To get the positions of the parties to this test clearly outlined in the mind, see illustration #4. The man A is requested to grasp the chair B firmly, press it to his breast and keep it there. He is instructed to attempt to put his chair to the floor when the performer places her hands upon it, as shown in illustration. Her right palm is against the back, about four inches from the seat, and her left hand is pressed against the center surface of the seat.
The manner in which the subject holds this object causes his whole body to become perfectly rigid and stiff. His legs are like stilts, and his backbone like a shaft of iron. As he stands there, hugging the chair, he has no more suppleness in his limbs and body than a post, and he is just as easily pushed off balance as is a post standing on end.
His instructions are to put the chair to the floor, and at the same time he must hold the chair firmly to his body. He can’t put the chair down without releasing it from his tight embrace and limbering up his backbone, his legs and his muscles. He will seldom do this for fear of letting the chair get away from his firm control. Suppose he relaxes himself enough to start the chair downward, the gentlest pressure from the performer’s hand at the back of the chair, which is a potent lever in the position in which it is held, causes this human post to lose balance; and the least effort he makes to get on his feet steadily, and regain his balance, causes him to lift the chair upward instead of putting it further downward.
When he has tried this several times, and the chair does not go down to the floor, call in the others to assist him, shown in illustration #4 as D and E. It makes no matter how many come into the test, the result is the same. In spite of all they can do, these men will work against each other and keep the chair up ! By the little exertion of force used, the performer keeps them thrown off their balance all the time, and instead of forcing the chair to the floor, they are kept busy to keep their balance and stay on their feet. With the position of body and limbs, and with the chair as a powerful lever, it requires but little exertion to keep them off their balance, and in a constant effort to regain it, so that, their force is all expended in this way instead of forcing the chair downward. The performer constantly deflects their force, and instead of it operating downward, it operates laterally and is lost.
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