the unknown guest(陌生客)-第36章
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cheating； of manifest signs addressed to the eye or ear； of electrical
installations that are supposed to control the answers； nor other idle tales
of an excessively clumsy character。 To realize their inexcusable inanity we
have but to spend a few minutes in the honest Elberfeld stable。
At the beginning of this essay； I mentioned the attack made by Herr
Pfungst。 Herr Pfungst； the reader will remember； claims to prove that all
the horse's replies are determined by imperceptible and probably
unconscious movement on the part of the person putting the questions。
This interpretation； which falls to the ground； like all the others； in the face
of the actual facts； would not deserve serious discussion； were it not that
the Berlin psychologist's report created an immense sensation some years
ago and has succeeded in intimidating the greater part of the official
German scientific world to this day。 It is true that the report in question is
a monument of useless pedantry； but we are none the less bound to admit
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that； such as it was； it annihilated poor Von Oaten； who； being no
controversialist and not knowing how to proclaim the truth which was
struggling for utterance； died in gloom and solitude。
To make an end of this cumbrous and puerile theory； is it necessary to
emphasize again that experiments in which the animal does not see the
questioner are as regularly successful as the others？ Krall； if you ask him；
will stand behind the horse； will speak from the end of the room； will
leave the stable altogether； and the results are just the same。 They are the
same again when the tests are made in the dark or when the animal's head
is covered with a close…fitting hood。 They do not vary either in the case of
Berto； who is stone…blind； or when any other person whatever sets the
problem in Krall's absence。 Will it be maintained that this outsider or that
stranger is acquainted beforehand with the imperceptible signs that are to
dictate the solution which he himself often does not know？
But what is the use of prolonging this fight against a cloud of smoke？
None of it can bear examination； and it calls for a genuine effort of the
will to set one's self seriously to refute such pitiful objections。
18
On the ground thus cleared and at the portal of this unlooked…for riddle；
which comes to disturb our peace in a region which we thought to be
finally explored and conquered； there are only two ways； if not of
explaining； at least of contemplating the phenomenon： to admit purely and
simply the almost human intelligence of the horse； or to have recourse to
an as yet very vague and indefinite theory which； for lack of a better
designation； we will call the mediumistic or subliminal theory and of
which we will strive presentlyand no doubt vainlyto dispel the grosser
darkness。 But； whatever interpretation we adopt； we are bound to
recognize that it plunges us into a mystery which is equally profound and
equally astonishing on either side； one directly related to the greatest
mysteries that overwhelm us； and it is open to us to accept it with
resignation or rejoicing； according as we prefer to live in a world wherein
everything is within the reach of our intelligence or a world wherein
everything is incomprehensible。
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As for Krall； he does not doubt for an instant that his horses solve for
themselves； without any assistance； without any outside influence； simply
by their own mental powers； the most arduous problems set them。 He is
persuaded that they understand what is said to them and what they say； in
short； that their brain and their will perform exactly the same functions as
a human brain and will。 It is certain that the facts seem to prove him right
and that his opinion carries way great weight； for； after all； he knows his
horses better than any one does； he has beheld the birth or rather the
awakening of that dormant intelligence； even as a mother beholds the birth
or the awakening of intelligence in her child； he has perceived its first
gropings； known its first resistance and its first triumphs； he has watched it
taking shape； breaking away and gradually rising to the point at which it
stands to…day； in a word； he is the father and the principal and sole
perpetual witness of the miracle。
19
Yes； but the miracle comes as such a surprise that； the moment we set
foot in it； a sort of instinctive aberration seizes us； refusing to accept the
evidence and compelling us to search in every direction to see if there is
not another outlet。 Even in the presence of those astounding horses and
while they are working before our eyes； we do not yet sincerely believe
that which fills and subdues our gaze。 We accept the facts； because there is
no means of escaping them； but we accept them only provisionally and
with all reserve； putting off till later the comfortable explanation which
will give us back our familiar； shallow certainties。 But the explanation
does not come； there is none in the homely and not very lofty regions
wherein we hoped to find one； there is neither fault nor flaw in the mighty
evidence； and nothing delivers us from the mystery。
It must be confessed that this mystery； springing from a point where
we least expected to come upon the unknown； bears enough within itself
to scatter all our convictions。 Remember that； since man appeared upon
this earth； he has lived among creatures which； from immemorial
experience； he thought that he knew as perfectly as he knows an object
fashioned by his hands。 Out of these creatures he chose the most docile
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and； as he called them； the most intelligent； attaching in this case to the
word intelligence a sense so narrow as to be almost ridiculous。 He
observed them； scrutinized them； tried them； analyzed them and dissected
them in every imaginable way； and whole lives were devoted to nothing
but the study of their habits； their faculties； their nervous system； their
pathology； their psychology； their instincts。 All this led to certainties which；
among those supported by our unexplained little existence on an
inexplicable planet； would seem to be the least doubtful； the least subject
to revision。 There is no disputing； for instance； that the horse is gifted with
an extraordinary memory； that he possesses the sense of direction； that he
understands a few signs and even a few words and that he obeys them。 It is
equally undeniable that the anthropoid apes are capable of imitating a
great number of our actions and of our attitudes： but it is also manifest that
their bewildered and feverish imagination perceives neither their
