Research source

At our last séance I noticed what were evidently two prepared slates resting against the support of the table…

Date of account: Published 1887
Source: Preliminary Report of the Commission Appointed by the University of Pennsylvania to Investigate Modern Spiritualism In Accordance with the Request of the Late Henry Seybert
Reference: Preliminary Report of the Commission Appointed by the University of Pennsylvania to Investigate Modern Spiritualism In Accordance with the Request of the Late Henry Seybert · selected passage 196
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

At our last séance I noticed what were evidently two prepared slates resting against the support of the table behind him, where his prepared slates usually stood

Published source text

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Source passage

Source text · mention only

At our last séance I noticed what were evidently two prepared slates resting against the support of the table behind him, where his prepared slates usually stood. I inferred that he would like to have some extraordinary slate writing on this occasion, and, therefore, kept a sharp watch on these slates. Unfortunately it was too sharp, for one second the Medium saw me looking at them. It was enough. That detected look prevented the revelation of those elaborate Spirit messages. But when the séance was over and he was signing the receipt for his money, I passed round behind his chair and pushed these slates with my foot so as to make them fall over, whereupon the writing on one of them was distinctly revealed.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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