Slate-writing
A form of the so-called "direct" spirit writing, or autography, which has always been one of the most popular phenomena of the séance. The modus operandi is the same in the majority of cases. The medium and the sitter take their seats at opposite ends of a small table, each grasping a corner of an ordinary school slate, which they thus hold firmly pressed against the underside of the table. A small fragment of slate-pencil is first enclosed between slate and table, for the use of the supposed spirit-writer. Should the séance be successful, a scratching sound, as of someone writing on a slate, is heard at the end of a few moments, three loud raps indicate the conclusion of the message, and on the withdrawal of the slate, it is found to be partly covered with writing-either a general message from the spirit-world, or an answer to some question perviously written down by the sitter.
Among the mediums who were most successful in obtaining spirit writing in this manner were Dr. Slade and Mr. Eglinton. The former, an American medium, came to England in 1876, and succeeded in mystifying not a few men of education and of scientific attainments. His critics have attributed his success, in part at least, to his frank and engaging manner, which did much to disarm suspicious sitters. However, ere long Professor Ray Lankester exposed his trickery, though the exposure was regarded by many as inconclusive, and "Dr." Henry Slade was prosecuted. Though sentenced to three months' hard labour, the omission of certain words in the accusation made the conviction of no effect. But Dr. Slade found that England had become too hot for him, and speedily retired whence he had come. Many of the accounts of his séances in different countries are of interest, chiefly because of the discrepancy which exists between those of credulous spiritualists and those of trained investigators. Dr. Richard Hodgson, however, has pointed out that even in the latter class instances of mal-observation are the rule rather than the exception, particularly where sleight of hand plays a prominent part in the exhibition. A worthy successor to Slade was William Eglinton, who acted as medium for slate-writing manifestations, and attained to an extraordinary popularity, upwards of a hundred people testifying to his mediumistic powers in the spiritualist journal Light. Speaking of his performances, Mr. C. C. Massey said,
Many, of whom I am one, are of the opinion that the case for these phenomena generally, and for autography, in particular, is already complete." Eglinton's manifestations were produced in full light, and his séances were seldom blank, so it is hardly surprising that very many persons, ignorant of the lengths to which conjuring can be carried, and over-confident in their own ability to 66 Slavs observe correctly, should see in slate-writing a phenomenon explicable only by a spiritualistic theory. But there was definite proof of fraud in several cases. Muslin and a false beard, part of the make-up of a "spirit" had been found in Eglinton's portmanteau, various persons averred that they had seen his messages written on prepared slates previous to the séance, and he had been concerned in other matters of an equally doubtful character. And though these detections also were disputed they left in the unbiassed mind but little doubt of the fraudulent nature of Eglinton's mediumship. "Pro- Spiritualists themselves admitted that fraud might occasionally be practised by genuine mediums, owing to the uncertainty of the "power." Particularly was this so in the case of professional mediums, who were obliged to produce some results, and who had to resort to trickery when other means failed them. Mr. S. J. Davey, an associate of the Society for Psychical Research who, having discovered the tricks of slate-writing, practised them himself, was claimed by certain spiritualists as a medium as well as a conjurer, and that notwithstanding his protestations to the contrary. This is undoubtedly a powerful argument against the good faith of slate-writing. If his sitters could mistake these sleight-of-hand tricks-which Mr. Davey practised with the express purpose of discrediting their professional mediums for genuine spirit manifestations, might they not also be misled by the legerdemain of Slade and Eglinton, and other well-known mediums ? It has been objected that even skilled conjurers such as fessor" Hoffmann and Houdin professed themselves mystified by slate-writing performances, but the answer is fairly obvious, that quite a clever conjurer may be baffled by the performances of a brother-expert. The methods adopted by Mr. Davey were of a simple nature, requiring little or no apparatus. In the case of a long, general message, he would prepare a slate beforehand, and substitute it for the test slate. A shorter message, or a reply to a question, he would write on the reverse side of the slate, with a scrap of pencil fastened in a thimble, and so withdraw the slate that the side written on would be uppermost. There is reason to believe that like simple devices were used. in other séances, for their very simplicity, and the absence of all apparatus, rendered them particularly difficult of detection. But where the sitters were more credulous, intricate furniture and appliances were used, and the most elaborate preparations made for the séance. (See Pope John XXII.) 66 66