Mysterious Psychic Forces: An Account of the Author's Investigations in Psychical Research, Together with Those of Other European Savants
John Stuart Mill · en
In order the better to assure myself of it, I left the chain and
observed the movement of the feet of the table on the floor. It ranged
from fractions of an inch to several inches. When we then tried to
turn up without contact the folding leaf of a gaming-table covered
with cloth, we obtained the same result: the folding leaf would not
yield to our influence, but the entire table advanced in the direction
of the prescribed movement. Now, I ought to add that the gliding was
not at all easy, for the floor of our room was rough and uneven.
It is interesting to note in this connection the moment when this
gliding movement ordinarily begins. It occurs at precisely the same
time that the levitation without contact takes place when that
manifestation is in process. When the portion of the chain which is
pushing on has just advanced beyond the side of the table-top, where
it begins to turn, and when that portion of the chain that is pulling
has just crossed the middle point in its recession, then the
ascensional movement--or, in default of that, the _gliding
motion_--manifests itself. Our fluidic power is then at its maximum,
precisely at the instant when our mechanical power is at its minimum,
when the hands that are pushing have ceased to act (supposing the case
of fraud) and when the hands that pull are powerless to act.
Let us now revert to our ordinary table. We tried to produce rotations
and levitations without contact, and had complete success.
Such reports as the foregoing are of more value than all the
dissertations. They show the undeniable reality of the levitation not
total, but partial,--of the table which remained in an oblique position
poised on two legs only. They show also rotations and levitations _without
contact_, as well as glidings under the influence of a natural force
hitherto only slightly studied.
_Levitations of a heavy table, having on it a man weighing 191 pounds, or
of tubs of sand and stones weighing 165 pounds_,--no denial of these
occurrences can be admitted.
The same is true of the movements of the table dancing in accordance with
the rhythm of certain airs, of its over-turnings, of its obedience to the
orders given. These facts have been observed precisely as mechanical,
physical, chemical, meteorological, astronomical facts have been
observed.
To the above reports I will add here a supplementary experiment described
in the preface of Count de Gasparin's book: