68. By means of the raps of which we have spoken, manifestations still more
clearly indicative of intelligence were obtained. Sounds were produced like the beat of
the drum, like file and platoon firing, like a cannonade; now the grating of a saw would
be heard, and anon, the blows of a hammer; or the raps would imitate the movement of
well-known airs, or beat time to tunes sung, or played, by the experimenters. People
then began to see that, as some occult intelligence was evidently at work, it ought to be
able to reply to questions susceptible of being answered by a given number of raps or
tiltings, previously agreed upon, as meaning yes, or "no." * This was accordingly done;
and, from the rudimentary attempts at conversation which were all that could be made
through those monosyllabic signs, people soon went on to the use of the alphabet,
recited by one of the sitters, the unseen intelligence indicating, by a rap or tilt, the letter
of the word or phrase to be communicated. Messages and statements, often of
considerable
length and of most interesting character, were thus obtained.
