(_b_) The relative position of the medium, and that of the screen
intercepting her view of the disk, are too conspicuous to require
particularization.
FIG. 2, represents Pease’s disk, or dial apparatus, associated with
a vibrating lever and stand contrived by myself. The whole, thus
modified, has been named the Spiritoscope.
(_c_) The apparatus thus designated consists of a box _F_, which is a
miniature representation of a low, square, four sided house, with a
single sloping roof, but without any floor closing it at the bottom.
(_d_) On the outside of the part serving as the roof, the alphabetic
dial is depicted. On the inner surface of the roof board, the spring,
pulley, and strings are attached, by which the index is made to
revolve, so as to point out any letter.
(_e_) _G_ represents the vibrating lever upon which the medium’s hands
are placed. When test conditions are not requisite, her hands should be
situated so as that merely one-half may be on each side of the fulcrum
wire, on which the lever turns. When test conditions are requisite,
the hands should be altogether on the portion of the board which is
between the exterior end of the board and the fulcrum. When thus
placed, it is utterly impossible to move the lever so as to cause it to
select letters, or to control the selection, by any spirit who may be
employing them to make a communication.[1]
(_f_) Not only are the letters of the alphabet printed equidistant, in
due order, on the margin of the disk or dial-face; there are likewise
words, the digits, and notes of music.
(_g_) The words are as follows: _Yes_—_Doubtful_—_No_—_Don’t know_—_I
think so_—_A mistake_—_I’ll spell it over_—_A message_—_Done_—_I’ll
come again_—_Good-bye_—_I must leave_. These words are printed on
equidistant radial lines, nearly dividing the area between them. The
digits are printed on radial lines intermediate between those on which
the words appear.
Five concentric circular lines, dividing the margin into as many
smaller portions, as in music paper, serve for the inditing of musical
notes; respecting which the directions are given by Pease upon a
printed slip of paper pasted inside.
(_h_) The index in this instrument is secured upon the outer end of
a pivot supporting a pulley of about ¾ of an inch in diameter. The
spring consists of a coil of brass wire, of which one end is fastened
into the inside of the roof-board (_c_) of which the outside forms
the surface for the letters, &c., while the other end of the wire is
prolonged beyond the coil to about 2½ inches, and, by means of
a loop, has a string of catgut tied to it securely. This string is
fastened to a perforation in the pivot. Another piece of the same kind
of string is fastened to the circumference of the pulley. The pivot
being turned so as to wind upon it the string proceeding from the
spring, and thus constraining it so as to make it capable of effectual
recoil from the pulley, the latter may, with a little care, be made, as
the spring recoils, to wind about it another string duly attached to
its circumference. The strings being thus wound, (one to the right, the
other to the left,) when the string attached to the pulley is pulled
from the outside of the box, it is unwound therefrom, and meanwhile
winds that attached to the spring upon the pivot. The reaction of the
spring, when left to itself, reverses this process, producing the
opposite revolution in the pulley. The index attached to the pivot of
course turns in one direction or the other, as the pivot is actuated
by the drawing out or retraction of the string which proceeds from
it. This, at the outer end, is tied to a ring, which prevents it from
receding into the box.
(_i_) It is surprising with what readiness a spirit, even when unused
to the apparatus, will, by moving the lever, actuate the index, causing
it to point to the letters, words, or figures distributed on the face
of the disk, as above mentioned.
(_j_) The apparatus of Pease above described, agreeably to the design
of the maker, operates by means of a string extending from the brass
ring, in which the pulley string terminates externally, to a weight
situated upon the floor, so as to be taut when at rest. When this
arrangement is made, tilting of the table, by raising the end at
which the box is situated, causes the weight to pull the string, and
of course to induce the revolution of the pulley, its pivot, and
corresponding index. The restoration of the table to its usual position
reverses the motion. Hence by these means the index may be moved
either way, as requisite for the selection of the letters required for
communicating.
(_k_) The other figure in the same plate represents Pease’s disk
apparatus, so arranged, as to be affixed to any table of moderate
dimensions. The fulcrum on which the lever vibrates is so made as to be
affixed to one of the table’s edges by clamps, while the disk, situated
in a vertical plane, is supported by a bar which has a clamp to secure
it to the table, while to the disk it is fastened by being introduced
into square staples, made to receive it securely, in a mode resembling
that by which a square bolt is secured. Under the vibrating lever, a
hollow wire is fastened by staples, so as to receive a solid wire,
which can be made to slide farther in or out, and thus adjust itself to
the distance.]
[Illustration: PLATE II.]