say suddenly, "Now be sure and select names of living
persons that I could not possibly know." This is almost certain to
insure a pause, and the name of a living person to be written
first. I continue my talking in a natural manner, taking the
attention to a great extent from the writing, and nearly always
observing another pause just before writing the second name. When
the second name is almost finished I exclaim suddenly, "Now write
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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