the unknown guest-第24章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
pring up simultaneously in different quarters of the globe； correspond with one another and multiply as though in obedience to a word of command。 It is probable therefore that we shall see still more manifestations of the same class。 One might almost say that a new spirit is passing over the world and； after awakening in man forces whereof he was not aware； is now reaching other creatures who with us inhabit this mysterious earth； on which they live； suffer and die； as we do； without knowing why。
＇1＇ See the interesting lecture by M。 Edmond Duchatel； published in the Annales des Sciences Psychiques； October 1913。
5
I have not been to Mannheim； but I made my pilgrimage to Elberfeld and stayed long enough in the town to carry away with me the conviction shared by all those who have undertaken the journey。
A few months ago； Herr Krall； whom I had promised the year before that I would come and see his wonderful horses； was kind enough to repeat his invitation in a more pressing fashion； adding that his stable would perhaps be broken up after the 15th of September and that； in any case； be would be obliged； by his doctor's orders； to interrupt for an indefinite period a course of training which he found exceedingly fatiguing。
I at once left for Elberfeld； which； as everybody knows； is an important manufacturing…town in Rhenish Prussia and is； in fact； more quaint； pleasing and picturesque than one might expect。 I had long since read everything that had been published on the question； and I was wholly persuaded of the genuineness of the incidents。 Indeed it would be difficult to have any doubts after the repeated and unremitting supervision and verification to which the experiments are subjected； a supervision which is of the most rigorous type； often hostile and almost ill…mannered。 As for their interpretation； I was convinced that telepathy； that is to say； the transmission of thought from one subconsciousness to another； remained； however strange it might be in this new region； the only acceptable theory； and this in spite of certain circumstances that seemed plainly to exclude it。 In default of telepathy proper； I inclined toward the mediumistic or subliminal theory； which was very ably outlined by M。 de Vesmes in a remarkable lecture delivered； on the 22nd of December； 1912； before the Societe Universelle d'Etudes Psychiques。 It is true that telepathy； especially when carried to its extreme limits； appeals above all to the subliminal forces； so that the two theories overlap at more than one point and it is often difficult to make out where the first ends and the second begins。 But this discussion will be more appropriate a little later。
6
I found Herr Krall in his goldsmith's shop； a sort of palace of Golconda； streaming and glittering with the most precious pearls and stones on earth。 Herr Krall； it is well to remember； in order to dispel any suspicion of pecuniary interest； is a rich manufacturer whose family for three generations； from father to son； have conducted one of the most important jewelry businesses in Germany。 His researches； so far from bringing him the least profit； cost him a great deal of money； take up all his leisure and some part of the time which he would otherwise devote to his business and； as usually happens； procure him from his fellow citizens and from not a few scientific men more annoyance； unfair criticism and sarcasm than consideration or gratitude。 His work is preeminently the disinterested and thankless task of the apostle and pioneer。
For the rest； Herr Kraft； though his faith is active； zealous and infectious； has nothing in common with the visionaries or illuminati。 He is a man of about fifty； vigorous； alert and enthusiastic； but at the same time well…balanced； accesible to every idea and even to every dream； yet practical and methodical； with a ballast of the most invincible common…sense。 He inspires from the outset that fine confidence； frank and unrestrained； which instantly disperses the instinctive doubt； the strange uneasiness and the veiled suspicion that generally separate two people who meet for the first time； and one welcomes in him； from the very depths of one's being； the honest man； the staunch friend whom one can trust and whom one is sorry not to have known earlier in life。
We go together through the streets and along the bustling quays of Elberfeld to the stable； situated at a few hundred steps from the shop。 The horses are taking the air outside the doors of their boxes； in the yard shaded by a lime…tree。 There are four of them： Mohammed； the most intelligent； the most gifted of them all； the great mathematician of the party； his double； Zarif； a little less advanced； less tractable； craftier； but at the same time more fanciful； more spontaneous and capable of occasional disconcerting sallies； next； Hanschen； a little Shetland pony； hardly bigger than a Newfoundland dog； the street…urchin of the band； always quivering with excitement； roguish； flighty； uncertain and passionate； but ready in a moment to work you out the most difficult addition and multiplication sums with a furious scrape of the hoof； and lastly the latest arrival； the plump and placid Berto； an imposing black stallion； quite blind and lacking the sense of smell。 He has been only a few months at school and is still； so to speak； in the preparatory class； but already doesa little more clumsily； but more good humouredly and conscientiouslysmall addition and subtraction sums quite as well as many a child of the same age。
In a corner； Kama； a young elephant two or three years old； about the size of an outrageously 〃blown〃 donkey； rolls his mischievous and almost knavish eye； under the shelter of his wide ears； each resembling a great rhubarb…leaf； and with his stealthy； insinuating trunk carefully picks up whatever he considers fit to eat； that is to say； pretty well everything that lies about on the stones。 Great things were hoped of him； but hitherto he has disappointed all expectations： he is the dunce of the establishment。 Perhaps he is too young still： his little elephant…soul no doubt resembles that of a sucking…babe which； in the place of its feet and hands； plays with the stupendous nose that must first explore and question the universe。 It is impossible to grip his attention； and； when they set out before him his alphabet of movable letters； instead of naming those which are pointed out to him he applies himself to pulling them off their stems； in order to swallow them surreptitiously。 He has disheartened his kind master； who； pending the coming of the reason and wisdom promised by the proboscidian legends； leaves him in a contented state of ignorance made more blissful by an almost insatiable appetite。
7
But I ask to see the great pioneer； Kluge Hans； Clever Hans。 He is still alive。 He is old： he must be sixteen or seventeen； but his old age； alas； is not exempt from the baneful troubles from which men themselves suffer in their decline！ Hans has turned out badly； it appears； and is never mentioned save in ambiguous terms。 An imprudent or vindictive groom； I forget which； having introduced a mare into the yard； Hans the Pure； who till then had led an austere and monkish existence； vowed to celibacy； science and the chaste delights of figures； Hans the Irreproachable incontinently lost his head and cut himself open on the hanging…rail of his stall。 They had to force back his intestines and sew up his belly。 He is now rusticating miserably in a meadow outside the town。 So true it is that a life cannot be judged except at its close and that we are sure of nothing until we are dead。
8
Before the sitting begins； while the master is making his morning inspection； I go up to Muhamed； speak to him and pat him； looking straight into his eyes meanwhile in order to catch a sign of his genius。 The handsome creature； well…bred and in hard condition； is as calm and trusting as a dog； he shows himself excessively gracious and friendly and tries to give me some huge licks and mighty kisses which I do my best to avoid because they are a little unexpected and overdemonstrative。 The expression of his limpid antelope…eyes is deep； serious and remote； but it differs in no wise from that
