od of exhibition is by means of the little toy called
Planchette; a brief account of some experiments with which will best
serve to illustrate the nature of the phenomena in question.

The writer and a lady friend placing the tips of their fingers lightly
on the board, the following words were traced on the paper upon which it
was placed:

"Have you courage for the future?"

"Will you not faint by the roadside?"

"You will be beset by foes within and without."

"Lions in your pathway."

"Hope and trust--trust--trust."

On being asked to whom this applied, it answered:

"The heart that needs it will understand."

A question was then put by a bystander; but instead of answering, it
went on as though continuing the former train of thought:

"Hope and trust. You will have trials you know not of." And again, "Hope
and trust."

Here another question was put by a bystander, but instead of answer came
the words:

"You will find important letters awaiting you from home. Hope and
trust."

I then asked: "To whom are these words addressed?"

_Ans._--Soon enough you will know. Hope and trust.

To a question given mentally by a bystander it answered:

"Letters awaiting you. Hope and trust."

_Ques._--Letters from whom?

_Ans._--Your home and family.

_Ques._--From what place?

_Ans._--Soon enough you will know.

_Ques._--Are they all well at home?

_Ans._--With God all things are well.

Not being able to decipher this clearly, it repeated:

"With God all things are well. Trust Him."

I confess to having been impressed with these words, so solemn were
they, so oracular, and, as it then appeared, so fitly spoken. At the
time of making these experiments I was on board one of the Pacific Mail
steamships, on my way to San Francisco; and I had reason to be
particularly solicitous in regard to my future. But my companion, in
these my first experiments, just entering a new and untried field, had
far more cause of anxiety than myself in regard to the future. To her
these warnings seemed singularly applicable. Satisfied that my
cooperator exercised no voluntary control over the board, absolutely
certain the words were not emanations of my own mind, and impelled by
curiosity, I determined to try the effect of a few test questions, and,
ridiculous as it may appear, ascertain from the instrument itself
something of its nature.

Is there any power in Planchette, or is it merely a vehicle? I asked.

_Ans._--Inac