158. In the beginning of the manifestation, when
there were less exact ideas on this subject, several
writings were published, headed Communications of a
Basket, of a Planchette, of a Table, &c. All that is
insufficient and erroneous in these expressions is now
understood as a not sufficiently serious view of their
character. In fact, as has been seen, tables, plan-
chettes, and baskets are only unintelligent instruments,
though momentarily animated with a factitious life,
which can communicate nothing of themselves ; it is
taking the effect for the cause, the instrument for the
principal; as well might an author add to the title of
his work that it was written with a steel pen or a
goose quill.
Besides, these instruments are not absolute; we
know one person who, instead of the basket we have
described, used a funnel with a neck, through which he
put the pencil. It might have been said communica-
tions of a funnel, or of a stewpan, or a salad dish. If
they were given by rappings, and these rappings
were made by a chair or cane, it is no longer a talking
table, but a talking chair or cane. What is necessary
to know is, not the nature of the instrument, but the
method of obtaining. If the communications take
place by writing, let the pencil-holder be what it may,
for us it is psychography; if by rappings, it is typtology. Spiritism, having taken the proportions of a
science, requires a scientific language.
