Coiled Adder

Cut a spiral-shaped coil from a piece of tissue paper about 4 inches square, lay it on a tin lid and bend its head up. Rub a fountain pen vigorously with a woolen cloth and hold it over the coil. It rises like a living snake and reaches upwards.

In this case the fountain pen has taken electrons from the woolen cloth and attracts the uncharged paper. On contact, the paper takes part of the electricity, but gives it up immediately to the lid, which is a good conductor. Since the paper is now uncharged again, it is again attracted, until the fountain pen has lost its charge.