Mysterious Psychic Forces: An Account of the Author's Investigations in Psychical Research, Together with Those of Other European Savants
John Stuart Mill · en
The phenomenon always materialized under the following conditions: the
persons seated about the table place their hands on it, and form the
chain; each hand of the medium is held by the adjacent hand of her two
neighbors; each of her feet remains under the feet of her neighbor,
who also press her knees with theirs. She is seated, as usual, at one
of the small ends of the table, _a position least favorable for a
mechanical levitation_. At the end of several minutes the table makes
a side movement, rises first to the right, then to the left, and
finally mounts off of its four feet straight into the air, and lies
there horizontally (as if it were floating on a liquid), ordinarily at
a height of from 4 to 8 inches (in exceptional cases from 24 to 27
inches); then falls back and rests on its four feet. It frequently
remains in the air for several seconds, and while there also makes
undulatory motions, during which the position of the feet under the
table can be thoroughly examined. During the levitation the right hand
of the medium often leaves the table, as well as that of her neighbor,
and is held in the air above.
In order the better to observe this thing, we removed one by one the
persons placed at the table, recognizing the truth that the chain
formed by several persons was neither necessary for this phenomenon
nor for others. Finally, we left only a single person with the medium,
seated at her left. This person placed her foot upon Eusapia's two
feet and one hand upon her knees, and held with her other hand the
left hand of the medium. Eusapia's right hand was on the table, in
full view,--though sometimes she held it in the air during the
levitation.
[Illustration: PLATE VIII. DRAWING FROM PHOTOGRAPH, SHOWING METHOD OF
CONTROL BY PROFESSORS LOMBROSO AND RICHET OF EUSAPIA. TABLE COMPLETELY
RAISED.]
As the table remained in the air for several seconds, it was possible
to obtain several photographs of the performance. Three pieces of
photographic apparatus were working together in different parts of the
room, and the illumination was furnished by a magnesium light at the
opportune moment. Twenty photographs were obtained, some of which are
excellent. Upon one of them (Pl. VIII) we see Professor Richet, who
holds one hand, the knees, and a foot of the medium. The other hand of
the latter is held by Professor Lombroso. The table is shown
horizontally lifted,--a fact proved by the interval between the
extremity of each foot and the extremity of the corresponding
projected shadow.