the unknown guest(陌生客)-第4章
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around us。 The neospiritualistic theory； however； professes only very
vague notions as to the life led by these discarnate spirits。 Are they more
intelligent than they were when they inhabited their flesh？ Do they possess
a wider understanding and mightier faculties than ours？ Up to the present；
we have not the unimpeachable facts that would permit us to say so。 It
would seem； on the contrary； if the discarnate spirits really continue to
exist； that their life is circumscribed； frail； precarious； incoherent and；
above all； not very long。 To this the objection is raised that it only appears
so to our feeble eyes。 The dead among whom we move without knowing it
struggle to make themselves understood； to manifest themselves； but dash
themselves against the inpenetrable wall of our senses； which； created
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solely to perceive matter； remain hopelessly ignorant of all the rest； though
this is doubtless the essential part of the universe。 That which will survive
in us； imprisoned in our body； is absolutely inaccessible to that which
survives in them。 The utmost that they can do is occasionally to cause a
few glimmers of their existence to penetrate the fissures of those singular
organisms known as mediums。 But these vagrant； fleeting； venturous；
stifled； deformed glimmers can but give us a ludicrous idea of a life which
has no longer anything in common with the lifepurely animal for the
most part… which we lead on this earth。 It is possible； and there is
something to be said for the theory。 It is at any rate remarkable that certain
communications； certain manifestations have shaken the scepticism of the
coldest and most dispassionate men of science； men utterly hostile to
supernatural influences。 In order to some extent to understand their
uneasiness and their astonishment； we need only readto quote but one
instance among a thousanda disquieting but unassailable article； entitled；
Dans les regions inexplorees de la biologic humaine。 Observations et
experiences sur Eusapia Paladino； by Professor Bottazzi； Director of the
Physiological Institute of the University of Naples。＇2＇ Seldom have
experiments in the domain of mediums or spirits been conducted with
more distrustful suspicion or with more implacable scientific strictness。
Nevertheless； scattered limbs； pale； diaphanous but capable hands；
suddenly appeared in the little physiological laboratory of Naples
University； with its doors heavily padlocked and sealed； as it were；
mathematically excluding any possibility of fraud； these same hands
worked apparatus specially intended to register their touches； lastly； the
outline of something black； of a head； uprose between the curtains of the
mediumistic cabinet； remained visible for several seconds and did not
retire until itself apparently frightened by the exclamations of surprise
drawn from a group of scientists who； after all； were prepared for anything；
and Professor Bottazzi confesses that it was then that； to quote his own
wordsmeasured words； as beseems a votary of science； but expressive
he felt 〃a shiver all through his body。〃
＇1＇ On the same grounds； we will also leave on one side the
theosophical hypothesis； which； like the others； begins by calling for an
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act of adherence； of blind faith。 Its explanations； though often ingenious；
are no more than forcible but gratuitous asservations and； as I said in Our
Eternity； do not give us the shadow of the commencement of a proof。
＇2＇ Annales des Sciences Psychiques： April November 1907。
It was one of those moments in which a doubt which one had thought
for ever abolished grips the most unbelieving。 For the first time； perhaps；
he looked around him with uncertainty and wondered in what world he
was。 As for the faithful adherents of the unknown； who had long
understood that we must resign ourselves to understanding nothing and he
prepared for every sort of surprise there was here； all the same； even for
them； a mystery of another character； a bewildering mystery； the only
really strange mystery； more torturing than all the others together； because
it verges upon ancestral fears and touches the most sensitive point of our
destiny。
4
The spiritualistic argument most worthy of attention is that supplied by
the apparitions of the dead and by haunted houses。 We will take no
account of the phantasms that precede； accompany or follow hard upon
death： they are explained by the transmission of a violent motion from one
subconsciousness to another； and； even when they are not manifested until
several days after death； it may still he contended that they are delayed
telepathic communications。 But what are we to say of the ghosts that
spring up more than a year； nay； more than ten years after the
disappearance of the corpse？ They are very rare； I know； but after all there
are some that are extremely difficult to deny； for the accounts of their
actions are attested and corroborated by numerous and trustworthy
witnesses。 It is true that here again； where it is in most cases a question of
apparitions to relations or friends； we may be told that we are in the
presence of telepathic incidents or of hallucinations of the memory。 We
thus deprive the spiritualists of a new and considerable province of their
realm。 Nevertheless； they retain certain private desmesnes into which our
telepathic explanations do not penetrate so easily。 There have in fact been
ghosts that showed themselves to people who had never known or seen
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them in the flesh。 They are more or less closely connected with the ghosts
in haunted houses； to which we must revert for a moment。
As I said above； it is almost impossible honestly to deny the existence
of these houses。 Here again the telepathic interpretation enforces itself in
the majority of cases。 We may even allow it a strange but justifiable
extension； for its limits are scarcely known。 It has happened fairly often；
for instance； that ghosts come to disturb a dwelling whose occupiers find；
in response to their indications； bones hidden in the walls or under the
floors。 It is even possible； as in the case of William Moir；＇1＇ which was as
strictly conducted and supervised as a judicial enquiry； that the skeleton is
buried at some distance from the house and dates more than forty years
back。 When the remains are removed and decently interred； the apparitions
cease。
＇1＇ Proceedings； vol。 vi。； pp。 35…41。
But even in the case of William Moir there is no sufficient reason for
