< Isis Unveiled (continued from page 4-80) >
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Slate-Writing Phenomena
Having read in The Spiritualist of October 12th, Mr. Epes Sargent’s account of Mr. Watkins’s slate-writing manifestations, and hearing at the same time that Mr. Watkins had arrived in New York, I took an early opportunity of visiting him, in company with my friend, Madame Blavatsky.
The medium began by asking us to write the names of three or four deceased friends on slips of paper which he tore before our eyes from a fresh sheet of writing-paper. After writing the names, we folded the papers up tightly, at his request, and laid them in a little heap in front of us on the table. Mr. Watkins then stirred the pellets round with the point of a pencil, in order that we might not be able to distinguish one from the other. He requested me to take one in my hand, and to fix it on the point of his pencil; then holding it at arm’s length he said immediately, “This is the name of a sister of yours in the spirit-world, Clara Kislingbury, is that so?” Opening the pellet, I found the name to be correct; his statement that it was the name of my sister was equally so. The names on the three other pellets were rightly given, as well as the degree of relationship, including that of my maternal grandmother. I observed that Mr. Watkins had more difficulty in finding the name of one who was a friend, not connected with my family. He said at once, “This is the name of some one not a relation. I cannot see it so clearly; but he finally succeeded in giving it correctly.
In the case of Madame Blavatsky, one of the names written by her was in Russian character, and the medium made several unsuccessful attempts to pronounce it, but at last declared it to be too “crack-jaw,” and said he would try to get it written. He requested Madame Blavatsky to place her hand on a slate, under which he laid a small crumb of slate-pencil, in the manner of Slade. Mr. Watkins did not hold the slate. An instant after, on turning up the slate, the appellation, consisting of three names, was found written in full, and in Russian characters, with this curious exception, that one or two letters were exchanged for those of Latin character, having the same phonetic value; as, for instance, an f, pronounced in Russian v, but written b, was substituted for the latter. I will revert to this fact further on.
Mr. Watkins next took two small slates, and placing a point of pencil between them, held them firmly together at one end, while I held them at the other. The slate did not rest upon the table, but was held by us at arm’s length, both standing. In a few moments one of the slates was covered on the inner side with writing, signed “Alice Carey.” The handwriting was not known to me, but was familiar to the medium, as frequently appearing in his experiments.
I use the word “experiments” advisedly, for two reasons. The first is, that Mr. Watkins did not “sit,” except momentarily, during the whole hour that we were in his company, and then more often on the table than elsewhere. He walked nervously about the room, and occasionally fixed his eyes on us, with a vacant look, especially when about to utter the desired name, or to describe something about the sitter. The second reason is, that Mr. Watkins does not habitually use the terms commonly accepted by Spiritualists, neither does he accept unreservedly the usual explanation of the phenomena, viz., that they are produced by the spirits of the departed, whose names are signed on the slates. He boldly volunteered the opinion that they are in many cases produced by the action of his own spirit, reading (independently of his will or knowledge) that which is latent in the mind of the sitter, or is immediately projected from it. He prefers to call the phenomenon “independent slate-writing,” instead of “spirit-writing.”
In the course of the experiments, Mr. Watkins said that in each instance, just before the writing began, he felt a sudden “drawing” from his whole body, and that he was unable to articulate distinctly; as soon as the writing was finished there was another jerk, and he felt himself again.
One more incident. Mr. Watkins told me to place my hand on a slate which was lying near me, and on which I had ascertained that there was nothing written. Mr. Watkins himself was at that moment lying back in a rocking-chair at a distance of at least eight feet from me, and talking to Madame Blavatsky. He ceased speaking for a moment, and then bidding me turn up the slate, I found it covered with writing, purporting to be a communication from my sister Clara, and signed with her name. The writing was quite unlike that signed “Alice Carey,” but neither was it like mine or my sister’s. The names of two other relatives which I had previously written on the pellets were mentioned, but not those of others equally dear to me, and of the same degree of relationship, and who were equally in my mind, but were not written down.
The above experiences are to my mind suggestive of a theory which will explain the discrepancies in the spelling of the Russian name. I leave the application to those whom it may concern, and who are more qualified than myself to form correct conclusions. Let it be borne in mind, however, that the medium himself avers that, except on rare <... continues on page 4-82 >
Editor's notes
- ↑ Slate-Writing Phenomena by Kislingbury, Emily, London Spiritualist, No. 272, November 9, 1877, p. 222
London Spiritualist, No. 272, November 9, 1877, p. 222