A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 252, 4 November 1879, Page 2

A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.

Sir,—Of late there has, I believe, been a perfect mania in Nelsou for table turning, with which I, among others, became affected, and you will perhaps permit me to relate one of my evening's experiences. The table was a tripod aud tbree of us were seated at it. Tbe movement, were very distinct and at times violent, and at last one of the party asked questions, to which answers were given very readily according to a code agreed upon, such as tbree raps with one foot on the floor for " Yes " and one for " No." Being but a neophyte I was somewhat shy of putting questions, the more so that to me there was something inexpressibly ludicrous iv talkiug to an inanimate object, such as a piece of furniture, as though it were a reasonable being. However, encouraged by the communicative mood in which the table so evidently was, I at last addressed myself to it, and the following conversation ensued between us :— Question : Can you tell me how many will be at the meeting on Monday night ? — Answer : Yes. Q. : Will there be 100 ?—A. : No. Q. : Will there be 50 ?—A.: Yes. Q. : Sixty ?—A. : Yes. Q : Seventy ?—A. : No. Q. : How many over Sixty ?—A : One ; two ; three : four. Now comes the curious part of the affair. When Mr Stringer was moving the first resolution last night I bad a careful count taken of those in the Hall, and the number was exactly s xtufour. True, a few others came in later in the evening until the total reached about 80, but the coincidence as I have related it—and miod I regard it as nothing more than a coincidence—is so remarkable that I have thought it worthy of recording.—l am, &c, T. P.S—I may add that prior to the meeting yesterday I mentioned my conversation with the table to several of my acquaintances, who will be as much surprised as I was by tbe correctness of my little three-footed friend's prediction.