the unknown guest-第14章
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thout drugging ourselves with puerile or dangerous illusions； we may be permitted to hope that； if we follow them and study them attentively； they will one day open to us the hidden paths that join that which is no more to that which is not yet。
It is true that here； where we must needs mix with the somewhat lawless world of professional mystery…mongers； we have to increase our caution and walk with measured steps on very suspicious ground。 But in this region of pitfalls we glean a certain number of facts that cannot reasonably be contested。 It will be enough to recall； for instance； the symbolic premonitions of the famous 〃seeress of Prevorst；〃 Frau Hauffe； whose prophetic spirit was awakened by soap bubbles； crystals and mirrors；＇1＇ the clairvoyant who； eighteen years before the event； foretold the death of a girl by the hand of her rival in 1907； in a written prophecy which was presented to the court by the mother of the murdered girl；＇1＇ A。 J。 C。 Kerner： Die Scherin von Prevorst 141 ＇1＇ the gypsy who； also in writing； foretold all the events in Miss Isabel Arundel's life； including the name of her husband； Burton； the famous explorer；＇2＇ the sealed letter addressed to M。 Morin； vice…president of the Societe du Mesmerisme； describing the most unexpected circumstances of a death that occurred a month later；＇3＇ the famous 〃Marmontel prediction；〃 obtained by Mrs。 Verrall's cross…correspondences； which gives a vision； two months and a half before their accomplishment； of the most insignificant actions of a traveller in an hotel bedroom；＇4＇ and many others。
＇1＇ Light； 1907； p。 219。 The crime was committed in Paris and made a great stir at the time。
＇2＇ Lady Burton： The Life of Captain Sir Richd。 F。 Burton； K。C。M。G。； vol。i。； p。253。
＇3＇ Journal of the Society for Psychical Research； vol。 ix。； p。 15。
＇4＇ Proceedings； vol。 xx。； p。 331。
9
I will not review the various and very often grotesque methods of interrogating the future that are most frequently practised to…day： cards； palmistry； crystal…gazing； fortune…telling by means of coffee…grounds； tea…leaves； magnetic needles and white of egg； graphology； astrology and the rest。 These methods； as I have already said； are worth exactly what the medium who employs them is worth。 They have no other object than to arouse the medium's subconsciousness and to bring it into relation with that of the person questioning him。 As a matter of fact； all these purely empirical processes are but so many； often puerile forms of self…manifestation adopted by the undeniable gift which is known as intuition； clairvoyance or； in certain cases； psychometry。 I have spoken at sufficient length of this last faculty not to linger over it now。 All that we have still to do is to consider it for a moment in its relations with the foretelling of the future。 A large number of investigations； notably those conducted by M。 Duchatel and Dr。 Osty； show that； in psychometry； the notion of time； as Dr。 Joseph Maxwell observes； is very loose； that is to say； the past； present and future nearly always overlap。 Most of the clairvoyant or psychometric subjects； when they are honest； do not know； 〃do not feel；〃 as M。 Duchatel very ably remarks； 〃what the future is。 They do not distinguish it from the other tenses； and consequently they succeed in being prophets； but unconscious prophets。〃 In a wordand this is a very important indication from the point of view of the probable coexistence of the three tensesit appears that they see that which is not yet with the same clearness and on the same plane as that which is no more； but are incapable of separating the two visions and picking out the future which alone interests us。 For a still stronger reason； it is impossible for them to state dates with precision。 Nevertheless； the fact remains that； when we take the trouble to sift their evidence and have the patience to await the realization of certain events which are sometimes not due for a long time to come； the future is fairly often perceived by some of these strange soothsayers。
There are psychometers； however； and notably Mme。 M； Dr。 Osty's favorite medium； who never confuse the future and the past。 Mme。 M places her visions in time according to the position which they occupy in space。 Thus she sees the future in front of her； the past behind her and the present beside her。 But； notwithstanding these distinctly…graded visions； she also is incapable of naming her dates exactly； in fact； her mistakes in this respect are so general that Dr。 Osty looks upon it as a pure chronological coincidence when a prediction is realized at the moment foretold。
We should also observe that； in psychometry； only those events can be perceived which relate directly to the individual communicating with the percipient； for it is not so much the percipient that sees into us as we that read in our own subconsciousness； which is momentarily lighted by his presence。 We must not therefore ask him for predictions of a general character； whether； for instance； there will be a war in the spring； an epidemic in the summer or an earthquake in the autumn。 The moment the question concerns events； however important； with which we are not intimately connected； he is bound to answer； as do all the genuine mediums； that he sees nothing。
The area of his vision being thus limited； does he really discover the future in it？ After three years of numerous； cautious and systematic experiments with some twenty mediums； Dr。 Osty categorically declares that he does：
〃All the incidents；〃 he says； 〃which filled these three years of my life； whether wished for by me or not； or even absolutely contrary to the ordinary routine of my life； had always been foretold to me； not all by each of the clairvoyant subjects； but all by one or other of them。 As I have been practising these tests continually； it seems to me that the experience of three years wholly devoted to this object should give some weight to my opinion on the subject of predictions。〃
This is incontestable； and the sincerity； scientific conscientiousness and high intellectual value of Dr。 Osty's fine work inspire one with the most entire confidence。 Unfortunately； he contents himself with quoting too summarily a few facts and does not； as he ought； give us in extenso the details of his experiments； controls and tests。 I am well aware that this would be a thankless and wearisome task； necessitating a large volume which a mass of puerile incidents and inevitable repetitions would make almost readable。 Moreover； it could scarcely help taking the form of an intimate and indiscreet autobiography； and it is not easy to bring one's self to make this sort of public confession。 But it has to be done。 In a science which is only in its early stages； it is not enough to show the object attained and to state one's conviction； it is necessary above all to describe every path that has been taken and； by an incessant and infinite accumulation of investigated and attested facts； to enable every one to draw his own conclusions。 This has been the cumbrous and laborious method of the Proceedings for over thirty years； and it is the only right one。 Discussion is possible and fruitful only at that price。 In all these extraconscious matters； we have not yet reached the stage of definite deduction； we are still bringing up materials to the scene of operations。
Once more； I know that； in these cases； as I have seen for myself； the really convincing facts are necessarily very rare； indeed； nowhere else do we meet with the same difficulty。 If the medium tells you； for instance； as Mme。 M。 seems easily to do； how you will employ your day from the morning onwards； if she sees you in a certain house in a certain street meeting this or that person； it is impossible to say that； on the one hand； she is not already reading your as yet unconscious plans or intentions； or that； on the other hand； by doing what she has foreseen； you are not obeying a suggestion against which you could not fight except by violently doing the opposite to what it demands of you； which again would be a case of inverted suggestion。 None therefore would have any value save predictions of unlikely happenings； clearly defined and outside the sphe
