Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1885 — The Tell-Tale. [ARTICLE]

The Tell-Tale.

With the aid of a pair of compassos or pencil and a bit of string, carefully draw two concentric half-circles, —that is, from the same center, and one about half an inch within the other. The size of tho design makes but little difference bat the result is more easily seen if the <} agrain is as large as convenient. Divi-.e this doftble half-circle into a number of compartments, and in each place a letter of the alphabet, p numeral, or a name, as the fancy may dictate; the object being that there shall be no possible mistaking of one compartment for another. Rule straight lines from each compartment to the common center. Now take a small button —a shoebutton is as good as- any—and fas tenth

bit of fine silk thread about eight inches long to it, leaking a knot in each end of the thread. Now let one of the party take the thread, by the end, and hold it so far above the figure that the button shall hang abont an inch and a half above the paper. Let him fix his mind firmly upon one of the compartments, and then close his eyes. Very soon the button will develop a pendulum-like motion, and before long, generally in about three minutes, it will begin to move toward the compartment of which the holder is thinking. It really seems, at tho first glance, that the button itself is influenced by the unconscious exertion of will on the part of the experimenter. But close investigation will reveal the fact that the hand moves with a slight.tremulous motion, which, being transmitted through the fine thread, moves the button. Mueh amusement can be bad by putting the uames Of the people in the compartments, and then seeing of which one the experimenter is thinking. —Allan Forman, in SL Nicholas.