Robinson, William: Spirit Slate Writing and Kindred Phenomena ©1898 Munn & Co. NY Hardcover 148 pages plus ads

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Comments: An exposure of fake mediums, with many descriptions of how to generate messages on slates, read sealed messages, lift tables, and so forth. The last chapter covers a few standard magic tricks and puzzles.     William Robinson would later perform as Chung Ling Soo.

Contents (from book):

iii Preface

3 Chapter I. The Single Slate
3 The Flap Slate
6 Liquid or Silicate Slating
7 Chemical Slate
8 China Plate
9 Paper Writing Between Slates
11 Paper Writing in a Vial
11 Formulas for Sympathetic Inks: 37 of them
12 - Inks That Appear Through Heat
14 - Inks That Appear Under the Influence of Light
14 - Inks Appearing Through Reagents
17 Sympatheic Ink Trick: answers appear below questions
17 Slates Brought by the Spectator
18 Pencil Thimble: a Swami gimmick
20 Another Method: for answer appearing on a single slate
22 Message Between Tied Slates
24 Message Between Riveted Slates
24 Special Table for Slate Writing
26 Message on Sealed Slate on Table
28 A Stack of Slates
30 The Chair Servante
30 Breaking a Slate
31 A Table Ruse

32 Chapter II. The Double Slate
32 Folding Slates
33 Another Version
33 How They are Used
34 Magnetic Chalk
35 Two Slates and a Flap
36 A Locked Slate
37 Another Slate Mystery: with a version of a thumb writer
38 A Multi-Slate Test
39 False-Hinge Slate

41 Chapter III. Miscellaneous Slate Tests
41 Chalk Shot at a Slate Produces Writing
41 A Clever Hold-Out
42 A Silk-Covered Slate
43 The Caustic Trick Pencil
44 Foot Writing
46 Mirror Table
47 False Corner Flap
48 Alchohol Method
49 Another Chemical Approach
49 Multiple Slate Ruse

51 Chapter IV. Mind Reading and Kindred Phenomena
51 Sealed Envelope Reading
52 Thumb Writer
53 Clever Carbon Table
54 Slit Envelope Reading
54 Reading From a Sealed Envelope
55 Experiments in Seeing Through Envelopes
56 Confederate Mind Reading With Special Pen
58 Foster The Inveterate Smoker
60 The Sum of Figures
60 Black Art Spirit Writing
61 The Educated Fly
64 Two Person Codes
66 - Hole in Stage
67 - Speaking Tube
69 - Thread Method

71 Chapter V. Table Lifting and Spirit Rapping
71 Table Lifting Pin
71 Bowl Lifting
73 Use of Threads
74 Robert-Houdin's Theatre
77 Spirit Telegraph

82 Chapter VI. Spiritualistic Ties
82 Knots Appear In Rope: two methods
83 Instant Knot in Rope
84 Vanishing Knot
85 Wrist Tie with Running Knot: slip knot
86 Cotton Bandage Test
88 The Davenport Tie: made famous by the Davenport Brothers
91 Chair Tie With Double Loop

93 Chapter VII. Post Tests, Handcuffs, Spirit Collars, etc
93 Spiritualistic Post Test: gimmicked joist
94 Rope and Mechanical Post Test
96 Iron Ring Test
96 Handcuff Trick
97 The Spirit Collar
97 Other Devices: Trick bolts
98 Trick Bags

101 Chapter VIII. Seances and Miscellaneous Spirit Tricks
101 Eddy Brothers Light and Dark Seances
103 Miss Annie Eva Fay Dark séance
105 Dr. Henry Slade
106 Dark Seances
107 Confederates
107 Chair and Net Test
110 Wire Cage Test
113 Spirit Photography

115 Chapter IX. Miscellaneous Tricks
115 The Magician's Omelette: a real omelette is conjured in a pan
117 Spinning and Balancing Tricks
117 - Spinning Handkerchief
118 - Spinning an Egg
118 - Egg Balanced on Card Balanced on Wand
118 - Potato Chopped In Two In Assistant's Hand: without harm
121 The Blindfolded Juggler
123 The Chinese Rods and Cords: a clever puzzle
125 The Surprise Pen: a comedy exploding pen
128 The Miraculous Wineglasses: glass of liquid production and then a continuous stream from a bottle
132 The Mysterious Vase: water to ink and then silks are produced
136 The Mermaid's Head (M. Alber): a living head inside an aquarium illusion described
139 Card Cricket: chosen cards stick to a cricket bat
143 Cupid Lighter Than a Butterfly: a butterfly seems to match the weight of a small boy

147 Index