[CHAPTER V.]
Table Lifting and Spirit Rapping.
Fig. 27.—Table Lifting Trick.
So much has been heard about table tipping and floating tables, it will, I think, prove interesting to explain a few of the clever devices employed to produce the above phenomena. Small, light tables are lifted by the mere “laying on of hands.” The arms are raised in the air and the table is seen to cling to the hands and follow every motion. This is accomplished by a pin driven well into the table, and a ring with a slot in it (Fig. 27) worn on one of the medium’s fingers. The body of the pin easily enters the slot in the ring, but the head of the pin, being larger, prevents the table from falling away from the hand. After the table has been floated successfully, an extra strong upward pressure of the hand pulls the pin out, and the table can be examined. Another test on somewhat similar lines is the lifting of a bowl of water by immersing the hand in the basin of water. In this case a pin is fastened firmly into a leather or rubber sucker, and the finger ring again does the work. (Fig. 28.) This can also be used to lift anything that is not of a porous nature. A table with a well polished top can be easily lifted. In lifting large tables the medium is assisted by a confederate among the assembled guests. It is his duty to get as near opposite the medium as possible. The medium and the confederate have fastened to their wrists, by means of a leather cuff and straps, a bent hook. (Fig. 29.) Their hands rest on top and the hooks under the table. By this means it is a simple task to raise the table. Sometimes the above device is varied; instead of hooks fastened to their wrists they use hooks from under their vests, hanging by a loop from their necks. (Fig. 30.) I have seen a square table lifted without the use of either of the above devices. The medium and his confederate simply got the linen cuffs of their right hands well under the corner of the table, and with their hands on top they found no difficulty in raising the table by this improvised means.
Fig. 28.—The Sucker.
Although spiritualists claim they have, and can, make pianos float in the air, I have never seen it accomplished, and I could never get a medium who was able to produce the effect, and I sincerely doubt if any one can honestly and truthfully acknowledge they have witnessed it.
Fig. 29.—The Leather Cuff and Hook.