144. A more simple contrivance, but one open to abuse, as we shall see in the
chapter on Frauds, is the one devised by Madame Emile de Girardin, and by which she
obtained numerous and interesting communications; for that lady, accomplished and
clever as she was, had the weakness to believe in spirits and their manifestations. The
instrument alluded to, consists of a little table with a moveable top, eighteen inches in
diameter, turning freely on an axle, like a wheel. On its edge are traced, as upon a dial-
plate, the letters of the alphabet, the numerals, and the words "yes" and "no." In the
centre is a fixed needle. The medium places his fingers on this table, which turns and
stops when the desired letter is brought under the needle. The letters thus indicated
being written down one after the other words and phrases are obtained, often with great
rapidity.
It is to be remarked that the top of the little table does not turn round under the
fingers, but that the fingers remain in their place and follow the movement of the table.
A powerful medium might probably obtain an independent movement; in which case
the experiment would be more conclusive, because less open to the possibility of
trickery.
