“Seth material” search engine (Jane Roberts)

(See page 279 for a copy of the object. As usual I placed it between two pieces of cardboard, then sealed it in two envelopes. Jane’s eyes remained closed as she gave the data. The object is a strip from a piece of linen canvas which I bought a few weeks ago at the Art Shop, in Elmira. Details on this will be given as the data is interpreted. Seth doesn’t discuss the data, and we made our own connections.

(“Connection with an old car.” Jane feels this refers to a young man, Tom, who works at the Art Shop where I bought the canvas which furnished the object. Jane often runs errands there for me, and Tom, a framemaker, often waits on her. Tom has an old sports car, and not long after I had bought the canvas, he described the car to Jane on one of her visits there, detailing his troubles with it, etc.

(“An old date, 18 or 1932.” Possibly a reference to the old brick building which houses the Art Shop, on Elmira’s West Water Street. The location is a few blocks down street from our house address. The building is old, but probably not as old as 1832. Nor is Tom’s car as old as 1932 for instance.

(The row of old buildings on West Water Street has been in for much discussion recently, as eyesores, etc. Many people want them torn down. Recently a group of these buildings near the Art Shop burned down in a spectacular fire.

(“A view of water.” Another reference to the Art Shop, and through this the object. In Elmira the Art Shop is located on West Water Street, which parallels the Chemung River through the heart of the city. The river can be seen from the back door of the Art Shop, and from the second-story workroom above where Tom makes his frames, etc. It was in this large upstairs room that Tom described his car troubles to Jane.

(“A miscellaneous list or group of names or designations. A string of numbers.” These can quite possibly refer to the pencil lists I am in the habit of making up, of materials I need at the Art Shop. I have the habit of making these lists for Jane especially with prices included. I almost always have a list when I go to the Art Shop, and so does Jane. I do not recall whether I had such a list on the day I bought the canvas which furnished tonight’s object, but the chances are that I did have. Very seldom do I make a trip there for just one object.

(“A window, or indication of an open viewpoint, or station from which activities may be viewed. A high window or exalted viewpoint.” This is excellent data, and refers again to the second-story workroom above the Art Shop. From this room a large plate glass window looks down on West Water Street, and Tom is in the habit of watching the busy activities on the main street below. He has often waved to Jane and me as we walked past. Jane always waves to him whenever she walks down Water Street, which is at least three times a week.

(“Something picked at random, as from a grab bag, you see.” This could refer to the way I picked the canvas which furnished the object. On that particular visit to the Art Shop I wasn’t looking for linen canvas, never having bought any there; indeed, thinking the shop didn’t stock it to begin with. I had bought other items, and was on my way out when I saw a piece of canvas tucked in a corner, quite wrinkled and obviously a remnant.

(I pulled it out to view. It was a piece two yards long, and the proprietor of the Art Shop sold it to me for half price; it was just what I had in mind for an experiment, as will be seen. I was very pleasantly surprised to find this canvas there, for I had thought I would have to order it from New York City.

(“Connection with a fabric that somehow seems glued on. Something glued on something, perhaps paper.” This is excellent data, and very close indeed to the object. The object is trimmed from the linen canvas I bought at the Art Shop, and this piece of canvas was glued on to large sheets of Masonite so as to have a firm support—the experiment I had in mind which was referred to later.

(Question: The only one would be to name the object as best you can. “Rectangular, having it seems some connection with metal or an automobile. Some dates and numbers, like an application.” Again, apparently a reference to Tom and his car; and through this to the Art Shop, the linen canvas, etc.